In 1 Corinthians 14:33, Paul set forth a general principle of the nature of God which we must ever keep in view if we are to rightly handle the word of truth. In the context, it had to do with the use of the miraculous gifts in the worship of the church in the first century. It seems the Corinthians had become proud of the gifts they had, so they wanted to put them on display when they were gathered for worship. The point Paul made concerning these gifts was that their only function was to build up the church and glorify God, not to build up a person’s ego and glorify the individual.
Many sincere people today believe individuals are currently endowed with miraculous abilities from the Holy Spirit. Many more believe the Holy Spirit guides their understanding directly, mostly by some inner feeling or intuition. This idea is used to justify any number of teachings and practices contrary to the New Testament.
The confusion that is wrought by those professing such gifts is proof positive that it is not, indeed it could not be, from God. God is consistent in His teachings and expectations for everyone who lives under the New Covenant in Christ’s blood. A few important principles connected to this passage in 1 Corinthians 14 will bolster the case that every person today should seek truth in the Scriptures rather than in a feeling.
First, the Bible is clear that the miraculous gifts were limited in scope, both as to who would receive them and the length of time they would remain (Jn. 15:26-27; 16:12-15; Acts 1:1-8; 2:43; 5:12; 8:14-19; 1 Cor. 13:8-12; Eph. 3:1-5). In the above listed passages, it is clear the apostles were those who received the miraculous gifts, and they were also the only ones capable of passing those gifts to others. This would mean once the apostles died, there would be no one able to pass the gifts to the next generation. Furthermore, Jesus promised them (the apostles) that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth (Jn. 16:12-15). If the apostles left this earth without having received all truth, then Jesus failed of His promise. 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 leaves no doubt the miracles would cease when the revelation was complete.
A second reason to reject anything contrary to the Scriptures is the very nature of God. 1 John 3:20 says God knows everything. In addition to His omniscience, He is unchanging (Num. 23:19; Heb. 13:8). Not only does God not change, but His word endures forever (Mt. 24:35; 1 Pt. 1:22-25). Finally, God shows no personal favoritism which means He does not have a different will for different people (Acts 10:34-35; Rom. 2:11; Gal. 2:6; Eph. 6:9). Adding all this up, we know that God could not forget what He told one person because He knows everything. Neither could He have changed His mind since the once for all deliverance of the faith (Jude 3). His word is still just as valid today as it was then, so it does not need to be amended. Finally, He could not demand different things of different people for He shows no favoritism.
A final, practical reason to disbelieve the modern day “prophet” is that, amongst the several groups claiming direct revelation from God, there is a great deal of contradiction from one group to the next. If God is not the author of such confusion, then clearly someone else must be inspiring these conflicting ideas. Could it be the great deceiver is really pulling the strings? Only he could sow such confusion.
Many sincere people today believe individuals are currently endowed with miraculous abilities from the Holy Spirit. Many more believe the Holy Spirit guides their understanding directly, mostly by some inner feeling or intuition. This idea is used to justify any number of teachings and practices contrary to the New Testament.
The confusion that is wrought by those professing such gifts is proof positive that it is not, indeed it could not be, from God. God is consistent in His teachings and expectations for everyone who lives under the New Covenant in Christ’s blood. A few important principles connected to this passage in 1 Corinthians 14 will bolster the case that every person today should seek truth in the Scriptures rather than in a feeling.
First, the Bible is clear that the miraculous gifts were limited in scope, both as to who would receive them and the length of time they would remain (Jn. 15:26-27; 16:12-15; Acts 1:1-8; 2:43; 5:12; 8:14-19; 1 Cor. 13:8-12; Eph. 3:1-5). In the above listed passages, it is clear the apostles were those who received the miraculous gifts, and they were also the only ones capable of passing those gifts to others. This would mean once the apostles died, there would be no one able to pass the gifts to the next generation. Furthermore, Jesus promised them (the apostles) that the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth (Jn. 16:12-15). If the apostles left this earth without having received all truth, then Jesus failed of His promise. 1 Corinthians 13:8-12 leaves no doubt the miracles would cease when the revelation was complete.
A second reason to reject anything contrary to the Scriptures is the very nature of God. 1 John 3:20 says God knows everything. In addition to His omniscience, He is unchanging (Num. 23:19; Heb. 13:8). Not only does God not change, but His word endures forever (Mt. 24:35; 1 Pt. 1:22-25). Finally, God shows no personal favoritism which means He does not have a different will for different people (Acts 10:34-35; Rom. 2:11; Gal. 2:6; Eph. 6:9). Adding all this up, we know that God could not forget what He told one person because He knows everything. Neither could He have changed His mind since the once for all deliverance of the faith (Jude 3). His word is still just as valid today as it was then, so it does not need to be amended. Finally, He could not demand different things of different people for He shows no favoritism.
A final, practical reason to disbelieve the modern day “prophet” is that, amongst the several groups claiming direct revelation from God, there is a great deal of contradiction from one group to the next. If God is not the author of such confusion, then clearly someone else must be inspiring these conflicting ideas. Could it be the great deceiver is really pulling the strings? Only he could sow such confusion.