Jim Thompson Cessationist

Over the summer I bought and later read Jim Thompson's book Healing and healers today which is an excellent enquiry into New Testament healing, overwhelmingly specious modern claims and the matter of whether we should expect miraculous healings today. This book led me to his shorter related book Prophecy Today which came out a few years ago. This well argued little book sets out the cessationist argument. I couldn't go with him on the argument from 1 Corinthians 13 in the end but that is not an essential interpretation for the cessationist case. I think every Christian, whatever view they hold to or if they are unsure, would benefit from a perusal of these two books. They are clear, through and irenic. I for one am very thankful for them. (Not sure why EP didn't come up with more uniform covers. Hope they sell out of both soon and bring out a combined version).

Lord's Day October 5 2014

So yesterday we were back to our studies in 1 Corinthians 13 in the morning and we continued in the five point of Calvinism in the evening. By now all hope of keeping well ahead with sermon preparation (weeks rather than days or hours) is gone and so we are into more of a routine in the good sense. We started the day with communion. I spoke about Barabbas briefly and a decent number were there. In 1 Corinthians we had reached verses 8-12 where decisions had to be made about interpretation. As a cessationist I find the cessationist view of the passage attractive but ended up going for the view of James W Scott expounded in the Westminster Journal a little while ago. I spoke to the children for the last time on Hezekiah. In the evening we were on to irresistible grace. Grace is such a great subject, especially irresistible or effective grace. I was only sorry there weren't more to hear it.

Great Weekend 02

On the Sunday Geoff preached. In the morning he looked at the Ephesians who had not heard of the Holy Spirit in Acts and applied it in a non-second blessing cessationist manner. It satisfied our Charismatic friend as Geoff simply stuck to the text.

We had lunch together following that. Still being larger than usual we used the chapel to get us all in. There were a few extras. I unearthed the minute book appointing me. Quite unspectacular in style. My favourite line is the matter of fact "We need to give £100 a week extra". There was a message from a lady in New Zealand who was given a tract some years ago, came in was converted and moved on 5 weeks later. She could remember the text (Galatians 3). So encouraging. We also sang happy birthday to Mike who is 50 and Geoff (we'd celebrated as a family the day before) and Ben, one of our teenagers.

We also had tea together and then in the evening service Geoff preached on being sealed with the Spirit in line with his earlier message. Just great stuff. Some of the congregation had not heard Geoff preach before. I think they thought he was just there as my relation. They were pleasantly surprised. Eleri's brother-in-law Glyn was there in time for the final bit. He'd been speaking at a young life get together in Quinta. Most of the family had to be straight off after the evening service. It's been great seeing everyone.

Cessationism

Cessationism (the belief that supernatural gifts have ceased to be given to the church) is not a subject we've touched on in these pages but I am a cessationist and the recent post on it by John Kilpatrick here is worth casting an eye over whichever side you are on.