NO CONTINUATION OF PROPHETS IN TODAY'S CHURCH AGE
By: Victor T. Stephens
"People often claim to hunger for truth, but seldom like the taste when it's served up."
~ George R.R. Martin
THE FOUNDATION OF THE CHURCH
There are several scripture references that non-cessationists allude to in support of the continuation of the prophetic gifts in today's church age. The problem, however, is that a myopic understanding of such scriptural allusions demonstrates that non-cessationists lack perception of the uniqueness of the early church in its nascent formation. Ephesians 2:19-20 and Ephesians 4:11-13 state:
"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone." (Eph. 2:19-20)
"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (Eph. 4:11-13)
After the death of Christ, the New Testament church age began. As a result, Old Testament laws were annulled (Heb. 7:12). Because there were no New Testament scriptures to equip the Church, God sent the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to empower the apostles and prophets to convey His Word (Eph. 4:11-13). God bestowed upon them revelatory gifts for them to teach His truth (John 14:26; 16:13) and perform confirmatory miracles (Heb. 2:3-4).
Now, according to Ephesians 2:19-20, the apostles and prophets constitute the foundation of the church. However, Christ is the chief cornerstone of the foundation. The wisdom of Christ, His reconciliation of both Jews and Gentiles unto God in one universal body by the cross, and the imparting of the Holy Spirit have been disclosed through the revelatory ministries of the apostles and prophets. Ephesians 2:14-17 and Ephesians 3:4-6 state:
"For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near." (Eph. 2:14-17)
"In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus." (Eph. 3:4-6)
Take note that Ephesians 2:19-20 says the uniting of Gentile believers with Jewish believers (the church) has been "built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone." The word "built" is past tense, which means it is already completed.
While Paul forms no differentiation of which gifts are ongoing or which ones have desisted in this passage, we have to consider Ephesians 4:11-13 in the context of Paul's previous declaration in Ephesians 2:19-20. As pointed out, the apostolic and prophetic gifts are foundational. Therefore, no one today can lay claim to a position that has already been laid down.
Since the apostles and prophets are the foundation of the church, to allege they still exist is to imply we are still attempting to build or rebuild a foundation. When a builder is constructing a new home, he hires a foundation contractor to lay the foundation first. Once the foundation is built, it doesn't need to be continuously re-laid by the contractor. Thus, his job is now complete. First Corinthians 3:11 says:
"For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 3:11)
Notice here that the foundation, which is Jesus Christ, has already been laid. He is the chief cornerstone of the foundation (Eph. 2:19-20).
Referring back to our home builder analogy, once the foundation contractor constructs the foundation... carpenters, plumbers, electricians, roofers, etc. will be needed to build the superstructure upon the foundation. In the context of Ephesians 2:19-20 and Ephesians 4:11-13, the "superstructure" represents the reconciliation of both Jews and Gentiles to God in one body.
Ephesians 4:11-13, in light of Ephesians 2:19-20, represent the individual components of Christ's body: Christ is the chief cornerstone of the foundation. The apostles and prophets are the secondary foundation, and the Gentile and Jewish believers constitute the building that rests upon the foundation of the apostles, prophets, and Christ. These components are united together to form the entire body of Christ. First Peter 2:4-5 says:
"As you come to him, the living Stone -- rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him -- you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:4-5)
With that said, Ephesians 2:19-20 and Ephesians 4:11-13 are saying that the apostles and prophets are the foundation. Evangelists, pastors, and teachers will be needed to build the remainder of the superstructure... the body of Christ. Teachers of God's Word will expound on what has already been revealed through the apostles and prophets, which are the scriptures recorded in the Bible for all generations. They are needed "to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be build up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ."
UNITY IN THE FAITH
Non-cessationists allude to Ephesians 4:11-13, claiming that verse 13 means prophets will exist until "we all reach unity in the faith"... which is when the church is taken to heaven during the rapture. Their interpretation of this expression implies the state of perfection attained during the Rapture, and as a result, we all agree on every doctrinal point. This interpretation, however, is incorrect. Ephesians 4:11-15 actually represents a referential model of unity that Paul had in mind for the church. The rapture is not in view in this passage.
Let's consider Acts 2:42-47:
"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." (Acts 2:42-47)
Take note that this passage says, "All the believers were together and had everything in common." Here we see complete unity among the believers at Pentecost. However, these believers were entirely Jewish Christians (Acts 2:1-41). The first Gentile believer was Cornelius (Acts 10).
As the church began to grow, Paul had in view the unity of faith that occurred at Pentecost would be the same unity of faith he wished to continue for future generations of Jews and Gentile believers. Although there were a few Jewish believers at the Church in Ephesus, most of the believers were Gentiles (Eph. 2:11-12), whom Paul was primarily addressing. As many of us know, the Jews regarded everyone who was not Jewish as "uncircumcised."
Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands) --- remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. (Eph. 2:11-12)
Paul's decision to go to Ephesus was very sensible on account of the fact that it was a largely populated city with multicultural groups of people. It was from this miscellany of cultures that the Ephesian church generated its members. Taking into consideration the small number of Jews within this mixture, we have the emergence of one of the most diverse groups conceivable. Suffice it to say, such diversity tended to produce cultural disputes. Just as there was complete unity among the Jews at Pentecost, it was Paul's objective to bring complete unity among the Jews and Gentiles in the Church at Ephesus.
If we refer back to Ephesians 2:11-12 we can observe the commencement of the reconciliation of the Jewish and Gentile cultures under the one headship of Christ. In the past, Gentiles were separated from God and separated from the Jews. However, now that they have found salvation, no such division exists. There is now unity in the faith among the Jews and Gentiles in the church at Ephesus. Let's take a look at the next four verses:
"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility." (Eph. 2:13-16)
In the previous passage, Paul tells the Ephesians that, as a result of their salvation, circumstances have revolutionized. The fact that they were formerly separated from God, the redemptive act of Christ on the cross made it attainable for the partition of division to be eradicated. By being "brought near by the blood of Christ," people of all ethnic groups and cultural backgrounds draw near to one another. As a result, Jews and Gentiles have a common union more glorious than any differentiation that formerly separated them. In Christ, a "new humanity" is formed "out of two"... being united in the faith, and fulfilling the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20).
"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." (Gal. 3:28)
To reiterate, today, as the church continues to grow, it is the Word of God that brings all believing Jews and all believing Gentiles to complete unity in the faith. The completed canon of Scripture contains the teachings of Jesus as revealed by Jesus Himself, as well as the apostles and prophets. The power of the Holy Spirit through the systematic teaching and subjection to God's Word produces a process of development and growth to become more like Christ. John 17:20-23 states:
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one --- I in them and you in me --- so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me." (John 17:20-23)
In this passage, Jesus is saying that others will believe in Him as a result of his disciples' message. It is the message of salvation by faith in Christ alone that ultimately brings Jews and Gentiles to "complete unity" as sons of God. Today, the Bible is God's completed revelation of His Word to the church and contains the message of Christ and the disciples. Romans 10:17 says:
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom. 10:17)
Let's take a look at another passage:
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Tim. 3:14-17)
This passage reveals that all Scripture, which was revealed through the apostles and prophets, is sufficient for answering all our needs for guidance from God. The Bible is the completed written message of the apostles and prophets. Therefore, we become fully equipped and built up by being taught in the canon of Scripture. Our unity comes from the mutual belief among the Jews and Gentiles in the essential doctrines of the gospel message of salvation by Christ alone.
Now, those who are egocentric and spiritually immature may have difficulty discerning between non-essential and essential doctrines of the Christian faith. As a result, confusion and bickering often arise when we elevate the non-essentials to the place of essential doctrines. The commonality we have with one another through Jesus Christ overshadows any trivial differences of opinion or social status. We should and can respectfully disagree on non-essential issues while remaining united in Christ's body. Non-essential doctrines include what to eat, what to drink, worship styles, which day to worship, etc. Essential doctrines include salvation, faith theology, atonement theology, the personhood of God, the personhood of Christ, the personhood of the Holy Spirit, etc.
Disturbances also arise when we elevate personalities (preachers, politicians, etc.) above Jesus and His Word. This is nothing more than idolatry. Just as God's Word speaks of false teachers, it also references false Christians who have a "form of godliness" (2 Tim. 3:1-5). Thus, to protect and maintain unity in the faith, divisions are sometimes necessary. This can be accomplished by true teachers of God's Word within the Church, as well as by every believer who accepts the responsibility of adhering to the Berean paradigm by searching the scriptures daily to test all teachings (Acts 17:11).
Next: Old Testament or New Testament Prophets
