The Kingdom Case against Cessationism: Embracing the Power of the Kingdom

This is a twelve-essay book arguing against the theological doctrine of charismata cessation. These essays were written by nine authors connected to the Pentecostal or Charismatic expression of Christianity: Michael L. Brown, Randy Clark, Robert W. Graves, Gary S. Greig, James Hernando, Derek Morphew, Jon M. Ruthven, Graham H. Twelftree, and Don Williams, with an endorsement by Dr. Sam Storms and a Foreword by Dr. Craig S. Keener, who writes, "The book's thesis is compelling: The king who is yet to return and consummate his kingdom has already come once and thus inaugurated that kingdom. Jesus demonstrated God's reign through signs and empowered his followers by his Spirit to continue his mission to the world. To doubt these theses is to doubt central claims of the gospel-Jesus's kingship, his promised role as Spirit-baptizer, his mission that must be continued until he returns. The exalted Lord who began pouring out the Spirit "in the last days" certainly didn't pour the Spirit back, as if it is now earlier than the last days. The kingdom that Jesus inaugurated continues to advance as we continue to preach and demonstrate the good news of his reign." Dr. Sam Storms endorses it, writing, "I struggle to understand how cessationism is still regarded in the church of Jesus Christ as a viable perspective on the ministry and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Numerous books and articles have thoroughly answered the objections it raises and a solid case from both the text of Scripture and church history have demonstrated the on-going validity of the Spirit’s supernatural work. The approach taken in this excellent volume . . . draws our attention to yet another irrefutable argument for the contemporary operation of the full range of spiritual gifts. The kingdom of God is central to all that we believe about New Testament Christianity, not least of which is the way it bears witness to the ministry of the Spirit through the variety of charismata outlined in the Scriptures.”