“So, if cessationists reject a charismatic pneumatology, is there anything remaining to believe about the Holy Spirit? If so, what do they believe about him? Far from being dinitarians who do not believe in the Spirit, here are 20 things cessationists affirm.”

The claim is heard often these days. It usually goes something like this: “How could you cessationists believe that the miraculous spiritual gifts have ceased? You must not believe in the Holy Spirit.”

I have encountered this accusation many times from misled continuationists. It is as grievous as it is ill-informed. The implication is that charismatic views of the apostolic-age miraculous gifts are all there are to the Holy Spirit. If you reject those, then you must not believe in him. But this is a severely anemic understanding of the true Holy Spirit.

Even worse, it is an accusation of heresy. Charismatics and continuationists who make this claim are, in effect, accusing cessationists of affirming a heretical view of God. The biblical God is Trinitarian. That is, he is triune: God is one in essence and yet three distinct Persons (Father, Son, Spirit). To conclude that one disbelieves in the Spirit, therefore, is to accuse of believing in dinitarianism; that God is di-une: one God, two Persons. It is similar to the old error of socianism. But this is a view of God which differs greatly from than that of Scripture. Therefore, the dinitarian comment could not be more serious.

Traditionally and historically, however, cessationists believe in the triune God. They hold that there is one living and true God (Deut. 6:4, Isa. 45:5-7, 1 Cor. 8:4), an infinite, all knowing Spirit (John 4:24), perfect in all His attributes, one in essence, eternally existing in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14)—each equally deserving worship and obedience.

So, if cessationists reject a charismatic pneumatology, is there anything remaining to believe about the Holy Spirit? If so, what do they believe about him? Far from being dinitarians who do not believe in the Spirit, here are 20 things cessationists affirm:

1. Cessationists believe that the Holy Spirit is God.

They affirm that he is a divine Person, eternal, underived, possessing all the attributes of personality and deity (Ps. 139:7; Acts 5:3, 5; Rom. 15:19; 1 Cor. 2:11; Heb. 9:14). Further, he is not an “It” (e.g. a power, energy, vibe, vortex), but a Person, just as the Father and Son. This is the most important thing to believe about the Spirit.

2. Cessationists believe that the Holy Spirit was involved in creation.

At the moment of creation, the Spirit was already there doing his work (Gen. 1:2).

3. Cessationists believe that the Holy Spirit inspired the 66 books of Scripture.

Through the various human instruments, the Holy Spirit composed and recorded God’s word to man without error in the whole or in the part. What resulted was God’s inerrant and infallible revelation in the original manuscripts (2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Pet. 1:20-21).

4. Cessationists believe that the Holy Spirit was involved in the incarnation of Christ.

In a supernatural act of the Spirit, the Son of God was incarnate in the virgin’s womb (Luke 1:35).

5. Cessationists believe that the Holy Spirit is the agent of conviction.

In the New Covenant age, the Spirit convicts the world of its sin, self-righteousness, and false judgment (John 16:8-11).

6. Cessationists believe that the Holy Spirit gives the new birth to sinners.

Becoming a Christian is more momentous and powerful an event than the conception and birth of a human being. Jesus likens it to a birth from heaven; a spiritual coming-to-life (John 3:5-8). For this reason, it is called “regeneration” (Titus 3:5). This work of the Holy Spirit is a re-creation of the soul, otherwise impossible by a work of man (Ezek. 36:26-27, 2 Cor. 5:17). The Holy Spirit makes a person a Christian.

7. Cessationists believe the Holy Spirit fully indwells the Christian from the moment of regeneration.

At the moment of the new birth, the Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence in the soul of the believer (John 14:23, Rom. 8:9-11, 1 Cor. 6:19, Col. 1:27). This is what it means to be baptized by the Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13). He is not coming and going, nor he is partially there. He is a Person, thus, he is all there.

8. Cessationists believe that the Holy Spirit eternally secures the Christian at the moment of salvation.

From the moment of regeneration on, the Spirit is given as God’s signet of eternal security (Eph. 1:13-14). His presence serves as a divine dowry from God the Father.

9. Cessationists believe that the Holy Spirit causes the regenerate to savingly comprehend and embrace the word of God.

Prior to conversion, the Spirit-given Scriptures are, at best, intriguing stories with helpful lessons, and, at worst, repulsive myths. The reason for that is because the Spirit is absent from that soul (1 Cor. 2:14). Upon regeneration, however, the Spirit turns on the lights, such that every Christian begins to correctly understand, love, and obey the 66 books of Scripture (1 Cor. 2:12-16).

10. Cessationists believe that the Holy Spirit causes the regenerate to confess the lordship of Christ.

This is a great “first” in being a Christian. Upon regeneration, the Christian sincerely understands, embraces, and declares that Jesus Christ is who he is; Lord (1 Cor. 12:2-3).

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