In past years, we have covered in these pages the ministers’ and elders’ conference sponsored by the Banner of Truth. The 7th such conference was held on the campus of Calvin College and Seminary on May 28–31, 1985. The theme of this conference was The Office and Work of the Holy Spirit. Those who attended were blessed by the Word of God as expounded by some of the ablest preachers and teachers in the English speaking world today.
The Banner ofTruth is a magazine published by the Banner of Truth Trust of Edinburgh, Scotland. The Trust is primarily interested in the publication of Reformed literature. It also publishes the monthly magazine with the same name. For a number of years, the Trust has sponsored a ministers’ and elders’ conference in England called the Leicester Conference. Its spiritual father was Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones. During the past seven years, The Banner of Truth has sponsored similar conferences on the North American continent. This year’s conference again merits our enthusiastic endorsement.
The principle speakers were Dr. Sinclair Ferguson from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia; Dr. Albert N. Martin from the Trinity Baptist Church in Montville, N.J.; Rev. Iain Murray, editor of The Banner of Truth from Edinburgh; and Dr. O. Palmer Robertson from Covenant Theological Seminary, St. Louis. These men opened the Scriptures on the subject of the office and work of the Holy Spirit.
John Owen on The Holy Spirit
Dr. Ferguson presented two lectures on John Owen’s teaching on the Holy Spirit. Although one might expect that a lecture on such a topic would bore any not familiar with the writings of one of the greatest 17th Century theologians, that was not the case. Sinclair Ferguson has a unique style and ability to present great truths in simple form. His lecture showed not so much what John Owen said as what the Bible says about the Holy Spirit. And when one listens to the Scriptures regarding this crucial doctrine, one is enthralled by the depth of its teaching on person and work of the Holy Spirit. Dr. Ferguson spoke of the Holy Spirit in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, pointing out that the Bible speaks of the ministry of the Spirit in the incarnation of Christ, in the ministry of Christ, in His work of atonement, and in His exaltation. He pointed out that the Holy Spirit sanctified the Lord Jesus already in the womb of the virgin Mary. The Spirit thrust Jesus out into the wilderness to do battle with Satan, and enabled Him to overcome in the temptations.
The work of the Holy Spirit is also emphasized in Scripture as being His ministry in the lives of God’s people. The Spirit of God is called our paraclete in the New Testament. A paraclete is one’s best friend who stands by him in time of trouble. The Holy Spirit dwells not just along side the believer, but within him to give direction and guidance.
Old and New Testament Prophecy
Dr. O. Palmer Robertson presented two lectures, the first concerning prophecy in the Old and New Testament. A prophet, said Robertson, is not so much a “fore-teller” as a “forth-teller.” He is called upon to stand between God and His people, sent to proclaim God’s will to His people. Throughout the Old Testament, the prophets were all mere men whose task was to run between God and the people. The ultimate goal was not yet achieved, at which time no prophet would be necessary between God and the people. That goal is met when God Himself becomes the prophet in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Robertson showed how Deuteronomy 18:15–18 speaks of that goal that God had in mind already at the beginning of Israel’s history. Prophecy in both the Old and New Testament is revelational in that it presents God’s revelation to His people. Because we have the Word of God today, the Sacred Scriptures, we do not need prophets anymore. Thus prophecy does not continue today either as forth-telling or fore-telling. The Word of God is God’s revelation of Himself to us.
Tongues Today?
One of the most helpful as well as interesting presentations was the lecture by Palmer Robertson entitled, “Tongues Today?” In working with the Scriptural teaching on the gift of tongues, he used especially the passages from I Corinthians 14 and Acts 2, 10, and 19. He developed four elements in the Scriptural manifestation on the use of tongues which, he said, show that the gift of tongues is not a present-day gift of the Holy Spirit. These four elements are that tongues in the New Testament were revelational, they were foreign languages, they were for public consumption, and they were signs.
I Corinthians 14:2 says, “For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with h is spirit.” The person speaking in tongues in the Corinthian church was uttering mysteries, Paul says. And a mystery 1s clearly that which was once concealed but is now revealed. That is, a mystery is a revelation of God. Again in vv. 4 and 5 of I Corinthians 14 Paul equates tongues with prophecy, and prophecy in the New Testament church was revelational. The person speaking in tongues understood what he was saying and thus he edified himself. But when the speech was interpreted, it edified the entire congregation.
By comparing Acts 2 where the apostles spoke in other languages, with the passages which also deal with speaking in tongues, Dr. Robertson was able to prove that the use. of tongues in the Corinthian church was also speaking m foreign languages. But it is clear that the use of these languages was for public consumption. It was for the common good, not just for one’s own personal edification. And clearly this is not what is emphasized by those in the charismatic movement today. They emphasize that speaking in tongues is a personal and private means of spiritual edification. Such an ani rude is totally contrary to Scripture, and it shows that the present day phenomenon is not the same as the tongues in I Corinthians 14.
In a most interesting study of Scriptural data, Robertson traced the usages of foreign languages in the Old Testament. He showed that God spoke of foreign languages to His people as a means of judgment against them. He said in Deuteronomy 28:49 that he would bring against them a nation whose language they would not understand. Again in Jeremiah 5:15 God said the same thing . The message of the Lord was that God would turn from dealing only with Israel to opening His revelation to other nations whose languages the people could not understand. This judgment upon Old Testament Israel turns to a great blessing for the New Testament church, for the use of different languages is a sign of God’s pres? dealing with many peoples of diverse tongues. But, says Robertson, this was a sign which was used only once to indicate God’s change in His dealings with His people. Such a sign is not needed after it has served its purpose. It showed God’s grace to many peoples; now that sign is not needed to remind us again and again of that gracious revelation of God to all His people. Therefore we do not need the gift of tongues today. It was a sign in the early church to indicate God’s new direction from dealing only with Israel, to opening His revelation to all peoples and languages.
Religious Fanaticism
Rev. Iain Murray, editor of The Banner of Truth, spoke on the work of the Holy Spirit today and the excesses that have accompanied that work in the past. The Scriptures show that when the Holy Spirit works in the hearts of His people to awaken them spiritually, the immediate response is one of trembling fear. This is always the case. We find this emphasized in Isaiah 66 where the prophet says, “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” This emphasis is found throughout the Bible. But false religion, Murray said, is always marked by a superficial assumption that it knows what God wants, and how He wants to be worshipped. It ignores the Word of God as the basis for all true religion.
Along side of the evil of false religion is the danger of religious fanaticism that often appeared during times of revival both in England and in America. This fanaticism originated among immature, enthusiastic Christians. It concentrated on phenomena, feelings, experiences, and excitement rather than upon the Word of God. It centered in the personality of a person, on his imagination. It often concentrated on one strand of Biblical truth, separating that strand from all the rest of Scripture. Most damaging of all, it was marked by spiritual pride that judged all who did not share that religious experience as being lesser Christians. Rev. Murray said that the antidote to religious fanaticism is warm, biblical, prayerful churches.
Preaching in the Spirit
Perhaps the most powerful message was brought by Rev. Albert Martin in a public meeting on the subject, “Preaching in the Spirit.” The content of such preaching, he said, is substantially biblical, unashamedly doctrinal, pervasively evangelical, and intensely practical. The manner of such preaching is earnest and impassioned, plain and lucid, controlled and powerful.
Observations
The Banner of Truth conference highlighted especially one truth, the absolute centrality of Scripture as the inerrant, infallible Word of God. A deep sense of awe was evident in the way in which all the speakers handled the Word of God. Every message was intended to point the listeners to the Lord Jesus Christ as the central content of that Word of God. What a refreshing change from what one often hears in other conferences even in the Christian Reformed Church. I would encourage our readers to attend the conference next year, the Lord willing, and urge your pastor to attend as well. Both he and his congregation will be amply rewarded.
Henry Vanden Heuvel, president of the Reformed Fellowship, is the pastor of the Bethel C.R. Church of Zeeland, Michigan.
