Expert: Marvin Howard - 10/19/2006

Question
Do you believe God speaks directly to us today or did His revelation to man cease with the New Testament? Or does your church's position fall somewhere in the middle, i.e. that God may choose to speak directly to some men, but not to most?

Answer
Hi!

Jack, thank you for the opportunity to answer this question for you. However, before I do, I see within your question a common error regarding the church. The church is not a denomination, and a denomination is not part of the church, regardless of the copious amounts of misinformation put out there, even if it consists of the very names these groups choose for themselves. As such, the church does not take positions. We are not free to do so. We do not hold councils, synods, association meetings, or anything like them to determine our beliefs by a vote on the wisdom of men. Rather, the church stands with, and only with, God and the Bible as our source of authority. Another difference is that the church will not go to the Bible to try to prove a point that is already believed (or that is desired) as do the denominations. Rather, the church goes to the Bible and lets it tell us what to believe. On these two differences hang the very answer to your question.

2nd Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”

In actuality, there is no word in the Greek that is simply translated simply as “inspiration.” In fact, one word is translated as “inspiration,” and the additional, prepositional phrase; “of God.” Here, I offer the Greek definition, and a short explanation of this definition, in my own words.

θεόπνευστος
theopneustos
theh-op'-nyoo-stos
From G2316 and a presumed derivative of G4154; divinely breathed in: - given by inspiration of God.

Thus says Strong’s Lexicon.

θεόπνευστος
theopneustos
Thayer Definition:
1) inspired by God
1a) the contents of the scriptures
Part of Speech: adjective
A Related Word by Thayer’s/Strong’s Number: from G2316 and a presumed derivative of G4154 Citing in TDNT: 6:453, 876

Thus says Thayer’s Lexicon.

Basically, the definition infers that the Scriptures, all of them, are the very breath of God. Such breath is given when speaking. Can we use Scripture to further define the breath of God? Yes, I believe we can. Why would this be important? There are several reasons, but here are the two main reasons. Firstly, there are many who have a lesser view of Scriptures than they ought. Secondly, there are many who claim divine revelations of the Holy Spirit today. This second reason will be discussed at the appropriate time.

Spirit and inspiration carry the same root word, etymologically speaking; “spire.” A “spire” (noun) is somewhere there is a “breathtaking” view (e.g., a mountain top or the top of a building). To “respire” (i.e., respiration) is for us to “breathe repetitively,” and to “expire” (i.e., expiration) is for us to “breathe our last,” or die. Therefore, “to spire” (verb) is the equivalent of “to breathe.” So, what then is the Word, the breath, of God?

John 1:1 & 14, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

Jesus is the Word of God. Also, we must consider this passage, and others like it.

John 14:23-27, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

The Comforter, that is to say the Holy Spirit, came in the name of (i.e., by the authority of) Jesus. Moreover, since the word “spirit” has the same root word we discussed earlier, “spire,” the Holy Spirit is also the breath of God.

The fact that the Father breathed, and Jesus is the breath of God, and the Spirit is also the breath of God, and that the Scriptures are the breath of God demonstrates soundly that the Father, Son, and Spirit, though three, are in fact one, and that the Scriptures are one with them. Thus, the contents of the Bible are far more important than any other book, and should be respected and handled accordingly, according to 2nd Timothy 2:15.

This brings us to the second reason for its importance; that is, authority of the Scriptures, as opposed to “divine” revelation given at another time (e.g., today).

John 17:17, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

We previously discussed how Jesus is the Word. Here, we find that the Word is Truth.

John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

God must be worshipped in Spirit and in Truth. Since Jesus is the Word, and the Word is Truth, then worship must be conducted in accordance with the Word of Jesus; God, the Son. Worship must be conducted in accordance with the Bible. While this specifically covers worship, what does the Bible/the Spirit/Jesus say about other aspects of religion?

Matthew 28:18, “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”

Normally, the word “power” comes from the Greek δύναμις dunamis (pronounced doo'-nam-is), and is the etymological root of our word “dynamite.” This is “power,” as used in Romans 1:16 and many other places in the Bible, and has a meaning of “strength.” However, “power,” as used here, is not limited to strength, though that is included. Here is the Strong’s definition of “power” as used in reference to Jesus in Matthew’s account.

ἐξουσία
exousia
ex-oo-see'-ah
From G1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, that is, (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence: - authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.

Thayer echoes the definition’s inclusion of “authority” in the meaning of this word. In fact, this is the source of our English word, “exude.” In other words, this is something that comes out of every pore of Jesus’ Being. Therefore, Jesus declares that He has all “authority” in Heaven and on earth. Since the Bible is, by extension, Jesus Himself, then all religious authority for us is found in the Bible.

Colossians 3:17, “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

The context of this passage proceeds from the singing of worship (v. 16) and continues through the relationship of wives and husbands (vv. 17ff). This indicates that doing things in the name of Jesus (e.g., by His authority) extends past things we do in worship, to everyday life. Religion is not merely a system of belief, but it is a system of belief upon which one bases his/her entire life in devout, studious, and assiduous practice.

Hebrews 1:1-4, “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; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.”

Yes, the Scriptures are verbally inspired by God. Yes, they contain every whit of authority available to any man. If you believe the Scriptures, there is no room left for any other, whether a supposed prophet, or not. If you believe another man, there is no room left for the Scriptures. Moses is no longer a valid source of authority. Mohammed is not a source of authority. Nimrod, Nichren, Nietzsche, Ra, Isis, Shiva, and Buddha are not sources of authority. Ratsinger is not a source of authority. Luther is not a source of authority. Calvin is not a source of authority. Lucado is not a source of authority. No other denominational founder or leader is a source of authority. Likewise, I am not a source of authority, nor is any other man, woman, or child, living or dead, real or imagined, past, present, or future.

The guidance of the Holy Spirit was promised to the Apostles. The Holy Spirit is the breath of God, as is Jesus and the Bible. Therefore, what the Apostles wrote were the words of Jesus, as relayed by another. Here is the proof of my statement.

John 16:13, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.”

John 14:26, “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

The Holy Spirit only spoke those words already spoken by Jesus, and he was only promised in this capacity to the Apostles. We can find no place in Scripture where it was promised to anyone else, and we can find no other person to have this miraculous guidance other than those who had the hands of one of the 12 laid upon them, whether Christian or not. Contrary to catholic teaching, there is no record of Apostolic succession. In fact, there are only 2 recorded instances where someone other than an original Apostle became an Apostle, and only one of these was a succession. One is Matthias in Acts chapter 1. Matthias was a special case to replace the betrayer, Judas, in accordance with prophecy. He cannot be used to demonstrate the normal way of doing things. The other is Paul. This addition was by the supernatural authority of Jesus in order to get the Gospel into the hands of the Gentiles.

Once the 14 Apostles were dead, and those to whom they had imparted the gifts successively died, there remained no more miracles performed at the hands of men, including prophecy.

For the Holy Spirit to say something today to an individual, something not found in Scripture, would be spurious and illogical, forcing Him to work against Himself. Additionally, if He tells something to someone today in another means, and that is something necessary for their belief, then He (though He is God) becomes the “respecter of persons” Scripture says He is not (Acts 10:34).

For a further study on the cessation of the work of the Holy Spirit by any means other than the Bible, please see the following sermon I posted in February, 2003. I would include it here, but I am running out of room. You may find the sermon at the following address:

http://www.geocities.com/braswellcoc1/archive3.html

Jack, I pray that you have a profitable study from these materials. I pray that you understand the difference between the church of the Bible and the imposter denominations. If I can be of further assistance to you, please do not hesitate to ask.

In His Service,
Marvin Howard
http://www.geocities.com/preacherman_1962
http://360.yahoo.com/preacherman_1962