Posted on 04/21/2016 8:11:10 AM PDT by fishtank
Continuationism is a Christian theological belief that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have continued to the present age, specifically those sometimes called "sign gifts", such as tongues and prophecy. Continuationism is the opposite of cessationism.
All I know is what the Book says:
1 Corinthians 12 NIV
1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.12 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.13 For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.14 Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.15 Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body.17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be?18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be.19 If they were all one part, where would the body be?20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!”22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable,23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty,24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it,25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.28 And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues ? Do all interpret?31 Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. And yet I will show you the most excellent way.
I note that gifts were given by GOD.
I've yet to find anywhere that they were meant to be temporary or that they'd cease in the future.
Why isn't this 100% in each group?
Are people REALLY this nuts??
Preach it; Brother!!
1. It does not follow that because people treat acts of grace lightly then these are superfluous and are to be marginalized or dismissed, any more than the fact that common grace as well as the word of God is treated lightly and often even with scorn means that such is overrated. Such reasoning impugns the judgment of God who provides both. The fact is that it was by means of miracles that Christ promised that multitudes of Gentiles (in particular) were persuaded to believe on this foreign (to them) Deity that the early church preached. (Rm. 15:19)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, and we are to preach the God of the Bible, and there is no warrant for largely placing the book of Acts in a museum (though i am not an example of such power). Christianity began the miraculous, and the church of the living God has not taken a sabbatical, nor rescinded His gifts and callings. And while we have a completed canon, it is yet of the Lord's mercies to heal, while for many the Bible is as unknown or its character like it was in the first century, and miracles are Scriptural means of grace whereby God manifests that Word and His preachers were of the one true God.
2. While a wicked and adulteress generation demands a sign, that did not and does not mean (contrary to how it is often invoked) that all who seek a sign of the miraculous fall under that condensation and are wrong. For as the power of the Lord was present to heal, the Lord met the need of those in need of deliverance as well as honest seekers.
3. That "God has a plan for our welfare and not for evil, to give us a future and a hope. We should trust His plan," is not opposed to the perpetuity of supernatural gifts, and in reality these are an expression of His plan.
Thus miracles and supernatural gifts are Scriptural, and thus the problem is the fraud and abuse that prevails, much do to a public that is lacking in the fear of God and commitment to doctrine.But which no more makes the gifts to be the cause nor warrants excluding them than it did in Biblical times.
Nor does the fact that heretics from Catholics to Mormons profess belief in Pentecostal gifts impugn the viability of such, any more than it did when the magicians duplicated the first 3 miracles of Moses. And if all the grace that Christians have to offer excludes the working of supernal Pentecostal gifts, then the devil will have the overt miraculous to himself, leaving the Simon-type workers to retain their follower. Instead, what is needed is more working of the miraculous, not less.
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. (Mark 16:20)
To God be the glory.
Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: (Romans 9:27)
Excellent summation
The End Times are upon us!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.