WesleyGospel Ministries

Westminster Confession, chapter 19: “Of the Law of God”

I. God gave to Adam a law, as a covenant of works, by which He bound him and all his posterity, to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience, promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it, and endued him with power and ability to keep it.[1]

II. This law, after his fall, continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness; and, as such, was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai,  in ten commandments, and written in two tables:[2] the first four commandments containing our duty towards God; and the  other six, our duty to man.[3]

III. Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel, as a church under age, ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, His graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits;[4] and partly, holding forth divers instructions of moral duties.[5] All which ceremonial laws are now abrogated, under the New Testament.[6]

IV. To them also, as a body politic, He gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the State of that people; not obliging under any now, further than the general equity thereof may require.[7]

V. The moral law does forever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof;[8] and that, not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator, who gave it.[9] Neither does Christ, in the Gospel, any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.[10]

VI. Although true believers be not under the law, as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified, or condemned;[11] yet is it of great use to them, as well as to others; in that, as a rule of life informing them of the will of God, and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly;[12] discovering also the sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts and lives;[13] so as, examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against sin,[14] together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and the perfection of His obedience.[15] It is likewise of use to the regenerate, to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin:[16] and the threatenings of it serve to show what even their sins deserve; and what afflictions, in this life, they may expect for them, although freed from the curse thereof threatened in the law.[17] The promises of  it, in like manner, show them God’s approbation of obedience,and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof:[18] although not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works.[19] So as, a man’s doing good, and refraining from  evil, because the law encourages to the one and deters from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law: and not under grace.[20]

VII. Neither are the forementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it;[21] the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely, and cheerfully, which the will of God, revealed in the law, requires to be done.[22]

[1] GEN 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. ROM 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. ROM 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. GAL 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. ECC 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions. JOB 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

[2] JAM 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. ROM 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. DEU 5:32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 10:4 And he wrote on the tables, according to the first writing, the ten commandments, which the Lord spake unto you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly: and the Lord gave them unto me. EXO 24:1 And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off.

[3] MAT 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

[4] (HEB 9) HEB 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. GAL 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all; 2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father. 3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. COL 2:17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

[5] 1CO 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us. 2CO 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, JUD 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

[6] COL 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. 16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. DAN 9:27 And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. EPH 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.

[7] (EXO 21-22) GEN 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. 1PE 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. MAT 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 38 Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 1CO 9:8 Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? 9 For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? 10 Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.

[8] ROM 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. EPH 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 1JO 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. 4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. 8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

[9] JAM 2:10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.

[10] MAT 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. JAM 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well. ROM 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

[11] ROM 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. GAL 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree. 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made underthe law, 5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. ACT 13:39 And by him all thatbelieve are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. ROM 8:1 There is therefore nowno condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

[12] ROM 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man. 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. PSA 119:4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently. 5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! 6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments. 1CO 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God. GAL 5:14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulful the lust of the flesh. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

[13] ROM 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. ROM 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

[14] JAM 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: 24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. 25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed. ROM 7:9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

[15] GAL 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. ROM 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: ROM 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

[16] JAM 2:11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. PSA 119:101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. 104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. 128 Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.

[17] EZR 9:13 And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this; 14 Should we again break thy commandments, and join in affinity with the people of these abominations? wouldest not thou be angry with us till thou hadst consumed us, so that there should be no remnant nor escaping? PSA 89:30 If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; 31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; 32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. 33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. 34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.

[18] (LEV 26) 2CO 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. EPH 6:2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. PSA 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. MAT 5:5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. PSA 19:11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

[19] GAL 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. LUK 17:10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

[20] ROM 6:12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 1PE 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 For he that ill love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 11 Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. PSA 34:12 What man is he that desireth life, and loveth many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. 14 Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry. 16 The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. HEB 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.

[21] GAL 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

[22] EZE 36:27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. HEB 8:10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. JER 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

The following is a summary of John Wesley’s view of the miraculous gifts, based on his Notes Upon the New Testament for 1 Corinthians 12-14. I will also be including my commentary as well.

12:1-3: Lordship Salvation Is Necessary.

Wesley keenly observed that only Christians who were submitted to the lordship of Christ could rightly be said to be operating in the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, “so as to speak with tongues, heal diseases, or cast out devils.”

12:8-10: Miraculous Gifts Defined.

“Verse 8. The word of wisdom – A power of understanding and explaining the manifold wisdom of God in the grand scheme of gospel salvation. The word of knowledge – Perhaps an extraordinary ability to understand and explain the Old Testament types and prophecies. Verse 9. Faith may here mean an extraordinary trust in God under the most difficult or dangerous circumstances. The gift of healing need not be wholly confined to the healing diseases with a word or a touch. It may exert itself also, though in a lower degree, where natural remedies are applied; and it may often be this, not superior skill, which makes some physicians more successful than others. And thus it may be with regard to other gifts likewise. As, after the golden shields were lost, the king of Judah put brazen in their place, so, after the pure gifts were lost, the power of God exerts itself in a more covert manner, under human studies and helps; and that the more plentifully, according as there is the more room given for it. Verse 10. The working of other miracles. Prophecy – Foretelling things to come. The discerning – Whether men be of an upright spirit or no; whether they have natural or supernatural gifts for offices in the church; and whether they who profess to speak by inspiration speak from a divine, a natural, or a diabolical spirit.”

Wesley seems to hold the view of Thomas Aquinas and the Puritans on the words of wisdom and knowledge (with which Wayne Grudem’s The Gift of Prophecy follows suit): that it was merely an inclination, an intellectual aptitude, or talent for Bible study and theology. The “word of wisdom,” then, is merely a lot of accumulated Biblical wisdom acquired naturally from years of study. But this hardly fits the context. 1 Corinthians 13 and 14, for which 12:8-10 is preparing the reader, are clearly referring to the experience of supernatural revelations and sharing prophecies in church services. It is more probable, then, that the “word of wisdom,” and “word of knowledge,” and “discerning of spirits,” and “gifts of healings,” and “prophecy” are all different kinds of revelations or prophetic words from the Holy Spirit. Wesley’s naturalization of the gifts of healings show some level of admission of his failure in the area of praying for healing and of his resort to doctors, medicine, and natural remedies. I have had much failure here as well; but that is hardly the meaning of the text. Here such gifts are referring to prayer and revelatory gifts which impart faith for miraculous healing: in the case of Jesus, the apostles, and the apostle Paul, and James 5:14-16. I am in full agreement with his view of “prophecy” and “discerning of spirits.” In 12:28, he says that prophets “either foretell things to come, or speak by extra-ordinary inspiration, for the edification of the church.” But admits for 13:9 that “even the prophecies which men deliver from God are far from taking in the whole of future events.” And in 13:12: “Even when God himself reveals things to me, great part of them is still kept under the veil.” I think my definitions of the miraculous gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 would align more with Assemblies of God: as in Smith Wigglesworth’s Ever Increasing Faith (1924), Donald Gee’s Concerning Spiritual Gifts (1928), and Harold Horton’s The Gifts of the  Spirit (1934).

13:1-8: Agape Love Defined.

A self-sacrificing Christlike love for all mankind, especially for those in your church, is of supreme importance not only for the Christian life, but also as it relates to the use of prophecy and related miraculous gifts. A tender and affectionate good will for the benevolent help and friendliness towards all God’s creatures, which is shed abroad in our hearts through the Holy Spirit, which is given to us at conversion (Romans 5:5). Any so-called prophet who does not abide in, walk in, pray in, or prophesy in this same spirit of love is misusing the information received from any revelation of the Holy Spirit. Any supernatural information that a prophet receives from the Holy Spirit about another human being in a church service–any such revelation–if it is not shared in the spirit of love and good will, then it is worth nothing.

14:1-6: The Word “Prophecy” Defined.

Wesley seemed confused about this passage; and admits in 14:6 that these are “obscure words” to him. He suddenly relapses back into the Reformed idea that prophesying is the same thing as Bible teaching in 14:1. Here he says, “The word here does not mean foretelling things to come; but rather opening and applying the Scripture,” referring to the word “prophesy.” But that is not correct: this Greek word is prophetuo, which is the verb for the noun in 12:10’s “prophecy” (prophetes). The word for “teachers” in 12:28 is didaskalos, which is totally different. The word “prophecy” is used in the sense of supernatural understanding of mysteries in 13:2 and 14:24-25, so there is no doubt from the context, that the word “prophecy” in 14:1 should be about supernatural revelation of all kinds. Wesley at times, flip-flops between foretelling future events and Bible teaching, in his understanding of the word, but its clear it can refer to words of knowledge about secret sins in people’s lives (14:25); and really all types of supernatural information (13:2), including the “foretelling some future event” which Wesley reverts back to in his understanding of the word “prophecy” in 14:5.

14:9-21: Tongues and Interpretation.

Wesley had more of a Pentecostal view of speaking in tongues. He saw them to be miraculously given by the Holy Spirit, but sees that unless they are interpreted or translated into common English, since “by the power of the Spirit” the tongues speaker can “understand the words” himself–then they serve no more purpose than “unintelligible gibberish.” But he also held to the idea that a private Pentecostal prayer language is meant in 14:28: as “profitable to himself in his private devotions.” A noteworthy remark from John Wesley, since the holiness movement and its sister churches in the Wesleyan and Methodists movements utterly condemn this idea, even to this day, with a few charismatic exceptions.

14:22-29: Words of Knowledge Among the Early Methodists (c. 1765).

Wesley testifies for 14:24-25: “Verse 24. He is convicted by all – who speak in their turns, and speak to the heart of the hearers. He is judged by all – Every one says something to which his conscience bears witness. Verse 25. The secrets of his heart are made manifest – Laid open, clearly described; in a manner which to him is most astonishing and utterly unaccountable. How many instances of it are seen at this day! So does God still point His Word.” This last statement, “So does God still point His Word,” seems to imply that the words of knowledge which were shared in “testimony time” or testifying like the early Pentecostals, and exposed the secrets in some person’s heart present, is seen as a supernatural confirmation of the divine origin of the Bible, as in Mark 16:20: “confirming the Word with signs following.” Wesley, I think, wrongly supposes that in 14:26 everyone in the church of Corinth was causing confusion by each of them participating in the meeting by sharing their own songs, prophecies, and teachings. The text seems to imply that this was a normal and acceptable church practice. Its just that Paul sought to regulate the order of worship in this charismatic church: namely, that there should be a maximum of three prophecies per church service (and tongue interpretations count as prophecies); and the prophets should be humble enough to allow the pastor and church members to judge for themselves whether these utterances are truly supernatural and from the Holy Spirit (14:27-29).

14:32: Ecstatic Prophecy Condemned As Demonic and Delusional.

Like Wayne Grudem, 14:32: “the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets”–is also viewed by Wesley as a condemnation of wild, ecstatic, frenzied prophecy. He says, “What enthusiast considers this? The impulses of the Holy Spirit, even in men really inspired, so suit themselves to their rational faculties, as not to divest them of the government of themselves, like the heathen priests under their diabolical possession. Evil spirits threw their prophets into such ungovernable ecstasies, as forced them to speak and act like madmen. But the Spirit of God left his prophets the clear use of their judgment, when, and how long, it was fit for them to speak, and never hurried them into any improprieties either as to the matter, manner, or time of their speaking.” While I will admit that ecstasies or trances or being “slain in the Spirit” are found in the New Testament when some visions are received (Acts 10:10; 22:17), the crazy demonic manner of so-called nabi prophets in some charismatic churches, or those who partake in “ecstatic prophecy,” are probably not guided by the Holy Spirit, but rather by some strong idea or human feeling they personally have, and are then deceived at that moment, that it is the Holy Spirit; in some cases, it might even be from the devil. True revelations from the Holy Spirit come through visions (close-eyed mental pictures or open-eyed apparitions), dreams, and a still small voice in the head (Num. 12:6; Acts 2:17; 1 Kings 19:12). Prophesying like an emotionally disturbed, raving lunatic is not a gift of the Holy Spirit: if you ever see someone doing this, know they are being deceived or demonized at that moment. However, I will admit that although some evangelical charismatics might be very emotional when they feel inspired by the Holy Spirit, I still think God can impart supernatural information to these people, even though their excitement might be childish or immature. But when an uncontrollable trance is involved, where the person appears mentally ill: that is not from God. Spiritual drunkenness from the baptism in the Holy Spirit, especially with tongue speaking, may have some level of ecstasy (Acts 2:15). But as we have already seen, speaking in tongues can always be brought under control (14:27-28).

14:34-40: Women in Church Services.

Paul already admitted, along with Peter and Philip (Acts 2:17; 21:9), that some women are prophetesses and can prophesy in church services, provided they submit to male authority with a meek and gentle spirit; and that they either have long hair or a head covering, which is symbolic of this submission (1 Cor. 11:5ff). Paul is clearly a complementarian with husband and wife relationships (Eph. 5:22); and he extends that complementarianism into the order of church services. Only men are permitted to be Bible teachers, because of the supreme authority that Scripture holds over Christians lives (1 Tim. 2:12). Male pastors, male elders, and male deacons are envisioned in 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus. Women are to be subservient in their attitude to these church leaders–even if they are deaconesses (Rom. 16:1); and are in no way allowed to express a defiant, domineering, or feministic spirit like Jezebel did towards Elijah. In Paul’s view such a thing is shameful (1 Cor. 14:25). This flies in the face of pagan Greek prophecy as it was in Corinth; which was dominated by female witches, who prophesied in an uncontrollable trance, like the Oracle of Delphi.

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I look forward to studying the progression of Wesleyan and holiness views of miraculous gifts for 1 Corinthians 12-14. Having finished with John Wesley’s commentary, I would like to continue with Adam Clarke’s (1832) and the Wesleyan-Methodist commentators J. A. Beet and D. D. Wheden (c. 1881), whose commentaries on 1 Corinthians are available on wesleyanbooks.com. Seeing that the Azusa Street Revival was in 1906, I can assume that William J. Seymour might have somehow been influenced either directly or indirectly by these Wesleyan holiness ideas.

Need overwhelms you on every side.
And threatens to take your very life.
Reigning with misery in your home.
Its an all consuming financial doom.

Speed is the friend of the working man.
Prosperity the fruit of his mangled hands.
Skills that grow, and qualify, and secure.
For the upward mobility of the dreamer.

Greed is a very impatient spirit.
It won’t let you wait to gain any merit.
And requires you to live just like a king.
Because it wants to have everything.

Consider Him that endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.                                                                          –Hebrews 12:3

Real followers of Christ should not become weary in well doing or fainthearted in living a holy life (Gal. 6:9). Their own Lord had to endure the contradiction of sinners all the time. Including “His own brothers” who “did not believe in Him” (John 7:5); and who said “He is out of His mind” (Mark 3:21). Whether at home or church or the workplace, those who have their minds set on living for self instead of God, will single you out, will contradict you left and right, will oppose, resist, and put you down to destroy your influence over them and those around them. They hate God and have set themselves against His laws and rule over their lives; and so, because you represent God, they are reminded of the God whom they have set themselves against, and so, they will be your natural enemies. This is natural to them, because they are enemies of God, and so, they will be your enemies too, since you are one of God’s representatives (Col. 1:21; Matt. 10:25).

At first you might find it weird that they contradict you about the most harmless things. Matters that have nothing at all to do with morals. They might be matters which are entirely petty or intellectual—but they will be sure to find some place to contradict you, or put you down and resist your influence. Since they enjoy being in charge, and in total control over their own lives, they see you as a killjoy, or someone who reminds them of their responsibilities before God, which they have trouble fulfilling because their minds are set on selfish interests.

Don’t be surprised if people like this will contradict you about literally anything. Try not to take it personally. I know it’s hard not to. But the reason that they behave like this towards you, and only you—is because they are jealous, envious, and feel guilty by your walk with God, which they have failed to live up to. Not only have they backslidden or resisted God, but they continue to do so, and this makes it even harder for them to get along with you.

The best thing you can do about people with a contrary spirit, who for all intents and purposes seek to destroy your influence, and hate you secretly, is to AVOID them. Love your enemies and pray for those who resist, persecute, and contradict you (Matt. 5:44). But don’t kid yourself; you will never be able to be friends with the world; if so, then you would be an enemy of God yourself (Jas. 4:4). There is no fellowship between light and darkness (2 Cor. 6:14). Make your choice and take control over your life! In a time and culture where it is popular to tolerate and not judge other people, for your own mental health and well-being, do yourself a favor and stop trying to make Christ out to be a friend of willful sinners, Pharisees, hypocrites, and fornicators. They often know which way to go: JESUS; but if they continue to refuse, resist, contradict you, and just be contrary towards you for any and every reason (not just religious ones)…then just GET AWAY from them. And ask God where to go…and who to be with.

According to recent research in 2012, the “Bible Belt” should probably not be considered the entire southeastern United States anymore, but rather a sliver of land that spans between Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. There is a small section or “belt” that has a 52% Biblical literacy rate. This is the highest in America.

1. Smith Wigglesworth: The Complete Collection of His Life Teachings
2. Stanley Frodsham’s Smith Wigglesworth: Apostle of Faith
3. James Robinson’s Divine Healing: The Formative Years: 1830-1890
4. —. Divine Healing: The Holiness-Pentecostal Transition Years: 1890-1906
5. —. Divine Healing: The Years of Expansion: 1906-1930
6. Nancy Hardesty’s Faith Cure (history of healing in holiness and Pentecostal churches)
7. Heather Curtis’ Faith in the Great Physician (history of healing, 1860-1900)
8. Kathryn Kuhlman’s I Believe In Miracles
9. —. Nothing Is Impossible With God
10. —. God Can Do It Again
11. John Wimber’s Power Healing (1987) – on page 284, from chapter 9, the practical part 3 section, Wimber said the following books were the best he read that actually attempted to teach or equip Christians to heal people: “Francis MacNutt’s Healing (1974) and The Power to Heal (1977); Michael Scanlan’s Inner Healing (1974) and Deliverance from Evil Spirits (1980); and Rita Bennett’s How to Pray for Inner Healing for Yourself and Others (1984).
    
12. —. Healing Seminar (DVDs)
13. —. Signs and Wonders Seminar (DVDs)
14. Alexander Venter’s Doing Healing
15. A. J. Gordon’s The Ministry of Healing
16. A. B. Simpson’s The Gospel of Healing
17. Andrew Murray’s Divine Healing
18. Randy Clark’s Power to Heal
19. —. The Healing Breakthrough
20. —. The Essential Guide to Healing
21. —. The Biblical Guidebook to Deliverance
22. —. Ministry Team Training Manual
23. —. Healing Unplugged
24. —. Finding Victory When Healing Doesn’t Happen
25. —. Biblical Basis for Healing
26. —. Healing Energy: Whose Energy Is It?
27. —. Learning to Minister Under the Anointing
28. —. The Healing River
29. —. Authority to Heal
30. Cecil Murphey’s I Believe In Healing
31. Francis MacNutt’s Healing
32. —. Deliverance from Evil Spirits
33. —. The Healing Reawakening (history)
34. —. The Practice of Healing Prayer
35. —. The Power to Heal
36. —. The Prayer That Heals
37. —. Overcome by the Spirit
38. —. Can Homosexuality Be Healed?
39. Bill Johnson’s When Heaven Invades Earth
40. The Life of the Holy Hildegard, Third Book
41. George Fox’s Book of Miracles
42. The Supernatural Occurrences of John Wesley, ch 3
    
43. David Edwin Harrell’s Oral Roberts: An American Life
44. —. All Things Are Possible: The Healing and Charismatic Revivals
45. Oral Roberts’ Expect A Miracle: My Life and Ministry
46. —. Best Loved Tent Sermons
47. —. Favorite Healing Scriptures
48. —. If You Need Healing Do These Things
49. T. L. Osborn’s Healing the Sick
50. —. One Hundred Divine Healing Facts
51. —. Biblical Healing
52. —. Receive Miracle Healing
53. —. Miracles: Proof of God’s Love
54. —. Why? Tragedy, Trauma, Triumph
55. —. In His Name
56. —. Modern Miracles in Mombasa
57. Mary Garnett’s Take Your Glory Lord: The Life Story of William Duma
58. Mahesh Chavda’s The Hidden Power of Healing Prayer
59. —. The Hidden Power of the Believer’s Touch
60. Ralph DiOrio’s The Man Beneath the Gift
61. —. Called to Heal
62. —. A Miracle to Proclaim
63. —. Signs and Wonders
64. Gordon Lindsay’s How You Can Be Healed
65. Robby Dawkins’ Do What Jesus Did
66. James Cross’ Healing in the Church (CoG)
67. R. Kelso Carter’s Pastor Blumhardt
68. —. Divine Healing
69. —. Faith Healing Reviewed After Twenty Years
70. —. The Atonement for Sin and Sickness
71. Dorothea Trudel’s The Prayer of Faith
72. Ethan Allen’s Faith Healing
73. William Boardman’s Faith Work
74. —. The Great Physician
75. —. The Lord That Healeth Thee
76. Morton Kelsey’s Healing and Christianity (warning: some of his books are New Age)
77. Evelyn Frost’s Christian Healing (China Inland Mission)
78. Henry Frost’s Miraculous Healing (China Inland Mission)
79. Frank Darling’s Biblical Healing
80. —. Christian Healing in the Middle Ages and Beyond
81. Gabriele Amorth’s An Exorcist Tells His Story
82. —. An Exorcist: More Stories
83. Amanda Porterfield’s Healing in the History of Christianity
84. Carrie Judd’s The Prayer of Faith
85. A. H. Hussey’s Divine Healing in Mission Work
86. Samuel Gracey’s Healing by Faith (Wesleyan)
87. Mary Gainsforth’s Divine Healing Secrets
88. W. H. Daniels’ Dr. Cullis and His Work
89. Charles Cullis’ Faith Cures
90. —. Faith Healing
91. —. More Faith Cures
92. —. Other Faith Cures
93. Ralph Harris’ Acts Today, section 1 (AG)
    
94. Mrs M. Elizabeth Baxter’s Divine Healing
95. Paul King’s Genuine Gold (note: I disagree with CMA’s “seek not, forbid not” position)
96. —. Nuggets of Genuine Gold
97. Lilian B. Yeomans’ Healing From Heaven (AG – 1935)
98. —. Balm of Gilead
99. —. Health and Healing
100. —. His Healing Power (4-in-1)

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Article – Part 1

Article – Part 2

After having read Frederic Bastiat’s The Law (1850), which appears to be a capitalistic response to The Communist Manifesto (1848), I have to say there is a lot I can agree with Bastiat about; but also, some other things, I can’t agree with (for Biblical reasons). The following will be my little “manifesto” for Biblical economics, using Bastiat and the Bible as my launching pads:

1. Liberty, or freedom, is a gift from God. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty” (2 Cor. 3:17). God used Moses to set the Israelites free from slavery in Egypt in the book of Exodus. Anything that even comes close to looking like slavery, whether as real slavery, or forced slave labor, or minimum wages with non-compete contracts that impede upward mobility–all forms of financial slavery are an abomination to God, and in opposition to liberty. In the book Moving Up or Moving On, it is argued that changing companies is statistically the most lucrative, tried-and-true way to experience upward mobility. I agree. I have experienced this 3 times in the past year. By changing sales jobs in 3 companies over the course of one year, I have experienced about a $25k/year pay increase! I can testify to the truthfulness of changing not only job titles–but changing companies in pursuit of a higher paying job title (or even same title), because there is a Human Resources policy called “negotiating” a salary requirement; and in order to be competitive, companies will often comply in order to hire skills and talent that you have acquired through years of job experience. This sort of liberty is being experienced right now by Generations X and Y, as they are not nearly as devoted to the idea of working for one company for 30 years, as the Baby Boomers are. They are committed to one thing: liberty, freedom, and more money. All of these things are really one thing, when used properly: liberty. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness simply cannot be achieved, success cannot be achieved with a slave mentality. The guilt of not committing a long time to one low-paying company, regardless of how nice the managers and coworkers are–such commitments must be thrown away, if breadwinners want financial liberty for their families. When it comes to personal vocation, there’s only one thing that matters to me: my income level. It is means, for a man of means; and I can use those means for several useful ends; and the ends are for my happiness. Being a “company man” is not conducive to happiness unless the income is enough and the coworkers do not tax your health: otherwise it is slavery; having liberty…now that’s happiness. You must MAINTAIN YOUR SENSE OF FREEDOM TO CHOOSE WHERE YOU WORK, without any pressures; if you maintain this sense of free choice, then you are liberated.

2. Food Stamps and Medicaid. Genesis 41:33-36 provides us an example of the Holy Spirit guiding Pharaoh and Joseph to create a seven year government aid food program during coming years of famine. This is the same thing as food stamps or EBT cards, in principle. And although I cannot prove Medicaid from this text:–by extension, I would say the spirit is the same: God is here sanctioning the government to provide emergency means of health and survival for the poor. This is an instance of divine socialism; it is an example of “robbing” from the rich and giving to the poor (Robin Hood, in a sense). I know this sounds like a Democrat, communist, and socialist idea; something Bastiat would say is opposed to his concept of justice. But its the Bible; and I agree with the Bible, to plead the cause of the poor and needy (Proverbs 31:9). I’m not advocating a “nanny state” nor a helicopter government: all I support is that which can by logical extension be grown out of Genesis 41: emergency charity for the health and survival of the poor, provided by the government, and extracted through business taxes.

3. Taxes. Jesus said to “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s” (Mark 12:17); that we are to pay our taxes, and not ask questions so much about how those taxes are used. It is perfectly legitimate if you are a government leader to ask that question; but if you are a citizen, you are required to submit to civil authority (Romans 13). I do believe in the “divine right” of kings and presidents, but I also believe that God will punish rulers who abuse their power, like Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:28-37). Bastiat seems to be a libertarian: an extreme anarcho-capitalist, the way he speaks against tariffs and taxes; and I don’t think that’s very Christlike; in fact, its something more in line with the way the scribes and Pharisees thought about Roman taxes, when they questioned Jesus to trap Him (Matt. 22:15).

4. Public Schools vs. Christian Homeschooling. It could easily be argued that the public school systems: elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, and state universities–are all socialist institutions. They are all tax-funded; and their curricula are not chosen by the parents who send their kids there. In this way, the parents lose quite a bit of moral and intellectual influence in the area of instilling their own values into their children. Government schools are also agnostic and atheistic, because their science teachers teach evolution from a materialistic and non-theistic viewpoint. This indoctrinates our children into a Darwinistic, nihilistic, and agnostic world view. See the documentary IndoctriNation (2011), which explains this thoroughly; and instead makes a strong case for conservative Christian homeschooling. My wife uses the A Beka Book curricula; and I have personally witnessed the success of homeschooling in several families. My wife, who is blessed with a B.S. in Mathematics, serves as an excellent teacher for my oldest daughter, who is now almost 7 years old. She is getting A’s on Math tests and writes in cursive. The close attention she receives from her mother is educationally priceless. Now, if by some tragedy my wife were to die before her time, I would not be able to teach my daughter, because I would have to go to work. In such a case, I might resort to a Christian school; or if I did not have the money, I would send my girl to a local public school, but only as a temporary fix, and I would have to follow up with her and teach her my Biblical convictions, especially if she is having science or Social Studies classes, which are now teaching kids that homosexuality is acceptable. I think conservative Christian homeschooling, in the old Puritan manner, is the ideal; but just as EBTs or Medicaid may serve the purpose of an emergency measure to promote the long-term health and survival of the poor, so also can public schools serve such an end, lest poor children languish behind their peers educationally, and are not given the same great job opportunities when they come of age. Education is an economic thing, really. But homeschool-minded Christian parents should also seek to catechize their children and raise them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Eph. 6:4):–something that public school teachers are not allowed to do. For this, see Adam Clarke’s Christian Theology, Dr. Watts’s Plain and Easy Catechisms for Children, and P. C. Nelson’s Bible Doctrines.

5. Private Property. God, through His sovereign providence (that is, His guiding hand of supernatural provision for those with faith in Christ), has an ideal to give private property to His children. We see this as one of the covenant blessings in Deuteronomy 8, albeit with severe warnings to keep humble and rely on God in faith, and not to become atheistic once things become easier, and you acquire your American dream home. That everyone may dwell safely and securely, dwelling “under his own vine and under his own fig tree” (Micah 4:4)–that is, his own private property; not leased, not rented out by a landlord. But his own vine, his own fig tree, on his own property. This is the economic goal in the Bible. (And this goes directly against communism, which abolishes private property: and where all houses are owned by the government.) No such concept of property exists in the Bible other than private property as a goal, a blessing, and ideal. Sure, mortgages and landlords are mentioned in Scripture (Neh. 5:3), but the goal is private home ownership.