Posted on 07/22/2013 10:36:50 AM PDT by juliosevero
Does R.C. Sproul Believe in Miracles?
His explanation seems to comport with classical Christian belief.
I can say that after reading some accounts of the church growing in places like China and Africa, there seem to be stories akin to the first chapters of the book of Acts; people speaking in tongues, miraculous healings, etc.....I think these accounts, if accurate, reflect God working in a geographic place that has been "dormant" for centuries--as He did in the early days of the church when The Way was just beginning.
Ive had a few prophetic dreams in my life. You know them when you have them. But they weren’t for the world, big historical events. Instead they were at important turning points in my life, dealing with relationships with other people, or the salvation of one I really cared about.
Lately, it’s sort of just reading the Bible and turning on the tv.
**He didn’t try to save any Pharisees except maybe for Nicodemus types.**
Paul.
I don’t think that verse proves what you think it proves.
God showed his grace to Ninevah, just like he showed it to our parents in the garden.
However, the nice thing about RC Sproul is that he often admits he is not right about everything and is open to having his mind changed by God.
EX: I remember reading that he once did not believe in a literal 7 day creation but he said his mind is now changing on that.
**Revelation 22:17 is clear that Calvin was wrong.**
Hardly.
Those who have hearts of stone don’t know they are thirsty. Why would they want to get a drink?
‘Tis only after they have been regenerated do they think “Wow! Water of life?!? Give me the x-tra large one please!”
I find this thread interesting. I think prophecy today is mostly about our gracious Lord, finding people who have presented their themselves to God, and who, by reason of use have exercised their skills in sensing the leadings of God, via scripture and intense, yielded prayer — and have obtained insights into scripture. These can be kept and pondered in the heart, like Mary did, or reserved for future reference in one’s own life, or in the life of one’s family, or congregation.
God comes to us from His unique dimension with His higher ways and thoughts. These are very beneficial, as they give to us the special boldness, access and confidence we need in order to speak and act with the assurance of the existence of those higher thoughts and ways.
The ink and paper of scripture constitute one aspect of God’s gift to us; but it is the Spirit disclosing to us what the words mean, specifically, for us, in our present weaknesses and dilemmas, that really open the New Testament doors into what is prophetic and what isn’t.
As to Jonah, I think God included that historical account mainly to show us what kind of foul ball, or incomplete pass, a prophet can become when his heart is not in the right place, or who has ulterior motives and is not fully yielded. The same can be said of Samson or King Saul. They are examples of how NOT to use the gifts and callings of the Lord. Lastly, Jonah is a lot like the elder son in the illustrative account Jesus told on the Prodigal Son. There is yet another example of missing God’s best by missing the point.
With all due respect, that is not the point. If a prophet arose with 1.000 average, even Sproul would say, "This is a prophet." To date, I believe Sproul would currently say, no one has made the cut. I fully agree. But, tomorrow? Are we prepared to say, "God could not send a prophet!"
Notice, the great majority of this article was primarily about the legitimacy of prophecy being just as reasonable as the legitimacy of Calvinism. But, Calvinism has such a wide spectrum of adherents (Sam Storms charismatic, RC Sprould non-charismatic) that we cannot draw any conclusions about prophecy based on various Calvinists. Frankly, a lot of folks calling themselves Calvinists have no idea what that means.
RE: As to Jonah, I think God included that historical account mainly to show us what kind of foul ball, or incomplete pass, a prophet can become when his heart is not in the right place, or who has ulterior motives and is not fully yielded. The same can be said of Samson or King Saul. They are examples of how NOT to use the gifts and callings of the Lord. Lastly, Jonah is a lot like the elder son in the illustrative account Jesus told on the Prodigal Son. There is yet another example of missing God’s best by missing the point.
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NOTE TO SELF: This is a good thing to include for the kids in my next Sunday School class...
In my class on spiritual gifts I have a bullet item to make the point: “Do not confuse the conferring of spiritual gifts with maturity”.
This applies to ourselves as well as gifts seen in others. My example? Sampson
I am touched by that. Keep up the good fight.
This is a view held by "concentric cessationists".
Here are good links to both charismatic and cessationist viewpoints and many flavors of each:
http://www.monergism.com/directory/link_category/Spiritual-Gifts/
Just because there is much so called prophecy out there that doesn’t come to pass, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t or can’t happen.
The bigger problem is people looking for sensationalism, either to have *words* spoken over them or more prideful, seeking the gift so they can speak over others.
My take on the matter is to live a life so that should God decide to use me to give a word to someone, He can use me to be that conduit. And that means dying to self, which I don’t see happening in all the people who chase after the gifts or manifestations.
Your post was funny, but it didnt counter Revelation 22:17 and it doesn’t counter Mark 8:34 or Romans 10:13.
God gave us all free will. Those who choose to be saved have made a choice, just as those who choose not.
If God had already chosen who is saved and who is not, there would’ve been absolutely NO reason for Christ to die on the cross.
There’s many others. Romans 10:13 , Mark 8:34 .
Those are just a few off the top of my head.
Amazing, 38 posts about Sproul and prophecy, and not a word said about him being a Preterist. Sproul believes all prophecy was fulfilled in 70 AD. Makes no difference, whether Bible prophecy or from individuals who claim the spiritual gift of prophecy, its all false to him.
Sure it does.
God gave us all free will. Those who choose to be saved have made a choice, just as those who choose not.
We will always choose death. It is not until we are given a heart of flesh that we can respond in flesh. (BTW, free will is mentioned one time in Scripture, and not in the context of salvation.)
If God had already chosen who is saved and who is not, there would’ve been absolutely NO reason for Christ to die on the cross.
Actually, if we had free will we would not need the Cross. I would be able to choose not to sin, and them have eternal life on my own account, not that of Jesus.
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