Historic Documents in Presbyterian History
A PASTORAL LETTER CONCERNING
THE EXPERIENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
IN THE CHURCH TODAY
[3rd General Assembly (1975), Appendix N, p. 171.]
A Pastoral Letter to the churches and members of the PCA
adopted by the Second General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America.
[1975]
The General Assembly of the National Presbyterian Church,
being fully aware of the widespread notice being given to the question
of the work of the Holy Spirit today, offers the following pastoral letter
addressed to its churches:
The General Assembly rejoices in all evidences of new
life in Christ's body. It prays earnestly that the spirit which Christ
has poured out on His church may continue to affect radically the lives
of men throughout the world.
At the same time, the General Assembly would express concern
over an increasing emphasis on experience-centered criteria as they are
applied to the life of God's people. The General Assembly would encourage
the church as a whole to take most seriously its commitment to the Scriptures
as the "only infallible rule of faith and practice" (B.C.O.
22-5), particularly as Scripture relates to current questions within the
church.
In seeking to provide guidelines from Scripture to questions
relating to the church's experience of the Holy Spirit, the General Assembly
would offer the following observations:
I. Concerning the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
Baptism of the Holy Spirit was promised by Joel and other
prophets in the Old Testament[1] as well as by John the
Baptist and our Lord in the New Testament[2]. It found
its fulfillment at Pentecost[3]. While public and external
manifestations of the baptism of the Holy Spirit occurred on occasion
in the Apostolic Age[4], Scripture teaches that the normal
experience of the Spirit's baptism coincides with regeneration[5].
It is therefore not to be viewed as a second blessing or a special work
of grace enjoyed by some but not by all Christians[6].
The initial reception of Christ by faith is not to be separated from the
total impartation of the Person of the Holy Spirit[7].
II. Concerning Life in the Spirit.
Life in the Spirit begins with regeneration[8].
The first manifestation of this life is the believer's calling on the
name of the Lord for salvation[9]. Assurance of salvation
is not based on any experience, but on the Word of God that promises eternal
life to all who believe[10]. This assurance is to be
cultivated by the continual use of the means of grace[11].
III. Concerning the Filling of the Spirit.
The filling of the Spirit denotes the dominion of Christ
in our lives and occurs when one is led willingly by the Word through
which the Spirit works[12]. By their subjection to the
Word of Scripture, believers grow in grace and the benefits of the redemption
they receive freely through Christ[13]. The evidence
of this spiritual growth is seen in the fruits of the Spirit, which is
proof of their abiding in Christ and His Word abiding in them[14].
By the filling of the Spirit they are enabled to speak the truth of Christ
with great boldness[15].
The Scripture commands every Christian to be filled continually by the
Holy Spirit, and to grow spiritually by obedience to God's Written Word
and the proper use of the means of grace[16]. When we
neglect or ignore His Word or are disobedient to it, we are guilty of
quenching and grieving the Holy Spirit[17].
IV. Concerning the Gifts of the Spirit.
Spiritual gifts are granted to every believer by the Holy
Spirit, who apportions to each Christian "individually as He wills"[18].
Christians are to use these gifts to serve Christ in the work of His kingdom
and for the edification of the body of Christ[19]. All
true believers receive some spiritual gift or gifts[20].
No spiritual gift is to be despised, nor is it to be misused to bring
glory to any other than to Christ[21]. Specific spiritual
gifts noted in Scripture are found in the following passages: Romans 12:3-8;
1 Corinthians 12:8-10; 1 Corinthians 12:28; Ephesians 4:11-16.
Some spiritual gifts plainly have ceased, such as the
founding office of apostle. Others are obscure and cannot be clearly defined,
such as "helps." Others are clearly seen today, such as "teaching"
and "giving." Some have received undue prominence in recent
days, such as "tongues," "working of miracles" and
"healing."
A. Tongues.
It seems evident that the tongues in Acts 2 were foreign
languages known to the hearers there present. It is more difficult, however,
to resolve the question of the exact nature of the tongues mentioned elsewhere
in the New Testament. It is also difficult to determine with certainty
the relationship of the modern tongues phenomenon to the New Testament
experience. The General Assembly suggests, however, that:
1. Any view of the tongues as experienced in our time
which conceives of it an experience by which revelation is received from
God is contrary to the finalized character of revelation in Scripture;
2. Any view of tongues which sees this phenomenon as an essential sign
of the baptism of the Spirit is contradictory to Scripture; and
3. Any practice of the tongues phenomenon in any age which causes dissension
and division within the body of Christ or diverts the church from its
mission is contrary to the purpose of the Spirit's gifts.
B. Miracles.
Much discussion and debate continue throughout the church
of Christ on the subject of miracles. In the Scripture certain clusters
of miracles were associated with various servants of God and related to
the giving of revelation, such as Exodus 4:1-9; 1 Kings 17:23-24; John
2:11, 3:2. Such miracles were signs by which God communicated divine truth
or confirmed that the speaker indeed spoke from God. These miracles related
to revelation have ceased, since revelation was completed with the closing
of the Canon in the New Testament era.
Scripture also uses the term "miracle" or wonder
to describe the acts of God in all areas of creation and providence[22].
The power of God in response to believing prayer to work wonders and to
heal the sick cannot be limited[23]. Such wonders certainly
do continue to this day and are all for the glory of God not man.
Finally, the General Assembly would speak a word of caution
against an obsession with signs and miraculous manifestations which is
not indicative of a healthy church, but of the opposite[24].
The Spirit provides all that is necessary for the equipping of the saints
through His presence and power in the lives of the regenerate[25].
The true basis of faith and spiritual growth is the work of the Holy Spirit
in believers as they are made subject to His written Word, which is sufficient
in itself for spiritual growth to complete maturity[26].
The General Assembly would also urge a spirit of forebearance
among those holding differing views regarding the spiritual gifts as they
are experienced today[27].
As the church continues to study these matters, the General
Assembly would recommend:
1. Prayerful study of the scriptural teaching on the Holy
Spirit and His gifts;
2. Study of the church's Standards on such areas as Scripture, Trinity,
Doctrines of Grace;
3. Careful training, examination and selection of officers and others
in the place of teaching and leadership in the church to assure a consistency
of commitment to Scripture and the Reformed faith and to the health and
unity of the church;
4. Preaching and teaching of the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit and His work
as taught in Scripture and the Standards of the church; and
5. The promotion of a charitable spirit in the whole church.
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Footnotes:
[All references are from the American Standard Version, 1901.]
[1] "And it shall come to pass afterward,
that I would pour out my Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your
daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young
men shall see visions; and also upon the servants and upon the handmaids
in those days will I pour out my Spirit" Joel 2:28, 29. See also
Isaiah 32:15; 59:21; Ezekiel 36:26, 27; 37:14.
[2] "Now on the last day, the great day of the feast,
Jesus stood and cried saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me
and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, from within
him shall flow rivers of living water. But this spake he of the Spirit,
which they that believed on him were to receive; for the Spirit was not
yet given; because Jesus was not yet glorified." John 7:37-39. See
also Matthew 3:11; Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-8; John 14:16, 17, 26; 15:26;
16:7-16.
[3]Acts 2:16-21.
[4]Acts 2:1-4; 8:14-17; 10:44-48; 19:6,7.
[5] "Not by works done in righteousness, which we
did ourselves, but according to his mercy he saved us, through the washing
of regeneration and the renewing of the Holy Spirit, which he poured out
upon us richly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour." Titus 3:5. See
also Acts 2:38; Romans 5:5; 8:9; 1 Corinthians 12 - 13.
[6] "Wherefore I make known unto you, that no man
speaking in the Spirit of God saith, Jesus is anathema; and no man can
say, Jesus is Lord, but in the Holy Spirit." 1 Corinthians 12:3.
See also Romans 8:9-10; 1 John 4:2.
[7] "For he giveth not the Spirit by measure."
John 3:34. See Titus 3:5,6.
[8] "And you, being dead through your trespasses
and the uncircumcision of your flesh, you, I say, did he make alive together
with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses." Colossians 2:13.
See also John 3:3-8; Ephesians 2:1-5.
[9] "For, whosoever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have
not believed? and how shall they believe in him whom they have not heard?
and how shall they hear without a preacher?" Romans 10:13-14. See
also Genesis 4:26; Joel 2:32; 1 Corinthians 12:3.
[10] "For he received from God the Father honor
and glory, when there was borne such a voice to him by the Majestic Glory,
this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; and this voice we ourselves
heard borne out of heaven, when we were with him in the holy mount, and
we have the word of prophecy made more sure; whereunto ye do well that
ye take heed, as unto a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawn,
and the day-star arise in your hearts." 2 Peter 1:17-19. See also
Psalm 19:7; John 17:7, 8, 14, 17; 20:31; Ephesians 2:8,9; Hebrews 11:6;
1 John 5:13, 18-20.
[11] "So then, my beloved, even as ye have always
obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work
out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who worketh
in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure." Philippians
2:12, 13. See also Acts 2:41, 42; 2 Peter 1:3-11.
[12] "If we live by the Spirit, by the Spirit let
us also walk." Galatians 5:25. See also Romans 8:4, 13, 14; Galatians
3:3; 5:16, 17.
[13] "Give diligence to present thyself approved
unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, handling aright the
word of truth." 2 Timothy 2:15. See also 2 Timothy 3:16, 17.
[14] "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot
bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye,
except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth
in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit; for apart from me ye
can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch,
and is withered; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and
they are burned. If ye abide in me, and my words aide in you, ask whatsoever
ye will, and it shall be done unto you." John 15:4-7. See also Galatians
5:22, 23.
[15] Acts 4:13.
[16] "They then that receiveth his word were baptized;
and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls.
And they continued steadfastly in the apostles teaching and fellowship,
in the breaking of bread and the prayers." Acts 2:41, 42. See also
Matthew 28:18-20; Ephesians 5:18.
[17] Ephesians 4:25-30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22.
[18] 1 Corinthians 12:11; Hebrews 2:4.
[19] "What is it then, brethren? When ye come together,
each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue,
hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying." 1
Corinthians 14:26. See also Ephesians 4:11-12; 1 Corinthians 14:12.
[20] "But to each one is given the manifestation
of the Spirit to profit withal." 1 Corinthians 12:7.
[21] John 16:14; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 12:21; 13:1-3;
Ephesians 1:13-14.
[22] "They that go down to the sea in ships, that
do business in great waters; these see the works of the Lord, and his
wonders in the deep." Psalm 107:23,24. See also Psalm 139:14.
[23] "Is any among you sick? Let him call for the
elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil
in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save him that is
sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins,
it shall be forgiven him. Confess therefore your sins one to another,
and pray one for another that ye may be healed. The supplication of a
righteous man availeth much in its working." James 5:14-16.
[24] "But he answered and said unto them, An evil
and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign
be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet." Matthew 12:39.
See also Matthew 24:24; John 4:48; 1 Corinthians 1:22,23; 14:22; 2 Thessalonians
2:9-12.
[25] "Every scripture inspired by God is also profitable
for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in
righteousness; that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely
unto every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16,17. See also Luke 16:31; John
14:16,17; 16:7-16; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; 13:1-14:1; Galatians 5:22-23.
[26] Romans 10:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:16-21.
[27] "But thou, why dost thou judge thy brother?
or thou again, why dost thou set at naught thy brother? for we shall stand
before the judgment seat of God. For it is written, as I live saith the
Lord, to me every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess to God. So
then each one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore
judge one another any more; but judge ye this rather, that no man put
a stumbling block in his brother's way, or an occasion of falling."
Romans 14:10-13.
"Wherefore receive ye one another even as Christ also received you,
to the glory of God. Now the God of hope fill you, to the glory of God.
Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that
ye may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:7.
See also Romans 12:3, 16; 1 Corinthians 7:7; 1 Corinthians 13; Ephesians
4:7; Philippians 2:2-4; 1 Peter 4:8-11. |