Cessationist Conference with Multiple Guest Speakers | Day 1

Conference Announcements and Schedule

Ready? All right. Good evening everyone finish finding your place here. All right. Welcome to our cessationist conference. We were gonna have some songs here tonight, but that didn't work out. So we're just gonna go straight into our announcements.

I want to give you a note about the schedule of events that you have in front of you. That's kind of a loose schedule of events. We're starting right on time. We plan to do that again tomorrow. But as the sessions unfold that we may not hold to that we're hoping to put in a couple of things like some Introductions of the speakers as well as introducing the filmmakers who are here with us this evening and for this weekend.

We're gonna do that tomorrow. So we're gonna be dropping in a couple of unnoted events on your schedule there. We are providing lunch tomorrow as well as snacks in the morning and throughout the day tomorrow and so I think that there is a Offering box out somewhere if you would like to contribute to the cost of the meals any money that is generated over and above what it costs to put on this conference is going to go toward providing some of the incidentals for the speakers and Filmmakers like meals between some of our activities.

There is a book table in the back and you'll see on your table that there is a book list there the authors that are listed there in italics at the top those Most of those authors have provided a resource that is at cost or substantially Discounted so the ones in italics are actually those authors are bringing their books here to give them to you at their cost.

They ship them here so if you would like to when you're purchasing books at that book table give something over and above to those authors that will go To them and it would be a great blessing to them.

You'll notice that my books are listed on there as at cost as well. Don't give any donation to me and I mean that seriously because most of you come to Kootenai Community Church. You don't need to give me a donation for those books save your generosity for the other guys who are speakers here.

I Believe that that is it. So I'm going to introduce our first speaker. He said to me before I stepped up here. He said I said, are you ready to go? And he said yeah, that's right. This is the continuation this conference, right?

And I said, yes, you have 30 seconds to make your case. Kevin is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Canova, West Virginia. He received a master's of divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and is currently working on a doctor of ministry and expository Preaching from the master's seminary.

Kevin is married to Alicia who is here as well, and they have eight children. Please. Welcome Kevin. Hey.

Ephesians 2 and the Completion of the Church’s Foundation

If your hospitality and Jim Osman for hosting this event, and of course the makers of the film Cessationist not continuationist. I know where I'm at. Just for putting this conference together it's already been a great blessing to me and my wife and just looking forward to seeing how the Lord is going to use our time together and also how he's going to use this movie to strengthen and Edify the body of Christ.

So with that said this evening. I have been tasked with the responsibility of defining cessationism. Defining cessationism. And so with that in mind I want to invite and encourage you to grab your copy of God's Word and open it with me if you will.

To the book of Ephesians Chapter 2 The Apostle Paul's epistle to the Ephesians. And we're going to begin in Ephesians chapter 2 For context up to this point in Paul's letter He has expounded upon the robust richness of the gospel and the glorious grace of God that has been Lavished upon those who have trusted in Christ for salvation.

And now our text begins in chapter 2 verse 11. And so for those who are able I'll ask that you stand with me for the reading of God's Word. Ephesians chapter 2 Will begin in verse 11 and read through verse 22 and there God's Word reads.

Therefore remember That at one time you Gentiles in the flesh called the uncircumcision By what is called the circumcision which is made in the flesh by hands. Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ alienated from the Commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise Having no hope and without God in the world.

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace Who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility By abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two so making peace and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross thereby killing the hostility.

And he came and Preached peace to you who are far off and peace to those who were near for through him. We both have access in one spirit to the father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens.

But you 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 in whom the whole structure being joined together grows Into a holy temple in the Lord in him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit and With that you can be seated as we ask God to bless the reading and the preaching of his word father.

Father we come to you this evening in the name The perfect name and the perfect work of your son Jesus Christ. Father what a privilege we have to gather together in this place for this purpose above all to to worship you to ascribe to you the richness and the the majesty and the splendor of your greatness to open your word and to To see the excellencies of Christ and the the glory of your work through the power of your spirit in your church.

I thank you for this church, and I thank you for Their great love for you and for your word. I'm excited Lord within myself to to think of all that you're doing in our midst how you have Providentially orchestrated this event this conference this weekend.

You pray your blessings upon The cessation is film and our time together. As we open your word father. I pray that you would anoint the preaching of your word that your spirit would Would move among us and that you would be honored and glorified.

I pray that you help me to to preach with confidence and conviction and clarity and Compassion as we hear your word, I pray Lord that we would be transformed and changed by it. Help us to see with eyes of faith what you're doing Throughout redemptive history both in the past at the beginning of the church's life, but also today.

I Pray father that you will give us a spirit empowered increase of affection For your word and for your Christ. Help us to love the church well and help us to celebrate all that you are doing in our midst.

And we pray this in the powerful and precious name of Christ. Amen, well if you were to walk into my office at the church where I pastor You would see sitting in the corner leaning against my bookshelf a tall Cylinder shaped set of papers that are bound together with a rubber band.

And if you were to unroll that set of papers you would find the blueprints to the house that my wife and I are prayerfully seeking to build. Included in those blueprints, of course are the specific measurements and the dimensions for the foundation of our house.

Now my wife and my children and I we know where we want to lay the foundation. Actually, we we already own the land and we visited the property many times. We've taken pictures and had picnics and we we can't wait to see the day when we finally are able to break ground.

At the same time I know how important the foundation is to the overall structure of our future home. In fact, my dad is a carpenter who builds houses for a living and so throughout my life. From childhood into young adulthood.

I have both seen and helped build a number of houses with my dad and when I look back at the multitude of homes that were constructed I can say with absolute confidence that There was never a single time when anyone was upset with the completion of the foundation never happened.

The homeowners were always ecstatic to see the foundation laid because that meant that progress on their house was being made. My dad was always excited because with the completion of the Foundation that meant that he could begin to build the floor and the walls and then the roof.

And even the concrete workers were happy because with the foundation finished it meant another job well done. So my friends throughout this conference We are going to be examining the nature of the Holy Spirit's work in and through the church and in that process we are going to be celebrating the completion of the church's foundation and The ongoing ways in which Christ is building his church according to the sovereign supernatural power of the Holy Spirit Today.

So to that end as we begin to look this evening at our text from Ephesians chapter 2 The first thing I want us to notice is the overarching progression of the passage. Speaking specifically to the Gentiles.

Paul begins by reminding them of who they used to be as unbelieving Gentiles not only were they spiritually separated from Christ, but they were completely Alienated from the knowledge of God that had been revealed to the Jews in Christ though they've now been brought near Paul says and through the cross God has eliminated the hostility that existed between Jews and Gentiles and Signifying that is the reference we see in verse 14 He speaks there of Christ being our peace and of quote breaking down the dividing wall of hostility.

It's worth noting that at that time in the Jewish temple There was an outer area that the Gentiles could enter into but then there was a literal wall that actually Divided and physically prevented the Gentiles from entering in to the inner courts of the temple.

In fact, there were warning signs which have been discovered years later. Which say no foreigner is allowed to enter within the barricades surrounding the sanctuary and the court. Whoever is caught will be personally responsible for his ensuing death.

And so Paul here is using a play on words to communicate to these Gentiles that there is no longer a distinction. They're no longer prevented or separated. God has given to them the same privileges that are possessed by believing Jews.

But then from there Paul uses three metaphors that I want us to notice to demonstrate that reality. The first one is found at the beginning of verse 19. Christ who is our peace has preached peace to both Jews and Gentiles through his death on the cross.

Those who are both near and far who believe upon him for salvation. He says are no longer strangers or foreigners. But rather they are now fellow Citizens, so it's this metaphor of citizenship with Christ as King.

But then Paul to see the progression of our passage brings us. Even further at the end of verse 19 He uses the metaphor of a family saying that through the gospel We're not just fellow citizens of Christ's kingdom, but we're actually members of the household of God.

We're sons and daughters of the Living God, but then not to stop there Paul brings us even further still I'm going back to the imagery of the temple that he mentioned earlier. The Apostle now makes the transition in verses 20 through 22 to say that we're not just fellow citizens of Christ's kingdom.

We're not just spiritual siblings in the household of God. No, we are actually the very temple of God himself. We are being built together as the very place where God dwells. Which is the church of Jesus Christ and it's all accomplished by this Supernatural power of God's Spirit.

And so it's this description of the church that I want us to use as a Framework this evening to help guide us in our definition of cessationism. And I want to do that in the form of three affirmations.

So if you look with me at the beginning of verse 20 The first thing I I want us to recognize this evening is that cessationism affirms and celebrates the foundational completion of the church. Cessationism affirms and celebrates the foundational completion of the church now.

This is not a trick question. But let me ask you this evening when building a structure how many foundations are there? I said it's not a trick question. One, thank you. That's right one foundation. You do not build a foundation.

Construct the first floor and then build another foundation on the second story. No by its very definition the foundation of a structure is only built one time. Even massive skyscrapers towering thousands of feet into the air still have just a single foundation.

The Apostle Paul will make this very point in his first epistle to the Corinthians in chapter 3 Verses 10 and 11 when he writes according to the grace of God given to me like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation and Someone else is building upon it.

Let each one take care how he builds upon it for no one can lay a foundation Other than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ. And so not only as a general principle, but also specifically as it pertains to the church.

There is only one foundation as the opening stanza to that great hymn proclaims the church's one Foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord. She is his new creation by water and the Word from heaven. He came and sought her to be his Holy Bride with his own blood.

He bought her and for her life he died. And of course all true believers will triumphantly declare that Christ is the church's foundation just as the end of verse 20 tells us that Christ is The cornerstone and just so we understand and thinking about Paul's metaphor of a temple.

The cornerstone was the strongest most significant part of the temple's foundation. It was the first stone to be laid and it set the trajectory for the rest of the structure. So all genuine believers Regardless of where they stand on the gifts joyfully agree on Christ as the centrality of the foundation but when it comes to the completion of the foundation, this is where cessationists and continuationists disagree.

As Cessationists we affirm that the foundation of the church has been beautifully gloriously objectively finished. There is no ongoing work to be done to the foundation. There is no subjectiveness or speculation because Christ is the cornerstone.

There is no need for renovation. There are no cracks that need to be repaired missing pieces that need to be added or areas that need to be leveled. No as cessationists we stand unapologetically upon the rock-solid foundation with absolute confidence.

For.

Continuationists, although they may not admit it in order to be consistent They would have to acknowledge that they believe the foundation of the church is incomplete. Not as it pertained keep in mind to the finished work of Christ.

But particularly in the area that we find described in the next part of verse 20 if you look there with me Paul continues writing there stating that this foundation is quote of the Apostles and Prophets and so the next thing I want us to recognize this evening is that cessationism affirms and celebrates the foundational role of the Apostles and prophets.

Cessationism affirms and celebrates the foundational role of the Apostles and Prophets. So first of all, it's important to note here that It's not that these individuals themselves are the substance of the foundation.

It's not what Paul is saying that place belongs to Christ and Christ alone but rather the idea is that God has called certain individuals to play a pivotal role in Establishing the church's foundation.

Once again to use Paul's own testimony from 1st Corinthians 3 10 and 11. He says according to the grace of God given to me like a skilled master builder. I laid a foundation. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid which is Jesus Christ.

So we can think of the Apostles and prophets then who were called and empowered by God's grace in the earliest days of the Church's existence as foundation builders. That's what they were. God was establishing the foundation of the church through these Apostles and prophets.

And we're gonna spend most of our time this evening focusing on the Apostles. But I do want to take just a few minutes to identify these prophets. Most often of course when we think of the term prophet we think of Old Testament Prophets when we interpret this in its proper context.

What we come to realize is that Paul is actually referring to new Testament prophets in fact in the very next chapter referring to the mystery of the gospel. Which is that believing Gentiles and believing Jews are now fellow heirs and members of Christ Church.

Paul will say in verses 4 and 5 when you read this you can perceive my Insight into the mystery of Christ. Which was not made known to the sons of men and other generations as it has now been Revealed to his holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit again in chapter 4.

Referring to the gifts of Christ to the church at its inception Paul will write in verse 11 saying. And he gave the Apostles the prophets the evangelists the shepherds and teachers. So what then was the role of a New Testament prophet and How is that related to the establishment of the church's foundation?

Well like the prophets before them their role was to speak the Word of God To the people of God and that word carried with it the very authority of God. But for the New Testament prophet their purpose and their calling had an expiration date.

Because they were only serving in that role until the canon of Scripture was closed and complete. That's why in the book of Hebrews, which is one of the final writings inspired by God the author begins by saying this.

Long ago at many times and in many ways God spoke to our fathers by the Prophets but in these last days he has spoken to us by his son Whom he appointed the heir of all things through whom also he created the world.

So the role then of the New Testament prophet was to speak the words that God put into his mouth. And that role was instrumental in the establishment of the church. Until the New Testament was completed and the canon of Scripture was closed.

But then that brings us to the role of the Apostle. The term Apostle simply means to be sent out. There are two ways that Scripture uses this term in the Greek it's apostolos. First Scripture uses the term Apostle lowercase a in a general way for anyone who is sent to carry out a task.

Similar to the concept of an ambassador or someone who who represents the will or the wishes of another. For example in John 13 16 Jesus says truly truly I say to you a Servant is not greater than his master nor is a messenger Apostolos greater than the one who sent him.

But then the second way scripture uses this term is the way Paul is using it here in our text and That is as an official office of the early church. And so in the case of the office of Apostle that is to say capital a we only find a small number of men who are identified by that title in Scripture and what we discover from God's Word is that in order for a man to serve in the office of Apostle He had to meet three very specific qualifications.

First he had to be personally appointed by Jesus Christ himself. That's number one we see that in places like 1st Corinthians chapter 12 verse 28 Paul says there and God has appointed in the church first apostles.

Second prophets and so forth. We also read it earlier in Ephesians 4 11 when it said that Christ gave to the church Apostles prophets, etc. So to be an official apostle of Christ you had to be appointed by.

Second you had to be able to work signs and miracles. That's number two in 2nd Corinthians 12 12 The Apostle Paul says the signs of a true apostle were performed among you with the utmost patience with signs and wonders and mighty works.

We see a description of some of these miracles in the gospel of Matthew chapter 10. While Christ is still with his original 12 It says there and he called to him his 12 disciples and he gave them authority over unclean spirits to cast them out and heal every disease and every affliction.

And then in verse 7 Listen to the instructions that Jesus gives to his disciples. He says this and proclaim as you go saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand and Directly after that it says this heal the sick raise the dead cleanse lepers cast out demons and so that points us then to the fundamental purpose for why Jesus is true apostles were given the ability to perform miracles.

The miraculous works they performed Validated the words they spoke. Just as Christ did when he walked upon the earth the Apostles were called to declare with power and authority repent for the kingdom of God is at hand and In order to prove that the words they spoke were actually coming from Christ the Lord empowered them with the supernatural power to perform miracles it Validated the claims they were making and so the question is why was that important for the establishment of the church?

What was God's purpose in all of this. The answer is because those miracles were signs Pointing to the authenticity of the truth of the gospel. They were declaring which would be the very foundation of Christ's Church.

Then from there though the third Criteria for a genuine apostle was that he had to be a witness to the resurrected Christ. We often mentioned this Qualification for Apostles without putting much thought into it.

They had to witness the resurrected Christ. We know that if we know this topic that we're talking about. But what I want us to see is the profound continuity for why this was an essential condition for apostleship.

Why was that a Necessary criteria for a man who was called to be an apostle. Scripture Of course tells us that Jesus is the word made flesh. Throughout Christ's ministry again and again We find our Lord testifying to the reality that he only spoke and did what was told to him by the father.

John 7 16 Jesus says my teaching is not mine, but him who sent me. John 8 26 he who sent me is true and I declare to the world what I have heard from him. John 12 49 and 50 for I have not spoken on my own authority.

But the father who sent me has given himself or has himself Excuse me, given me a commandment what to say and what to speak and I know That his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore I say as the father has told me.

John 14 10 do you not believe that I am in the father and the father is in me. The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the father who dwells in me does his works. And finally John 14 24 The word you hear is not mine.

But it's from the father who sent me. In other words, Jesus was claiming that when he spoke God was speaking. At every turn with every syllable and every word when Christ spoke God was speaking. And although he performed many signs and miracles pointing to his Identity as the Messiah.

In fact, the gospel of John is often laid out according to that structure these signposts Pointing to the Messiah. The question is how did he respond to those who asked for a sign? We see it in the gospel of Matthew chapter 12.

It says there in verses 38 through 40. Then some of the scribes and the Pharisees answered him saying teacher. We wish to see a sign from you but he answered them an evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign.

But no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish. So will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth?

So what then was the ultimate sign? Validating the claims of Christ. What was the preeminent miracle performed by Jesus that proved that his words were true? It was his resurrection from the dead. By raising Christ from the dead and conquering death in our place God was declaring that the words of Jesus were true and that his sacrificial death upon the cross was accepted as the satisfaction for God's wrath on our behalf and Just listen to how the Apostle Paul Demonstrates the connection of his own Apostleship and role and establishing the foundation of the church with the reality of Christ's resurrection.

We often gloss over this at the very beginning of the introductory greeting to Romans but it's actually there at the very beginning and that monumental letter that he says this Paul a servant of Christ Jesus Called to be an apostle.

Set apart for the gospel of God. Which he promised beforehand through his prophets and the Holy Scriptures. Concerning his son who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of Holiness by his resurrection from the dead Jesus Christ our Lord through whom we have received grace and Apostleship to do what to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations Paul says it's a glorious reality.

And so this is why witnessing the resurrected Christ was an essential qualification of Apostleship in the same way that the miraculous sign of Christ's resurrection Demonstrated that his words were true the miraculous sign gifts of the Apostles validated that they were speaking truth and That those words were authoritative and were referring to the resurrection of Jesus Christ himself.

Therefore not only could their words be trusted. This is one. We often forget their words must be obeyed. They're coming from God. We as his image bearers and his creation are commanded to obey them. This is precisely what we see happening in that well-known passage from Acts chapter 2.

On the day of Pentecost as the Holy Spirit is poured out and the church is born the miraculous sign gifts of tongues validate the occasion in fulfillment of the words spoken by the Prophet Joel and Of Jesus's promise of the coming spirit.

But then notice what the Apostle Peter now emboldened and empowered by the Holy Spirit says. Beginning in verse 22 of Acts 2. He says this men of Israel hear these words. Jesus of Nazareth a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst as you yourselves know.

This Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God you Crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. God raised him up. Loosing the pains of death because it was not possible for him to be held by it.

And then down to verse 32 This Jesus God raised up and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit He has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

And then down to verse 36 let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified and then notice how these people respond to what they're hearing.

It says now when they heard this they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the rest of the Apostles Brothers, what shall we do? Peter said to them repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off. Everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself and with many other words He bore witness and continued to exhort them saying save yourselves from this crooked generation.

And so here what I want us to notice is that we have a very practical example of why the Apostles played a pivotal role in Establishing the church's foundation. These men have witnessed the resurrected Christ.

They have been appointed by Christ and their appointment along with the words They are proclaiming have been validated by signs and wonders. So then what is the practical result of that authoritative proclamation of the death burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ?

Well, we see it beginning in verse 41 one of the most beautiful passages of all of Scripture. It says so those who received his word and were baptized and there were added that day about 3 ,000 souls think of that and they devoted themselves to what the Apostles teaching and the fellowship to the breaking of bread and the prayers and all came upon every soul and many wonders and signs were being done through.

We'll just ask the question who? The Apostles. The Apostles and all who believed were together and had all things in common the unity around the gospel and they were selling their Possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all as any had need and day by day.

Attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes. They received their food with glad and generous hearts both hospitality and generosity abound. Verse 47 praising God and having favor with all the people.

And I love this last verse and the Lord. Added to their number day by day those who were being saved my friends not only do cessationist affirm the foundational role of the Apostles and prophets in the Establishment of the church, which was attested by signs and miracles, but we also joyfully affirm that every time God Sovereignly saves a sinner.

We are witnessing a miracle right before our eyes. Contrary to the accusations made by many continuationists. Cessationists wholeheartedly believe in the miraculous power of God. In fact, that's how the text in Ephesians chapter 2 actually begins.

Paul says they're beginning in verse 1 and you were dead and The trespasses and sins in which you once walked. Following the course of this world. Following the prince of the power of the air the spirit that is now at work and the sons of disobedience.

Among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh. Carrying out the desires of the body and the mind and were by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind. But God being rich in mercy because of the great love with which he loved us.

Even when we were dead in our trespasses made us alive together with Christ by grace. You have been saved and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. So that in the coming ages He might show the immeasurable riches of his grace and kindness.

Toward us in Christ Jesus for by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing it is the gift of God not a result of works so that no one may boast so by his Sovereign grace God is still performing miracles today.

He's still graciously Transforming rebellious sinners and resurrecting the spiritually dead of which we all attest to reality of. Like he did when Lazarus lay lifeless in the tomb Christ through the gospel is still proclaiming with both divine power and authority come out from the grave and live as He pleases.

God can heal whomever he desires to heal. God is sovereign and he can do anything he chooses to. Psalm 115 3 says our God is in heaven. He does as he pleases. What he has revealed in Scripture, however Is that he no longer is doing signs and wonders through the Apostles and the prophets because the church's foundation Has been firmly established once the foundation of the church was completed the purpose of the Apostles and prophets was fulfilled and so too Were the miraculous sign gifts that they performed no longer are the miraculous gifts of apostleship prophecy tongues.

Interpretation of tongues or healing part of the work of God's Spirit in the church today. That is what makes us Cessationists because we believe those have ceased the Spirit of God still gives Spiritual gifts to believers but those particular sign gifts have ceased because they fulfilled their purpose and yet what we see in our text from Ephesians 2 as we finish out this chapter is that although those gifts are no longer Given and the foundation of the church is now complete God is not finished adding to the church by the power of the Spirit.