Social media is a great tool in the hands of the redeemer, but it is also a bastion of heresy espousing lies as truth. On social media people make minor things like continuation or the cessation of the gifts, major and make it a point of contention and division. This ought not be, as one who can be labeled as a cautious cessationist or and one who is at least a cautious continuationist. This is not a point of contention that ought to bring division in the body of Christ, there need not be agreement on everything, but there ought to be agreement on the majors of the gospel. The deity of Christ, the triune nature of God in three persons, co-equal, co-eternal. The Father sent the Son and when Christ was raised and ascended, He and the Father sent the Spirit to come and dwell with man and in man when they repent and believe the gospel. Men must repent and believe the gospel or there is no salvation.
Prophecy continuing is the most problematic. Hopefully a good case for that statement will be made. Prophecy in the New Testament church is over. If prophecy was still operation, then that would make whatever that ‘Prophet’ says on par with scripture, with the same authority. There is no new revelation for His church. “Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy.” (1 Cor. 14:1) What does the text say? In keeping with love, the church during this time is to desire spiritual gifts. Yet above all the spiritual gifts he desires that all would prophesy. Why is that?
Before answering that question, a different question must be asked. What is prophecy? Scripturally, there are two types of prophecy. The first type is fore telling, this type is futuristic in practice, what will happen and whatnot. A few examples Genesis 3:15 of the coming Christ, 1 Peter 1:10-12 the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. The second type is forth telling. This type involves a pointing out of sins and a warning of the judgments that would come. This prophecy is the calling out of sin, calling for repentance, a great example is the book of Jeremiah.
Why are saints to seek to prophesy above all the other spiritual gifts? “But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.” (1 Cor. 14:2) Prophecy is meant for edification, for exhortation, for encouragement and for God’s people to be strengthened in Christ. If this prophecy was futuristic then the people of God in the Old Testament would be able to understand it and abide by it, but they were not. Not even the prophets understood what they were saying. “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.” (1 Peter 1:10-12) The prophets of old inquired and searched how and when the Christ would come. The Spirit directing them as to the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories, they saw but a glimpse, but they were not writing for themselves but for the generations that follow. This type of prophecy being spoken about is not something that is out of place and mysterious, but something the whole church benefits from. ”But if all prophesy, and there come in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is judged of all.” (1 Corinthians 14:24) If a non-believer is convicted of his sin through prophecy that reveals sin, then that man is convince by all and is judged by all. “For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” (1 Corinthians 14:31-33)
God desires that his church would know and understand His will and His word, so this type of prophecy is truth driven and applicable. He desires that all would prophesy one by one, so that all would learn, but it cannot be a woman, for the next verse says women must be silent in the context of the church. So, those who prophesy must be men. This type of prophecy comes through the preaching of the word. All prophecy is subject to the prophets. The question comes down to this, is there any new biblical revelation from God that the church needs? If prophecy as in future prophecy still exists, then there is new revelation, if there is new revelation, then there must need be that the word of those prophets must be accurate and without error, never wrong, but also it would put the words of that person on par with the scriptures. Hebrews tells that, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” God spoke to the fathers of the Jewish fathers through the prophets at different times in different ways, but now has spoken through His Son. With the completion of scripture His people have all that is needed need for life, and it is all contained in this book.
There was a quote on social media that said, “strong churches are birthed through apostles and prophets.” This is right in one sense and wrong in another, in the error here there is great danger. Now if this statement means that churches are birthed out of the prophets teaching, preaching, and writings in the Old Testament, the prophets and the apostles teaching, preaching and writing in the New Testament, then this is a true statement, that there would be no argument.
Yet, the quote when explained leaves little to be desired, so there needs to be a close examination of where this quote ends up. The verse that was being misused and misrepresented states, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” (Eph. 2:20) And are built and founded, what are built and founded? The previous verse states, “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19) There are no more strangers and foreigners, for all who trust Christ are brought near by the blood of the Lamb and are fellow citizens, fellow saints with the saints. These citizen saints are part of and belong to the household of God, the church.
The church is built upon all that is written in the word of God, it is dependent not upon today’s prophets and apostles, if they exist, but dependent on the prophets and apostles of long ago through the word of God. “The reason that the church is struggling in today’s world, handing the weight that has been placed upon it, is because it was not founded on the apostles and prophets, it’s been founded on pastors and teachers.” The fundamental question that must be answered is, what is meant by apostles and prophets?
When using these terms, the terms are not meaning that the prophets and are from the bible from both the OT and the NT, but prophets that exist today. This is problematic because contextually this cannot be the case. “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” (Eph. 2:20) Churches are built, past tense, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets. This means that the church was established upon the word that has been established. The church is established upon the word of God which contains all that the prophets and apostles have penned. What make this even more interesting is that the church is built and founded upon the rock, the foundational stone, Christ Jesus who himself is the chief cornerstone.
Jesus being the cornerstone is listed alongside, preeminent in position, to the apostles and prophets. Why is this? Consider this verse, “Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.” (Heb 3:1) Saints partake in the heaven calling considering the Apostle, considering the High Priest, Christ Jesus. Jesus is the ultimate apostle, apostle par excellence and Jesus the Great High Priest of the profession of His saints.
Regarding prophets, Hebrews is awesome for Jesus is better than everything else, so Jesus is better than the prophets. “Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.” He spoke unto the fathers through the prophets before the NT, but now has in these last days spoken through His Son. Jesus is the final Prophet, there is no new revelation for the church. This passage in Hebrews really does at least put to bed prophecy that is not meant for the church, there is no new knowledge for the church needed because we have the word.
Going back to the quote listed above, it was stated that the church is built upon pastors and teachers and the quote continues, “Pastors and teachers are not the foundation of the house of God, that’s the problem.” Pastors and teachers are not the foundation of the church, Amen, praise God, glory be, but not because it must be built on today’s apostles and prophets, but because pastors and teachers are only supposed to proclaim what it says in the word of God, nothing more, nothing less, within its context. The apostles and prophets of old are extremely important for God used them to pen His word, holy men moved by the Holy Ghost.
Notice what Paul called Titus to do in the book written to Titus. “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.” (Titus 1:5) Paul left Titus with a task to accomplish, he had a job to do, a vital responsibility to fulfill. He called Titus to set in order the things that were lacking, to address the things that are wanting, to set in order the things that were still left undone. He called Titus to appoint elders in every town, in every place where there was a planted church. Notice Paul did not call them to have an apostle in every city, a prophet in every city, but a pastor, elder, or bishop in every city. There are only two offices in the scriptures still in play for the church and that is the office of pastor and deacon.
Canal Point Baptist Church 