A Case Against the Pre-Tribulation Rapture; Ten Years Later

It occurred to me recently that it was exactly 10 years ago that I made one of the most profound theological shifts in my life.  Interestingly, it was not when I embraced Calvinism, nor when I came to understand the continuation of certain spiritual gifts.  Those were important, but did not have too much paradigm-shifting effect (at the time).  No, it was my rejection of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture and my subsequent embrace of the Post-Tribulational, Historic Premillennial view, which took place in the fall of 2004.  Along with the recent release of the latest "Left Behind" movie, it seemed like a good idea to write down my reasons why.  I do realize that this concerns a non-primary doctrine.  It is NOT my intention to write libelous things against those who hold to Pre-Tribulationism.  All of my earliest mentors in the faith were Dispensationalists, and many of the great expositors of the 20th century held to it (Chuck Smith, Charles Swindoll, David Jeremiah, John MacArthur, etc.).  I only wish to tell why I no longer believe this.

Like many young Christians in America, I was raised on a steady diet of Dispensational teaching (though I didn't know it was called that).  I was completely oblivious to any other views and honestly thought everyone who was sensible believed in the Pre-Trib Rapture.  All of this was only reinforced when, at the age of 17 - shortly after being truly born again - I began attending a church belonging to Calvary Chapel.  I spent three years at that church and fell in love with their approach to verse-by-verse expository preaching.  I also learned that I had a knack for theology and Bible memorization.  I began to seriously consider that God may be calling me to full-time ministry and that it would be through Calvary Chapel.  I visited Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murrieta, California, and started to imagine what it would be like to give myself to the ministry in that context.  My pastors were very supportive and encouraged me to look into it.

To make a long story short, I ended up at a different college much closer to home.  That would mark the beginning of the end for my time at Calvary Chapel and also the end to my Dispensationalism.  After making this transition theologically, I broke the news to my pastors at Calvary Chapel.  They were very kind about it and honestly spoke with me in love.  However, they told me that that door into the ministry was now closed to me and it would probably be better for me to find another fellowship that shared my views.  In what follows, I want to show, from the Bible, why I no longer believe in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture view.

The first Scripture I want to consider is the primary text on the concept of the Rapture, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17,

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

The thing I wish to note here is that this text leaves no room at all for any kind of "secret" rapture.  It does teach that believers will be caught up in the air and meet the Lord, but notice how public and loud it is.  We see Jesus himself descending from Heaven, a shout, the voice of an archangel, and the blast of a trumpet.  Also, this event takes place at "the coming of the Lord", a phrase which everywhere else indicates His triumphant and public return to earth, which takes place after any tribulation period.

This is further confirmed by looking at Matthew 24:29-31,

29 “But immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 And then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.  (NASB)

Matthew 24 is notoriously difficult and a full exegesis is beyond the scope of this little blog, but I wish the reader to note the similarities between this passage and the previous one in 1 Thessalonians.  In both passages, we find the Lord Jesus appearing in the sky with trumpets sounding and the presence of angels.  Also, both passages accompany the trumpet sounding with the gathering of the saints together.  I think it should be fairly obvious that the two Scriptures are parallel passages.  The clincher though is found at the beginning of verse 29, which explicitly states that this event will take place immediately after the tribulation and inseparable with the glorious second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.  This, I believe is absolutely devastating the the Pre-Tribulational scheme.

Matthew 24:29-35	1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
Immediately after the tribulation of those days
	For this we say to you by the word of the Lord
	that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.	For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,
And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet,	with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.
and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.	And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

Honestly, I could stop there, but there is one more passage I wish to examine.  Specifically, I wish to look at 2 Thessalonians 2:1-8,

Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, 2 that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 3 Let no one in any way deceive you, for it will not come unless the apostasy comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as being God. 5 Do you not remember that while I was still with you, I was telling you these things? 6 And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed.7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. 8 Then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming...

Verse 1 is significant.  Paul, after already comforting the Thessalonian believers in chapter 1 with the hope of the second coming, introduces a related theme.  Evidently, some word had come to the saints in Thessalonica, ostensibly from Paul that the Day of the Lord, had already occurred and that somehow, the Thessalonians had missed out on it.  Paul seeks to correct this mistake by telling them the things which must first take place.  However, notice how Paul links together the glorious appearing of Jesus to take revenge on His enemies with our gathering together to him.  This is undoubtedly a reference to his earlier teaching on it in 1 Thessalonians 4 and what he had just written in 2 Thessalonians 1.  Again, it is apparent that the catching up of believers, or "the Rapture" will take place at the same moment as our Lord's glorious appearing.  It is not separated by a seven-year tribulation period.

Verses 2 and 3 are even more explicit.  Paul clusters the Second Coming and the Rapture together as one event called "The Day of the Lord".  At the risk of being redundant, they are not separate in his thinking.  Secondly, Paul labors to show how this one event cannot take place until certain conditions are met.  Namely, a massive falling away from the faith and the appearance of the "Man of Lawlessness" must come first.  Some Pre-Tribulationists attempt to circumvent this by asserting that the Greek word translated "apostasy" can also mean "departure." In their thinking, this "departure" is the departure from the earth of the saints in the Rapture.  They believe that Paul is giving a sequence of Rapture, Man of Lawlessness, Second Coming.  However, we have already seen that for Paul, the Rapture and Second Coming are one event and take place at the same time.  So it makes no sense at all that the Rapture can't happen until after the Rapture happens.  In reality, Paul's end-times sequence is Apostasy, Man of Lawlessness, Second Coming/Rapture.  We have also noted that this event can only take place after the Tribulation period.

There are, of course other lines of evidence I could follow.  We have to be sure that the Tribulation is an entirely future event like those of the Dispensational persuasion believe.  Personally, I believe that the Tribulation is a present event that began in the first century and continues today.  But space prevents me from exploring that.  I could also cite other New Testament Scriptures that portray Jesus' Second Coming as a unified event.  However, what I have given you is a good place to start I think in demonstrating that the teaching of the Pre-Tribulation Rapture is incorrect, despite the godliness of many of its exponents.

What's Your Name?

It is well known that in biblical times, much more so than today, a person's name had a special significance that often described aspects of that person's life. In some cases it described someone's rank in society or the circumstances surrounding his or her conception or birth.


Although it is much less prominent today, at least in the West, we can still find traces of it today, both for good and bad. As an example of the latter, no one wants to be called a Judas or a Benedict Arnold, names synonymous with betrayal (for my non-American readers, Benedict Arnold was a general who betrayed the United States during the American War for Independence by agreeing to surrender West Point to the British Army). On the other hand, a name with an honorable history is often passed down to new generations in order to perpetuate a legacy.



In the Scriptures, we find this dynamic at work constantly. In fact, I believe that it is a subtle motif that can be found throughout the Bible. I hope to show that there are two ways to be given a name in Scripture. On the one hand, I hope to demonstrate that the essense of sin and unbelief is the desire to make a name for one's self, thereby functionally dethroning God and taking divine prerogatives. These individuals are always met with destruction. On the other, those who humbly acknowledge their dependence on God are often honored by him with a name that He gives to them in love.

Attempting to make a name for one's self is ultimately the sin that doomed our first parents, Adam and Eve. The serpent's temptation appealed to the desire to be like God and be the ones who decide what is good and evil.

Then the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." (Genesis 3:4,5 NKJV)

Sadly, the sinful desire to make for one's self a name and thus sin against God whose name alone is worthy did not stop with Adam and Eve, but continued throughout biblical history. The story of the Tower of Babel is even more explicit:

Now the whole earth had one language and one speech. And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar, and they dwelt there. Then they said to one another, "Come, let us make bricks and bake them thoroughly." They had brick for stone, and they had asphalt for mortar. And they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top is in the heavens; let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth." (Genesis 11:1-4 NKJV)

Of course, we know the rest of story of how God saw this arrogant attempt and stopped it by confusing the languages and scattering mankind all over the face of the earth. Even this however, could not stop Man in his pride from trying to exalt himself and make for himself a name, like those original people did at Babel. Other examples of individuals trying to make a name for themselves also include:



-The king of Babylon (whom some commentators think was a type of Satan in his initial rebellion)

"How you are fallen from heaven,
O Lucifer, son of the morning!
How you are cut down to the ground,
You who weakened the nations!
For you have said in your heart:
‘I will ascend into heaven,
I will exalt my throne above the stars of God;
I will also sit on the mount of the congregation
On the farthest sides of the north;
I will ascend above the heights of the clouds,
I will be like the Most High.’
Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol,
To the lowest depths of the Pit.

　

- The King of Tyre (who also is thought by some to be a type of the Devil)

The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, 2 "Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord God:

"Because your heart is lifted up,
And you say, ‘I am a god,
I sit in the seat of gods,
In the midst of the seas,’
Yet you are a man, and not a god,
Though you set your heart as the heart of a god...‘Therefore thus says the Lord God:

"Because you have set your heart as the heart of a god,
7 Behold, therefore, I will bring strangers against you,
The most terrible of the nations;
And they shall draw their swords against the beauty of your wisdom,
And defile your splendor.
8 They shall throw you down into the Pit,
And you shall die the death of the slain
In the midst of the seas (Ezekiel 28:1,2;6-8 NKJV)

　

-Nebuchadnezzar

All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. At the end of the twelve months he was walking about the royal palace of Babylon. The king spoke, saying, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?"

While the word was still in the king’s mouth, a voice fell from heaven: "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: the kingdom has departed from you! And they shall drive you from men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. They shall make you eat grass like oxen; and seven times shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever He chooses."

That very hour the word was fulfilled concerning Nebuchadnezzar; he was driven from men and ate grass like oxen; his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.

　

-Herod

Now Herod had been very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; but they came to him with one accord, and having made Blastus the king’s personal aide their friend, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food by the king’s country.

So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!" Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.

But the word of God grew and multiplied. (Acts 12:20-24 NKJV)

　

-The Man of Sin

Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-4 NKJV)

　

These examples show that ultimately what lies at the heart of sin and rebellion against the creator God is the desire to take from Him the glory that is due Him, and replace it with a self-styled glory that comes from prideful self-aggrandizement. The only end of this is total, unrelenting, and eternal destruction. In fact, in all the above cited Scriptures, that destruction is always declared and/or carried out.



Contrast this however with a different kind of name; a name given only by grace. This is a name that is not self-given, but rather a name that God Himself gives to His people who turn from making a name for themselves, but rather glory only in God's name and turn away from self-glorying.





-Abraham

Now the Lord had said to Abram:

"Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." (Genesis 12:1-3 NKJV)

　

-Jacob

And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed." (Genesis 32:28 NKJV)

　

-David

But it happened that night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, "Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: "You shall not build Me a house to dwell in. For I have not dwelt in a house since the time that I brought up Israel, even to this day, but have gone from tent to tent, and from one tabernacle to another. Wherever I have moved about with all Israel, have I ever spoken a word to any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd My people, saying, ‘Why have you not built Me a house of cedar–’"’ Now therefore, thus shall you say to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: "I took you from the sheepfold, from following the sheep, to be ruler over My people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you have gone, and have cut off all your enemies from before you, and have made you a name like the name of the great men who are on the earth. Moreover I will appoint a place for My people Israel, and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, since the time that I commanded judges to be over My people Israel. Also I will subdue all your enemies. Furthermore I tell you that the Lord will build you a house. (1 Chronicles 17:3-10 NKJV)

　

-Zerubabbel

‘In that day,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel My servant, the son of Shealtiel,’ says the Lord, ‘and will make you like a signet ring; for I have chosen you,’ says the Lord of hosts." (Haggai 2:23 NKJV)

　

-Joshua the High Priest

Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to oppose him. And the Lord said to Satan, "The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?"

Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.

Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, "Take away the filthy garments from him." And to him He said, "See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes."

And I said, "Let them put a clean turban on his head."

So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.  (Zechariah 3:1-5 NKJV)

　

As we come to the New Testament, we find that much the same theme continues. Those who entrust themselves in humble faith and obedience to God are endowed by Him with names and/or precious legacies. Our Lord Jesus Himself was exalted with the name that is above every name because of His obedience to God; even obedience to the point of death on the cross (Philippians 2:5-11). Simon was given the name Peter meaning "rock", after his confession of faith in Jesus as the Messiah, which Jesus said would be the rock upon which His Church is built (Matthew 16:13-20). John was dubbed "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (John 13:23; 21:7; 20).



As for Christians throughout history and today, the Scriptures are replete with the blessed names and titles given to God's covenant people in both testaments. Christians are called saints (Daniel 7:27; Romans 1:7), children (1 John 3:1), a Kingdom of/and Priests (Exodus 19:6; Revelation 1:6; 5:10). Our Good Shepherd Himself knows His sheep by name (John 10:3). All of these names and more come to God's own people; those who humble themselves before Him and seek not to make a name for themselves, but who seek to make God's name great throughout the earth. These are the ones who pray that God's name would be hallowed (Matthew 6:9). And as we pray and labor for God's name to be made great, He in His greatness and love, bestows upon us with names and titles that no one can take away.

A Few Reflections From My Recent Trip North

About a week and a half ago, my family and I returned from our trip up north to both Philadelphia and Cincinnati.  I, my wife Katie, and the two kids got in the car and drove up and back.  It was a long trip both ways to be sure, but I thought I would share some highlights as well as some things that I learned about myself and the ministry along the way.


Firstly, a few bits of trivia:


- I hate bridges and mountains!  I guess I have a fear of heights.  Thankfully, I was able to avoid the Delaware Memorial, Ben Franklin, and Walt Whitman bridges.  On the other hand, I did have to drive through the mountains in western Pennsylvania, and on the way back through eastern Kentucky and Tennesse.  I'll say this; if I ever see the Pennsylvania Turnpike again, it'll be too soon.


- It is COLD up north!  Even in late March it was still around 30 degrees in Philadelphia.  I am really thankful that I live in Florida and now have a small understanding of why people snow bird in Florida.




- With small kids, anytime you stop, plan on it being at least an hour.


- I really like those quaint little towns in eastern Pennsylvania like Lancaster and Ephrata.  We saw our share of Amish people on horse and buggy.


- I got to see the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.  It was really cool to be inside the building where my nation's independence was born.


- Yes I climbed the Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.  I hummed that theme to myself the whole way up.


- The food in Cincinnati is pretty awesome.  Toward the end of our trip, some dear friends of my wife's took us to a place called The Montgomery Inn.  Their ribs are spectacular.  If you're ever in Cincinnati, do yourself a favor and go.


-The Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky was really cool too!  Katie's friends Don and Gabby O'Connell took us the day before we left.  My favorite part was the planetarium.  Reflecting on the sheer vastness of space and the distances between stars and galaxies was truly mind-boggling!






Secondly, I learned a few things about myself and the nature of the Christian ministry while in Philadelphia from my friend and mentor, Pastor Earl Wright of The Church of God in the Word.  Pastor Wright spoke to us about the seriousness of the Christian ministry and the high calling it is for a man to enter it.  We spoke of how easy it can be to fall into moral failure, the high standards overseers are called to, and how important it is for a man to have the full support of his wife.


It was confirmed in me that I do indeed have a genuine calling of God into full-time Christian ministry and that this is what I will continue to pursue in my life.  I believe that Lord is calling me specifically to somewhere in the northern part of the Tampa Bay area to minister.  A few years ago, I was leading worship in a Vineyard church in Inverness, Florida and when that fell through left the area to come to St. Petersburg.  The truth is I was very sad to leave the area and I believe now that it was a mistake.  It is very possible and likely that the Lord is even now leading me back to that area in the very near future. 


I also learned that I am not yet qualified for the Christian ministry.  Pastor Earl and I discussed the qualifications for an Overseer in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1.  I am just not there yet.  I still have much work to do in bringing some of those areas under control.


Lastly, I really enjoyed the fellowship, the prayers, the opportunity to preach, and also the opportunity to meet Charles Smoot in Lancaster; a fellow brother in the Association of Charismatic Reformed Churches.  I do hope to find my way back up to eastern Pennsylvania again, not only to fellowship with brothers Earl and Charles, but also because my Mom and Dad are moving up there too. 


Anyway, sometimes it is good to get away and take a retreat to learn things about oneself.  Especially for me right now as I prepare to turn 30 this month.  I pray that God will continue to bless me and my family and to form us into the image of His Son.  My hope is always to glorify Him in whatever circumstance.  The ministry and the Church belong to Jesus and He puts just the right people in place.  I pray that He will find in me a willing vessel to be used for His purposes.

The Word and Power Church Outline



The following is my outline from the message I gave recently in Philadelphia at The Church of God in the Word.  I hope it is beneficial to the reader.  You can listen to the message in its entirety here.

THE WORD AND POWER CHURCH

An Outline by Christian Edmiston

I. How could we define the Word and Power Church?


A. The Word and Power Church is a fellowship of Christians committed to both the supremacy of the Bible as God's Word and the Gospel it proclaims, while also praying for and expecting the same to be accompanied by spiritual gifts and other acts of power through the Holy Spirit.

1. I prefer the phrase "Word and Power" over "Word and Spirit" mainly because I do not want to unintentionally give the impression that there is too much a distinction between the Holy Spirit and the Bible. The Holy Bible is the book that the Holy Spirit wrote. The words of the Bible are the words of the Holy Spirit.

2. It should also be pointed out that the Word and Power Church is also committed to the other means of grace available to the Church, particularly the Sacraments of water baptism and the Lord's Supper.


B. Before we go any further, we must be sure that the Bible teaches and expects churches to be committed to Word and Power. Let us turn to the New Testament. I want you all to notice Word and Power closely linked together in all these Scriptures (all emphases are mine):


1. Matthew 4:23 NASB

Jesus was going throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every kind of disease and every kind of sickness among the people.

2. Acts 2:42-44 NASB

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common...

3. Romans 15:18,19

For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

4. 1 Corinthians 2:1-4 NASB

And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power...

　

5. 1 Thessalonians 1:5a NASB

...For our Gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction...

6. 1 Timothy 4:13-15 NASB

Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands of the presbytery. Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.

7. 2 Timothy 1:6; 13,14 NASB

For this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands...Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.

8. Hebrews 6:1-5

Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. And this we will do, if God permits. For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come...

9. James 1:21,22; 5:14,15

Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves...Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.

10. 1 Peter 2:2; 4:10 NASB

Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation...As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

11. 1 John 2:24; 4:1-6

As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father...Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

　

II. What is "Word" About the Word and Power Church?


A. Now that I have established how the New Testament links Word and Power together, lets explore some ways in which such a church honors its commitment to the Word:

1. I usually think of the Word in two senses:
    a. The Gospel itself (Acts 14:3; 20:32)
    b. The Scriptures
    c. I will mainly be focusing on this second usage; the Scriptures.


2. The Word and Power Church is focused on accurately teaching and preaching the Bible alone and the doctrines contained theirin. Simply put, the word and power church emphasizes maintaining the pattern of sound doctrine that the Apostles taught the earliest churches and has been maintained throughout the history of the Church.

    a. 1 Timothy 4:6 NASB

In pointing out these things to the brethren, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, constantly nourished on the words of the faith and of the sound doctrine which you have been following.

    b. See also 1 Timothy 6:3 and 2 Timothy 1:13.


3. The Word and Power Church does not pay mere lip service to the importance of theology, but prizes the precious doctrines of the Bible.


4. The word and power church doesn't pit the Bible and the Holy Spirit against each other as if the Holy Spirit ever speaks contrary to the Bible. The word and power church is committed to Sola Scriptura. The Bible is the book that the Holy Spirit wrote, through human authors. If we want to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, we hear it first in the Bible.

   


5. I favor a verse-by-verse expository preaching approach to preaching, but I do not believe that only this approach is glorifying to God or that topical preaching is substandard. Much of this depends of the gifts and background of the preacher/teacher, as well as the makeup of the congregation.




　
III. What is "Power" about the Word and Power Church?


A. The Word and Power Church is unapologetically and consistently continuationist. The word and power church denies any form of cessationism. Neither is it merely "open-but-cautious". 
 
B. The Word and Power Church understands that the gifts of the Holy Spirit and other manifestations of God's power are given for two primary purposes:


1. The building up and equipping of believers
    a. 1 Corinthians 12:7 NASB

But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

    b. 1 Corinthians 14:12 NASB

So also you, since you are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek to abound for the edification of the church.

    c. Ephesians 4:11-16 NASB

And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.

    d. 1 Peter 4:10

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

2. The second purpose is for power to fulfill the Great Commission given by Jesus before He ascended (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-18; Luke 24:46-49; John 20:21-23; Acts 1:8).


    a. Mark 16:15-18 NASB

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

    b. Acts 1:8 NASB

...But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth."

　

IV. So What is the Takeaway?


A. I believe that what I have shared is not only true, but also is worthy of investing in and exploring further. I hope that I have inspired you to think a little differently about how we can go about ministering to each other and to the world through the Church.

Do Charismatics Reject the Ordinary Means of Grace?

Lately, it seems as if I have been hearing a critique of continuationism from those within the cessationist camp that I was unaware of previously.  Namely, some cessationists complain that charismatics reject the ordinary means of grace (for example Scripture, prayer, the sacraments) in favor of emotional experiences supposedly delivered by the Holy Spirit.  I have recently come across this critique here and here.  I thought I would take a few moments to briefly respond.


Firstly, despite being an obvious guilt-manipulation tactic, it should be noted that this is not always untrue.  The reality is, many charismatics and prophetic types really do despise preaching and sacrament and give an unhealthy emphasis to emotions and experiences.  There are places where services degenerate into free-for-alls where every "manifestation", no matter how wild, is considered proof that the Holy Spirit "showed up".  Preaching, if there is any, is relegated to maybe 30 minutes of out-of-context drivel and the sacraments are hardly practiced.  I myself have experienced this phenomenon and have left church fellowships where this has occurred.  It would be stupid of me to deny this tendency doesn't exist.  it manifestly does.  However, it must be stressed that this does not necessarily need to be the case.  It is possible to bring order to our assemblies where spiritual gifts are in evidence (that is the whole point of 1 Corinthians 12-14).


Secondly, this creates a false dichotomy.  I don't have to choose between the ordinary means of grace and spiritual gifts.  Spiritual gifts are an ordinary means of grace.  To neglect the gifts of the Holy Spirit to emphasize preaching and sacrament is wrong.  These we should have done without leaving the others undone.  There is no reason why we should bifurcate the Holy Spirit's ministry into either word and sacrament, or into miracles. 


In short, all of these activities glorify God and minister to His Church.  All of them are ordained for us.  In addition to New Testament imperatives concerning the preaching of the Word (1 Timothy 4:13; 5:17; 2 Timothy 2:2) and administering the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper (Matthew 28:19,20; Romans 6:1-4; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34), the New Testament commands Christians and churches to seek to minister in spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 1:7;12-14; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 4:10).

Testing the Spirits: A Hallmark of Word and Power, 1 John 4:1-6

In the fourth chapter of the First Epistle of John, the Apostle gives some instructions to the churches he is writing to regarding how to know the difference between truth and error in their meetings together.  Rather than a full analysis of the passage, I believe it would be better to draw out some applications of this passage, particularly for those individuals, pastors, and churches that consider themselves to be committed to Word and Power.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.  By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,  and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.   They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.   We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

1 John 4:1-6 NKJV

The first thing I would like to highlight is that the phrase "Beloved, do not believe every spirit" implies that "spirits", or prophetic utterances and by probable extrapolation, other spiritual phenomena, are expected to occur in these churches.  There is no hint, even at this late stage of the Apostolic Era, that the revelatory gifts were on their way out so to speak.  John fully anticipates that his readers will be expectant concerning prophetic activity in their midst.  This is confirmed in that John warns his readers, not about false teachers or false apostles, but about false prophets who will speak error.

Secondly, John tells his readers to test the spirits.  He does not tell them to gullibly accept them or not to question them because to do so might be "unloving" or "pharisaical", or possessing a "religious spirit".  No, the Beloved Apostle instructs the churches to put all claims of revelatory and/or miraculous activity to the test, to see if in fact God is in it or not. 

This flies in the face of the de facto practice of many contemporary charismatic/prophetic movements, who seem to regard all prophecies, miracles, and manifestations as true works of God and proof that the "end-time revival" is at hand.  Those who dare question them are often maligned and ignored as those who just don't get it, or aren't "listening to what the Spirit is saying to the churches" (I have actually heard this language ripped from its context in Revelation to make this exact claim).

Thirdly, the way we are to test the spirits and know their true source is by how these prophecies, manifestations, etc... represent Jesus.  To be sure, in John's day, the issue at hand was whether or not Jesus Christ came in the flesh.  John was battling a form of proto-Gnosticism that was gaining hold of the churches in and around Ephesus.  In our day, at least in the West, the false Jesus we are likely to encounter is a soft, non-offensive Jesus.  A Jesus who doesn't demand holiness or call us to crucify our flesh.  A Jesus who is rather like us in point of fact.  As Word and Power Christian, we must make sure that all of the prophetic utterances we allow to flow within our midst represent the true Jesus who is both God and man - the Jesus who preached repentance and the taking up of one's cross.

Fourthly, it should be plain upon reading this passage that those who are giving these false "spirits" or prophecies with a false Jesus, are self-evidently not born-again believers. In other words, these false prophets that John warns us about whose supernatural activity denies the truth about Jesus, are liars, deceivers - and, as John calls them - antichrists. These individuals and their ministries are those who speak and act like the world. They don't listen to those who truly know and believe the truth. So the next time you are confronted with supernatural activity, ask yourself what kind of Jesus they are preaching; and ask yourself what their attitude is toward those who know the truth of the Gospel. And finally, ask what their attitude is toward the world. That is how you will know whether their miraculous phenomena come from the Spirit of the Living God, or from the spirit of the antichrist.

Predestinarian and Charismatic: An Outline

What follows is a modified outline of a presentation I have recently given at two different small groups.  I thought that I would go ahead and share this with a wider audience.  I hope it is helpful to those who read it. 

Predestinarian and Charismatic (An Outline)
By Christian Edmiston

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, 4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. 5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.
1 Thessalonians 1:2-5 NASB

I.  What is a Predestinarian Charismatic?

A.  A Predestinarian Charismatic is a theologically conservative evangelical Christian who embraces both the Calvinistic doctrines of grace and the continuation and vital importance of all the gifts of the Holy Spirit taught in the New Testament.  A Predestinarian Charismatic does not merely pay lip service to or water down one or both elements, but rather embraces, teaches, and models them.
Additionally, Predestinarian Charismatic Christians are anxious to see the wedding of sound doctrine with displays of God's power in miraculous manifestions.  I call this convergence Word and Power.

  1.  A Predestinarian Charismatic may, or may not choose to identify as "Reformed". While I choose not to, I respect the decision of those who choose to continue using that moniker.

 B.  A Predestinarian Charismatic Christian is supremely interested in grace.

  1.  The most important thing to a Predestinarian Charismatic (and, to be fair, all true Christians) is the Gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24).


But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.  (NASB)


2.  And what is the Gospel of the grace of God?


Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures...
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 NASB

  3.  Predestinarian Charismatics embrace the Doctrines of Grace (TULIP):

   a.    -Total Depravity:  The Need for Grace (John 6:44; Romans 3:9-19; 8:7)
    b.   -Unconditional Election: Grace Before Time (John 6:44; Romans 8:28-30; 9:1-23; Ephesians 1:3-12)
    c.   -Limited Atonement:  Grace Accomplished (John 17:9,19; Romans 5:6-9; Hebrews 10:14)
    d.   -Irresistable Grace:  Grace Applied (John 6:44; Acts 16:14)
    e.    -Perseverence of the Saints:  Finished Grace (John 6:44; 10:27-30; Romans 8:28-30; 33-39; Hebrews 10:14)


 4.  As Charismatic Christians, we embrace all of the charismata, or "grace gifts."

But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.  Therefore it says,
“When He ascended on high,
He led captive a host of captives,
And He gave gifts to men.”
 (Now this expression, “He ascended,” what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth?  He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.)  And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers,  for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 
(Ephesians 4:7-13 NASB)

As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 
( 1 Peter 4:10 NASB)


5.  It is important to remember that in reality, dividing up spiritual gifts into "miraculous" or "non-miraculous" is artificial.  Teaching is just as much a charisma as prophecy.  Serving is just as much a charisma as miracles.  Administration just as much as tongues, etc...  




II.  Why Does it Matter?  Why Emphasize These Points?

 A.  At the risk of sounding overly sectarian, I believe that the these points are important for the following reasons:
 
 1.They are taught in Scripture (see references above)
 2. They have the potential to bring about raproachment between those who emphasize experience over doctrine, and those who favor doctrine over experience.  They matter because obeying the "whole counsel of God" matters (Acts 20:27).
3.  Jesus taught on election (John 6:44,65) and did miracles of power.
4.  The same Paul who wrote Romans 9 also wrote 1 Corinthians 12-14.

A Response to Colin Smith of Alpha and Omega Ministries

Recently, a brief series of posts appeared on Alpha and Omega Ministries blog detailing how and why one Colin Smith, a British national, left the charismatic movement.  You can read part 1 here, and part 2 here.  All this has likely come to the fore as part of the greater ripple effects of Strange Fire.  Recently, Dr. James White and Dr. Michael Brown debated both the extent of the atonement and the validity of modern divine healing.  In brief, the debate over miraculous gifts has only grown more prominent. 


The reality is that I cannot respond to everything that is out there.  Cessationist polemics against charismatic manifestations are numerous and too many for me to respond to.  However, Mr. Smith's testimony caught my eye for a two main reasons and I felt it necessary to respond.  Firstly, his perspective appears on Alpha and Omega Ministries' blog - a ministry that I greatly respect (which is obvious because I link to it).  I have followed Dr. James White's apologetics ministry for several years now and have almost always profited from it.  I actually met Dr. White in 2006 after he debated John Shelby Spong on the issue of homosexuality.  The second reason I felt compelled to respond is that Mr. Smith's reasons for leaving the charismatic movement seemed to me to be based on several misconceptions and faulty logic.  I'll detail those shortly.


The first thing I wish to say in regard to Mr. Smith and his story is that I do not know him and thus I cannot fully gauge the status of his heart or motivations.  I do not question his orthodoxy or the reality of his salvation.  Also, not being personally a part of his experiences does limit how much I can read into them.  All I can go by is what he himself has stated in his blog entries.  With that in mind I commence.


In part 1, Colin Smith takes us to the late 1980s and a trip that he and his friends took to see Benny Hinn.  He details being called up to the stage by Hinn himself, and being "slain" in the Spirit.  Part 2, details the process of him leaving behind the charismatic movement and embracing cessationism.  Smith notes a few of the questions and experiences he had along the way.  I would like to give what I believe are solid answers to those questions, as well as to some assertions that he makes, from an orthodox continuationist position.


Is the Holy Spirit a Gentleman?


This is one question that Mr. Smith asked as he began his journey.  The question was prompted by the positive assertion of such by Benny Hinn.  In fact, I believe it was David DuPlessis who first put it like that.  Throughout Scripture, it seems that the Holy Spirit just came upon people without their prior readiness or even consent.  He just moved upon them and whatever results there were just happened. 


As my answer I can confidently say that that is often how the Holy Spirit comes upon people.  Speaking for myself, many of my own powerful encounters with the Holy Spirit were unplanned (by me anyway) and had unexpected results.  My conversion is the prime example of that as I was given a powerful vision that shattered my resistance to the Spirit's conviction of my sin.  Simply put, the Holy Spirit is not always a "gentleman" and He works how He wills.  Really this is completely irrelevant to the issue of cessation or continuation.


"Would God Bless Bad, Even Heretical Theology With the Miraculous?"


This is a direct quote and an excellent question and one that does need answering.  In the long term, no He would not.  In fact, in the Old Testament, God often withdrew His miraculous power in anger against Israel (Psalm 74:1-9).  However, it should be remembered that God's gifts are gifts of grace.  That is why they are called the charismata.  "Charis" is the Greek word for grace. 


It should be remembered that one of the most gifted churches in the New Testament was the Church at Corinth, which contained some members with bad, even heretical theology (see 1 Corinthians 15).  In addition to bad theology, we find divisions and factions (1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 3:1-4), immorality and a failure to administer church discipline (1 Cor. 5:1-13), believers suing one another (1 Cor. 6:1-8), and gross misconduct concerning the Lord's Supper (1 Cor. 11:17-34).  Despite all of this, Paul gives thanks to God always for the Corinthians in part for the abundance of spiritual gifts among them (1 Cor. 1:4-7; 12:1-14:40).  However, I fully believe that God's power among them would have stopped had they not repented of the above named sins.  Any "manifestations" after that would have been produced by the flesh.


"If the “miracles” at a Benny Hinn meeting are not of God, then could it be that the same things happening elsewhere are also not of God? How would one know?"


This is another direct quote lifted from Mr. Smith's article.  My answer is that this is actually quite easy.  First John 4:1-6 gives us the guidelines.  I suspect that John's main application of this directive concerns the prophetic ministry, but it would be easily applicable in the case of other miraculous manifestations.  If the bringers of prophecies, miracles, signs, etc... are also bringing false doctrines about Christ, than we know that they are not of God and we should not listen to them or be afraid of them.


"If Christianity is nothing more than another flavor of strange supernatural stuff, then its no wonder worldly-minded people go elsewhere."


In response, the key word there is "if".  However, Christianity (and I know Colin Smith would agree) is much more than that.  Christianity is knowing God and His Son Jesus Christ (John 17:3).  That relationship is sometimes accompanied by miraculous manifestations and sometimes it is not.  It is no secret that in many hyper-charismatic circles, it's all about one weird experience after another (falling, shaking, laughing, being "drunk", etc...).  In that environment, I am not surprised (but still grieved) at those who leave the faith entirely and embrace atheism or agnosticism.  If that is the foundation of one's faith, that is almost the sure result. 


In a related point, Smith implies, along with many other cessationists, that these manifestations are really just dissociative psychological events that often occur in other non-religious contexts (such as a Paul McCartney concert).  In many cases, I am sure that is true.  But doesn't that imply that truly miraculous events have no psychological component at all?  In other words, either it's genuinely of God, or it's only a psychological experience?  Why can't an experience of God's love and power have truly healthy psychological effects?  Peter fell into a trance (Acts 10:10).  So did Paul (Acts 22:17,18).  It could have been argued, from the outside looking in, that they simply had dissociative episodes.


"If the canon of Scripture is closed, why look for prophets with new revelation? If Scripture is everything that 2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells me it is, then what else do I need to hear from God other than the inspired Word He has already revealed?"


I have answered this objection before here.


"...the Word indicates we can expect persecution, tribulation, distress, and famine (Romans 8:35)"


Absolutely.  But that is beside the point.  There is nothing here that suggests that the miraculous won't occur.  Jesus did miracles and was crucified.  Peter and Paul performed signs and wonders and were martyred.


God ordains sickness and trials in order to glorify Himself (Genesis 50:20; John 9:3).


Again, I agree.  However, God is also glorified in delivering from trials and healing sickness.  In fact, it is ironic that John 9:3 is referenced.  In this story (John 9:1-41), Jesus and His disciples pass by a blind man and the disciples ask whether it was him or his parents who sinned so as to cause his blindness.  Christ answered that it was neither.  He was born blind so that the works of God could be seen in him; i.e., healing his blindness, and causing him to follow Jesus and also to serve as a metaphor for the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees.


"And there are harsh words in the New Testament regarding those who seek signs and wonders (Luke 11:29; John 2:23-25; John 4:48)."


This is only true if that is all it takes to believe in Jesus.  In fact, the Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign, not out of faith, but out of unbelief.  To quote Dr. John Piper:




This raises two questions: 1) Why was the prayer for signs and wonders in Acts 4:29-30 not wicked and adulterous, in view of what Jesus said in Matthew 12:39? and 2) Why did the seeking and occurrence of signs and wonders in the missionary effort of first century Christians not contradict the sufficiency of the gospel as the power of God unto salvation?


The answer to the first question comes from the context of Jesus' indictment of sign-seeking. Seeking signs from God is "wicked and adulterous" when the demand for more and more evidence comes from a resistant heart and simply covers up an unwillingness to believe. If we are carrying on a love affair with the world, and our husband, Jesus, after a long separation, comes to us and says, "I love you and I want you back," one of the best ways to protect our adulterous relationship with the world is to say, "You're not really my husband; you don't really love me. Prove it. Give me some sign." If that's the way we demand a sign, then we are a wicked and adulterous generation.


But if we come to God with a heart aching with longing for vindication of his glory and the salvation of sinners, then we are not wicked and adulterous. We are a faithful wife, only wanting to honor our husband.
(http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/signs-and-wonders-then-and-now)


It should also be remembered that one of the prayers of the early Christians that Luke records for us in Holy Scripture is a prayer that God would extend His hand to heal and to perform mighty signs and wonders (Acts 4:23-31).


"One of our problems is that we have become so used to God’s grace in our lives, we fail to recognize the miracles He is working in our midst every day. The fact that our propensity for sin is restrained, the fact that hard-hearted sinners become lovers of God and servants of Christ, the fact that the penalty for my sin has been paid by Another—these are all miracles, no less remarkable than the raising of Lazarus from the dead. And what was the raising of Lazarus other than a sign pointing to that greater wonder: the resurrection of dead souls to new life in Christ?"


This creates a false dichotomy.  It is not as if I have to choose between the miracles of regeneration/sanctification and miracles of physical healing and raising the dead.  The presence of the former does not negate the presence of the latter.


"First Corinthians 12-14 is not a manual on how to use spiritual gifts, but was written to correct the abuse of those gifts within the church at Corinth.


That is a baseless assertion.  Paul is certainly correcting abuses.  That is the occasion for this section.  But in the midst of correcting abuses, he gives instruction as to their proper use.  These instructions are still relevant today because the abuses Paul mentions are still happening.  Like any warning label on any product I might buy at the store, we are sometimes told what not to do before being instructed on what to do.






I want to state again that I do not know Colin Smith personally and in fact, this is my first encounter with anything he has written.  I hope that my tone, while vigorous, is nevertheless irenic.  I also want to state again the tremendous respect and admiration I have for Alpha and Omega Ministries.  It has been such a help to me for several years and I still recommend it to others who are searching for theologically solid resources.

Understanding John 6:44 and 12:32 - A Calvinist View

The other night, I began a small group study devoted to exploring a predestinarian charismatic theology and how Word and Power might be wedded together as God intended.  The turnout was low, as it was only me, my wife, my dad, and my son (who couldn't really participate seeing that he is only six months old; my daughter was being babysat).  We had a good time though and I got some good feedback.  The really interesting thing about it is that my dad is not Calvinistic.  He is not exactly an Arminian, he just has a general free-will theology when it comes to election.  For the record, by dad is a wonderful Christian and one of the greatest spiritual influences in my life, which is good because that's what Christian dads are supposed to be.  He is loosely charismatic, but not in any way Calvinistic. 

The reader can imagine then how nervous I felt as I began sharing that aspect of being Calvinistic and charismatic.  I briefly touched on all five points and some of the Scriptural support for them.  I couldn't go really in-depth because time was limited, but I really do think that I faithfully represented the Calvinistic view of election and predestination and how such are taught in Scripture.  Dad listened attentively and I noticed him taking notes (He had a copy of the presentation that I had made). 


One thing that became apparent was how heavily I relied on John 6:44.  Indeed, I referenced it as a proof-text for four of the five points (the exception being Limited Atonement, but that doctrine is put forth elsewhere in Scripture).  John 6:44 says this:

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.  NASB

I noted that Jesus clearly says that the only way a person can come to Him is if that person is drawn by the Father.  Every one of those who are drawn by the Father come to Jesus and are "raised up on the last day", which is clearly a reference to final salvation from sin.  Since it is clear that not all persons everywhere at every time will be raised up on the last day, it is also clear that not all are drawn by the Father.  Thus the drawing by the Father is particular and sovereign since it takes this drawing to come to Jesus.  Human beings lack the capacity to come to Jesus on their own.

At the end, my dad asked me how I, as a Calvinist, reconcile my understanding of John 6:44 with what Christ says later in John's Gospel in 12:32:

And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.  NASB

It is evident here that all men will be drawn to Jesus in this text, and not only a particular group as 6:44 claims, says dad.  How do I reconcile my Calvinistic convictions in the light of this text?  What follows is a summary of how I answered my dad's question and what I understand Jesus to say in John 12:32 and how it happily accords with what He earlier said in 6:44.

In a nutshell, I noted two things about both texts by way of contrast.  Firstly, In 6:44 it is God the Father doing the drawing.  In 12:32, it is God the Son - Jesus Christ who does the drawing.  Now it is possible that I am overstating this difference, but I do not think so because of my next point.  In the context of 12:32, we find that Jesus has entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and after He had entered, we are introduced to some Greeks, presumably God-fearers who had come to worship at the Passover feast.   The text of John 12 picks up the story:

Now there were some Greeks among those who were going up to worship at the feast;  these then came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and began to ask him, saying, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.”  Philip came and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip came and told Jesus.  And Jesus answered them, saying, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.  Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.  He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal. If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also; if anyone serves Me, the Father will honor him.

 “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.”  So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.”  Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes.  Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.  And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”  


John 12:20-32 NASB

Christ is answering the request of the Greeks to Philip and Andrew to see Jesus.  Jesus reveals that His hour has come when He is to die.  By His death, like a grain of wheat, He will reap a bountiful harvest of souls for His Kingdom.  However, like elsewhere in John's Gospel, Jesus is not going to die for the people of Israel alone, but also for the gentiles, including Greeks, so as to gather them together into one (see also John 11:49-52).  I conclude then that when Jesus says He will draw all men to Himself, that He means that He, by His death, will draw men, women, and children from all nations to Himself.  This perfectly accords with Jesus' earlier statement that only those drawn by the Father can come to Him, and thus be finally saved and raised up on the last day.