That's what I've been thinking about lately . . . a lot. We've been taught that there are no impossibilities with God. At the same time we've also been taught there are a plethora of things that God can't/won't do. I was raised on the doctrine of an incrementally diminution of Holy Spirit power and activity. This entire doctrine is anchored on 1 Cor. chapter 13. In particular the statement made by Paul that "when that which is perfect has come, that which is in part will be done away with." In recent years I have come to struggle with this thinking. I believe there are several fatal flaws in this reasoning that are not only dangerous, but are keeping millions of people from perhaps living a fuller, richer life.
I recall being taught there were apostolic dispensations of the Holy Spirit, then a special dispensation for those to whom the Spirit was given by the apostles and then there was nothing! The theory is that the Word then supplanted the Spirit in the lives of believers. The problem with this idea, initially for me, was that there appeared to be absolutely no Biblical backing.
As I began my research, several years ago (and trust me when I tell you I am no expert and do not claim to have all this worked out!), I realized there were several propositions that one had to accept in order for this concept to have any validity. First, one had to accept that the Holy Spirit is an incremental Spirit. In order to do that one must also be willing to accept that God is an incremental God: that God is in fact a respecter of persons despite that fact being denied in the scripture. Secondly, one must accept the proposition that the power is in the Bible and not in the Message of the Cross and the Blood of Jesus as stated in 1 Cor. chapter 1. In fact, in the absence of the Spirit, the sole repository of God's providence was the Bible. That being true, anyone who has a Bible must also have all the promises and blessings that pertain thereto.
I plowed on and discovered even more disturbing facets of this teaching. Among the most problematic is the scripture's assertion that when the perfect has come the imperfect will be disposed of. One would have to admit that the Spirit of God, and therefore God, are imperfect having been replaced by the perfect, in this case the printed Bible. Yet, aside from the obvious fallacy of the assertion that God and His Spirit are imperfect or incomplete, the further claim of the perfection or completeness of the Bible is debunked in the Bible itself by Paul's admonition to share his letter to the Laodocians, which if your Bible is like mine, is not to be found.
One also must admit that if the Holy Spirit has declined as the written word has become more accessible, that the Acts 2:38 proof text must be carefully reevaluated for it is clear that among the reasons for the apostles' teaching baptism was to qualify one to prepare to receive the Holy Spirit. If there is no Holy Spirit, can we teach baptism with the same vigor?
I compared these findings with the numerous times the scripture makes reference to the indwelling Spirit and I must say, the two sides do not match. Can God, or His Spirit, be replaced with something more perfect than He, Himself? If there is a more perfect being, entity or article than God, can it be identified? Can Christianity offer any joy, promise or hope if there is no active participation by God in my life? Troublesome questions.
Much simpler to accept the Word, which is identified in Ephesians chapter 6 as being a tool used by the Spirit (Not the Spirit, but a tool used by the Spirit - I feel it is worth repeating) as being just that, the Word and accept the voice of the Word which repeatedly, emphatically, clearly and unequivocally says the Holy Spirit dwells in me. Can God continue to do all the things He has always done by virtue of the presence of the Holy Spirit among men? Of course He can, if that is His choice and I allow room for Him to work! Can God? Emphatically yes!
