UNIQUE. This is the only known construct to demonstrate the true gift of languages (together with interpretation as a composite gift), showing its source, purpose and operation. This unique construct demonstrates all the biblical criteria, in particular: the source in God (Trinitarian) as for ALL gifts, the ministry to the church (as for ALL the gifts), its relevance today in spite of arguments to the contrary, the fact that it has never been abrogated at any time, its method of operation that can be independently validated and thereby protect its operation from abuse, its purpose as an unambiguous sign of God’s judgement and displeasure with unpersuaded believers in the church—hence a gift for the church.
What should we expect from an outpouring of the Holy Spirit? Is it always associated with a manifestation of the gift of tongues? Find out the answers to these questions and many others in this dynamic little book.
The focus of this study is upon ecstasy as the confusing antecedent of Corinthian glossolalia. Most commentators accept ecstasy as the most significant characteristic of the Corinthian Christian glossolalic phenomenon. This assumption is questioned in this research, because it needs to be clarified. It is contended that ecstasy is the confusing element because it was characteristic of the contemporary Corinthian mystery religious practice and that that background was carried into the Corinthian church thus colouring Paul’s treatment of the subject. It is not to be seen as an essential element of glossolalia. Most commentators agree that the glossolalic phenomenon in the Acts is different from that at Corinth. What then is a valid charismatic glossolalia? It is contended that the Acts draws attention to the only authentic cases (and they are three) of glossolalia in the Bible. The book of First Corinthians gives a corrective to an abuse, with no clear authentication of a gift. Paul gives guidelines necessitated by the background of religious ecstasy. Hence, instead of proposing ground rules for a valid spiritual expression, it becomes apparent that First Corinthians is giving a restrained corrective against an abuse of contemporary culture that masqueraded as an authentic Christian experience. It is ecstasy that is the confusing element to this picture. It should be added, that the Acts experiences speak of valid one-stage linguistic phenomena, whilst the gift to the church in 1 Corinthians is clearly a two-stage phenomenon. Bergsma, reflecting on the repetitious and almost daily "unsignificant (sic) revelations" of modern glossolalists, believes that they are "misguided or ... presumptuous. It is like the Himalayan Mountain in obstetrical labour and producing a mouse!” The preoccupation and emphasis is out of all proportion to the minimal benefits derived, and indeed the mischief it generates. The overall significance of the study is to provide a basis for authenticating a valid glossolalic expression, and all this comes from the foundation of the test case in Corinth, which in turn is dependent upon an understanding of ecstasy in the antecedent Mystery Religions of Corinthian contemporary society. Dr Clifford Wilson - himself a prolific author – urged: “Whatever else happens, you must publish the historic material, there are very few people who have any idea of the true background of glossolalia within their denominations”.
Eschatology is only a part of the total program of God. We need to gain the perspective of God’s plan from everlasting to everlasting. Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega—the Beginning and the End. The study of the Second Coming forces the enquirer to reflect on the whole picture of the comprehensive plan of God for the redemption of the world, with a very clear sense of direction from the Creation of the world, through the events of the Cross, through to the Coming of Christ to reign on the earth. To trivialise the Second Coming, is to demean the whole program of God, and to thereby debase my existence and purpose as a Christian. Further, it demeans the whole of God’s revelation through His word the Bible. Unashamedly the Word of God is quoted extensively throughout this book. It is the only authority for the whole scenario of God’s plan. This book is comprehensive in its coverage of the whole spectrum of the Kingdom of God, from the creation to the consummation of the kingdom into the Eternal State. A failure to appreciate God’s original purpose for the creation, emasculates any understanding of the direction and purpose of God’s program. God’s Kingdom is expressed in the Old Testament through His chosen people Israel, and they figure significantly in the whole eschatological program. Jesus’ first Coming to inaugurate His Kingdom gives important perspective to His Second Coming to consummate His Kingdom. The creation of the church as a manifestation of His body, is essential to the understanding of the events of the Rapture and the Bema Judgment in particular.
In seeking to promote and support the Calvinist position, Benjamin Warfield sought to champion the cause by making some rather extravagant statements: "He who believes in God without reserve and is determined [free will!??] that God shall be God to him, in all his thinking, feeling, willing - in the entire compass of his life activities, intellectual, moral, spiritual - throughout all his individual, social, religious relations - is, by the force of that strictest of all logic which presides over the outworking of principles into thought and life, by the very necessity of the case, a Calvinist." This can only be described as a ridiculously elitist statement. To believe in God in the terms described, does not even remotely require a person to be a Calvinist. Likewise, the following quote from Warfield is equally elitist in the extreme. "Religion (sic) in its substance is a sense of absolute dependence on God and reaches the height of its conception only when this sense of absolute dependence is complete and all pervasive, in the thought and feeling and life. But when this stage is reached we have just Calvinism". Sadly this statement is arrogant nonsense! Is this position—absolute dependence on God, etc.—not true of EVERY Christian? It is this arrogant approach that raises a serious concern of an elite theology above the Scriptures. Such statements demand that a corrective be given, and hence this book.
Unless God is worshipped for His Own sake, we are reduced to idolatry. Segler, in his book Christian Worship, says: "God must be worshipped for His Own glory, or it is idolatry, however relatively worthy its motivation." (Segler 1967, 12, emphasis added). Again, we emphasise the pivotal focus on God alone. He alone is worthy of worship. The English word “worship” is derived from the Old English word weorthscipe—“worth” and “ship”—“worthship”— meaning worship; one worthy of reverence and honour. It is honour shown to an object. (Worship – Wikipedia). When we worship, we declare God’s worth. The 24 elders proclaimed: “You are worthy, our LORD and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Revelation 4:11, emphasis added). The angels sang: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshipped. (Revelation 5:12, 14, emphases added). * * * * * You have taken a 4-wheel drive trip into the outback. You couldn’t be more remote. The horizon is a blur in the far distance. There is no town for miles! You are out of range for any mobile phone coverage. There is no passing traffic. And the old jalopy has “packed it in”. What do you do? For too many people it is an occasion of “venting their spleen”, cursing loud and long, blaming anyone and everyone, etc.—and kicking the wheel! The answer is very simple for the Christian. You worship! And don’t argue that there is no pipe organ or choir or anything that is usually related to “worship”. Now it is time to truly worship—and it is all and only to do with God. You might start with a devotional statement—a reminder of just Who God is: “Dear Lord. Almighty creator, ruler and sustainer of the universe. You are from everlasting to everlasting. You know all things—including our predicament. You are everywhere—including out here in this remote place. You are right here with us (His immanence), so we have nothing to worry about. As our omniscient God, You not only know of our predicament, but You have known all about it from the creation of the world. That being the case, it is no surprise to You what has happened today. So we need not to be surprised. And we are assured that You have it all under control. Our lives are in Your merciful and loving hands. With Your omnipotence, there will be no difficulty in providing a solution—however seemingly difficult it might appear”. This is true worship. True worship is an appreciation of God for His own sake. Without regard to the circumstances!! And without regard for the benefits that we might derive from Him—or even desperately hope to derive from Him. There is no bargaining. No demanding. No handwringing. No guidelines for your expectations. No angry retorts, like “If God knew this from the creation of the world why didn’t He let us know?” “If He is a sovereign God, why did He allow this to happen … here!?” True worship is an appreciation of God for His own sake. FULL STOP. Now what is the sovereign God going to do? Be assured that He only does all things well/perfectly. He is the judge of all the earth, and He will only do what is right. Can you trust Him for that? Can you expect more than that? Is that OK? Can you trust God to be God—overwhelming in mercy and care for His children? Do you think that He will be able to handle this without your advice and help? If He can’t, then there is no hope for any of us. So sit down and relax. It doesn’t depend on you. Can we say with relaxed surrender: "But I trust in you, LORD; I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in your hands …" (Psalm 31:14-15, emphases added).
“It’s all Adam’s fault!” OK. Then you have just condemned yourself to a Christless eternity! Reflect carefully on the statement just made. In an earlier volume on the doctrine of original sin: Condemned Already, we noted, that if Adam is to be blamed for our condemnation, then we have to address the reason for his condemnation. Adam was innocent until he sinned in regard to the prohibition of the Tree of Life. At that point he “died”. Spiritually he was cut-off and alienated from God and out of fellowship, and God immediately announced His already-prepared plan of rescue. The Son of the descendant of the woman (Eve)—the Lord Jesus Christ—would bruise the serpent’s head (the serpent who was the vehicle for Adam’s sin and fall through the temptation orchestrated by Satan): 15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” Genesis 3:15. The situation for Adam is clear enough. He was innocent, and then became a sinner, by sinning. We can easily identify the CAUSATIVE sin that was responsible for his demise—his default in regard to the Tree of Life. But if Adam’s sin is the CAUSATIVE sin that constitutes me a sinner—and that is the majority view—then I am condemned to a Christless eternity, all because of Adam’s sin. Supposedly in solidarity with the human race, every man woman and child of all time is condemned—not on his own account—but because of Alien Guilt inherited from Adam. Adam’s sin is thus my sin. The tragedy is, if Adam’s sin IS CAUSATIVE for me (but I don’t believe that it is) and for my condemnation (Condemned Already), then the only way that I can reverse that situation is to address the CAUSATIVE sin. But it is not my sin! And I can’t repent of another person’s sin. I can’t repent of Adam’s sin. I can’t address the foundational issue. So I can’t address the cause of my condemnation, and therefore I can’t be saved! The seriousness of this situation seems to escape most theologians. Why? This is serious. This critical issue was the basis of that first volume, and was the central issue that was addressed, demonstrating that we are each personally CULPABLE and responsible to God for our sin—the CAUSATIVE sin that constituted EACH of us as a sinner. And hence we are condemned JUSTLY and PERSONALLY. All people of all time are individually responsible for their own sin and hence of their condemnation. That being the case, they can—indeed MUST—repent of their own sin in order to be saved. Thus God is just in His demands and fair in his expectations based upon the finished work of Christ. As far as the Christian is concerned, “The Old Man died, never to rise again”. The Old Man is dead! And yet I repeatedly hear people excusing themselves for their sin, because, “The Old Man affected me and compelled me”. Or more commonly, they use the term “the sin nature”. “I was influenced by my sin nature/old nature”. See extra discussion on the Natures in Chapter 2. It’s not my fault!! • As a non-Christian, we could blame Adam for making me a sinner. • Now as a Christian, who do I blame for my daily sins? We just don’t want to accept responsibility for our actions. The first volume addressed our culpability for our CAUSATIVE sin. The sin that constituted me a sinner in the first place. This volume addresses our culpability for our sin as a Christian. We need to start our search here at precisely this point, a careful exegesis of the biblical teaching concerning the Old Man.
The first Jew was a Gentile. Prior to Abraham, there were no Jews—there was no nation of Israel. Israel exists by the sovereign choice, plan, and action of God—the sovereign ruler of the universe. It deserves to be carefully acknowledged and recognised because of that origin—and more. No other nation has ever attracted the detailed care, protection, and specific purpose as has Israel. Through the Abrahamic Covenant, Israel was to become: 1. A great nation, deriving from Abraham. This was a personal blessing. 2. They would be given a land to possess—the land of Canaan. Beware of trifling with God’s determination here. 3. Through the descendants of Abraham, down to Christ, there would be an international blessing. This belated nation would become central to God’s purpose in order to determine the salvation destiny of the whole world. God warned: 3I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; Genesis 12:3. Nations that have failed to appreciate that statement, have learned to their own detriment., if they have tried to oppose Israel: they are opposing Israel’s God. Nations who have supported Israel, have benefited from the blessing of Israel’s God. Don’t mess with Israel! They are the Apple of God’s Eye!
We live in a day when God’s Voice is heard less and less. References to God or celebrations––like Christmas and Easter––are devalued and avoided, or reinterpreted for secular reasons. References to God by prayers in Parliament and schools are reduced or removed. Loud, unprincipled voices are being heard instead of the truly authoritative Voice of God. Godless evolution is promoted in most educational institutions, with any believers in, or sympathisers of creation, being dismissed or intimidated. Against all this ignorance, we note that the only true source of authority is this same Almighty God Who is being silenced by the secular society. And the effects of this fact are being felt at all levels of society with exceptionally sad oppression and injustice. All authority as expressed in the functional structures of our society—whether government and civil, employment and education, or domestic and private—is only ever derived authority. No one has authority vested in them by intrinsic right, or by self-achievement. The only ones who claim such authority are dictators, petty tyrants, bully bosses, tyrannical husbands, intolerant drill instructors, and the like. No one serving under them would ever mistake their voice as even remotely expressing the Voice of the true God. The one-and-only true and sovereign God, Who alone possesses authority, is loving, caring, compassionate, patient, just, longsuffering, instructive. How can this God’s character be conveyed to our society? Only through the derived authority expressed by Christians in the functional structures of society. Others who have imbibed the Judeo-Christian ethic, will no doubt also express from their background, something of God’s character as well. The need of the hour, is for The Voice of God to be heard at all levels of society.
