cessationism
The view that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit (healing, tongues, prophetic revelations) ended with the apostolic age, and that while God still does do miracles, he does not gift individuals with the miraculous spiritual gifts.
- Scripture that helps make the case:
…[Y]ou are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone…. (Ephesians 2:19-20 ESV)
- From Commentary on Galatians by Martin Luther (quote found here):
In the early Church the Holy Spirit was sent forth in visible form. He descended upon Christ in the form of a dove (Matt. 3:16), and in the likeness of fire upon the apostles and other believers. (Acts 2:3.) This visible outpouring of the Holy Spirit was necessary to the establishment of the early Church, as were also the miracles that accompanied the gift of the Holy Ghost. Paul explained the purpose of these miraculous gifts of the Spirit in I Corinthians 14:22, “Tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not.” Once the Church had been established and properly advertised by these miracles, the visible appearance of the Holy Ghost ceased.
- Theopedia: Cessationism
- GotQuestions.org: Is cessationism biblical?
- Richard Gaffin: Where Have All the Spiritual Gifts Gone?
- Bob Gonzales: A Humble Argument for the Cessation of NT Prophesy and Tongues, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8.
- Nathan Busenitz: What Cessasionism Is Not
- Monergism.com: Long list of audio resources on cessationism
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