There are two related but distinct errors. First, they need to be identified with a brief historical background:
1. The “Rhema” movement (the idea that God gives extra-biblical personal words with authority alongside Scripture).The “Rhema” movement—often referred to as the Word of Faith movement—emerged in the United States during the mid-20th century. It traces its roots to the teachings of E.W. Kenyon and was popularized in the 1960s and 1970s by Kenneth Hagin, who founded Rhema Bible Training College.
Central to the Rhema movement is the distinction between two Greek words for “word” in the New Testament: Logos (the written scripture) and Rhema (a specific, spoken “word” revealed by the Holy Spirit to an individual). Followers believe that when a believer speaks this personalized “rhema” aloud with absolute conviction, it carries the creative power to manifest physical healing, spiritual breakthroughs, and financial prosperity.
2. The Higher Life / Keswick movement (the doctrine of a “second blessing,” “let go and let God,” or a higher stage of victorious Christian living). The movement began with figures like Hannah Whitall Smith, Evan Hopkins, and W.H. Moberly and was influenced by the Holiness movement and Wesleyan theology. The Keswick Convention began in 1875 in Keswick, England, and became a significant annual event, drawing evangelical Christians seeking a deeper spiritual life. It’s remarkable for the “Second Blessing”, “Sinless Living”, and “Passive Surrender.”
They overlap historically, but they are not identical. They are similar in that man expresses dissatisfaction with the normal means of grace outlined in scripture, and sanctification is sought through extra-biblical means. Biblical grace is found through scripture, prayer, communion, repentance, and the putting to death of the flesh. For some, this is not enough, so they seek an experience or a special knowledge not outlined in these normal and usual means of grace. Some are secret and some are dramatic.
So – what is the error and where should one start to begin understanding these?
As with knowing how to spot false currency, it is not helpful to study the excesses of these groups, but focus on what the Bible has said about the means of grace. If you know the standards of scripture, then a false system will be easier to spot.
From the Biblical position, one needs to ask this question: “What has God promised concerning the Christian life?” Joy, victory, assurance of salvation are all parts of the Christian life, but the question and issue at hand is “How are these blessings obtained?”
Here are promises from the Biblical standpoint:
1. The sufficiency of Scripture – the Bible is the sole source of hearing from God.
The Biblical confession begins here. Scripture is sufficient because it equips the believer “for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16–17). If Scripture thoroughly equips the Christian, then no additional “rhema word” is needed to direct the believer in faith and godliness. There is no “second blessing” or other experience needed, and shouldn’t be looked for. This seeking of experiences opens the door to error and counterfeit religion and experiences.
John Calvin in his Institutes of the Christian Religion I.9 that the “Spirit was not given to reveal a new doctrine but to seal upon our hearts the doctrine already delivered in Scripture. The Holy Spirit never competes with His own Word.”
The questions here should be:
If Scripture equips me for every good work, what guidance is missing?
If I need more revelation, is Scripture truly sufficient?
2. Christ is the final revelation, and no more revelation is forthcoming.
Hebrews 1:1–2 is foundational to our understanding – “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds”
The movement from many revelations to the final revelation in Christ is central to Reformed Theology. God’s speech reaches its climax in Christ, whose teaching is preserved by His apostles in Scripture. The expectation of continual revelatory words reverses the direction of redemptive history, and seeks something that isn’t there. It also opens a spiritual door to error.
3. Sanctification is progressive, not a second stage, and progresses on for the life of the Christian.
The Higher Life movement often divides Christians into two classes: ordinary Christians and victorious Christians. The Reformed tradition rejects this. On these chapters: Romans 6, Romans 7, Romans 8, Galatians 5, and Philippians 3 all describe the Christian life as continual warfare and progress of the Christian toward glorification after a life of Sanctification [that progresses in an ongoing process].
Paul says this, “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect…” (Phil. 3:12). As generally seen as the most prolific apostle, Paul had not entered beyond his daily struggle with the flesh.
Even the apostle had not entered a higher state beyond struggle.
The 1689 London Baptist Confession (Chapter 13.2) says this: “This sanctification is throughout in the whole man, yet imperfect in this life; there abideth still some remnants of corruption in every part.”
There is growth – but no second blessing that ends the ordinary conflict Christians experience daily.
4. Sanctification comes through ordinary means of grace, and not some special word or blessing.
The Higher Life / Keswick movement often looks for crisis experiences. Reformed theology looks to: preaching
Scripture, prayer, communion and baptism, communion of the saints [fellowship], daily repentance. While not mystical or spectacular in nature, this is the means of grace that God uses for the sanctificaiton of the believer.
Acts 2:42 is far more representative of Christian growth than searching for extraordinary experiences. The verse says this: “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Steadfastly means daily use of means, and not spectacular experiences or private words given in secret.
5. Faith is not a passive thing.
A slogan such as “Let go and let God” [seen in the “Higher Life Movement”] sounds pious but is foreign to Scripture. The Bible simple does not say this, nor is it implied.
The New Testament commands believers: strive (Heb. 12:14), fight (1 Tim. 6:12), put to death sin (Rom. 8:13)
work out your salvation (Phil. 2:12).
All of this is grounded in God’s work: “For it is God who works in you…” (Phil. 2:13)
The Biblical position is neither self-reliance nor is it passive. It is active obedience empowered by sovereign grace daily in the life of the believer. Active obedience is found through searching the scriptures diligently and daily.
6. The danger of subjective authority, and potential opening to ungodly spiritual influence.
If someone says, “God told me…” how is their claim tested? What process is used to verify what was told to them? Often people mention it is a prophetic word, but doesn’t this violate 2 Peter 1:20 “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”?
Scripture commands: “Test the spirits.” (1 John 4:1) and “Do not go beyond what is written.” (1 Cor. 4:6). These few verses should rule out anyone getting a “word of power”, or a “rhema” word given to them.
The Bereans were commended not because they sought new revelations, but because they examined the Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11). The Reformers feared that private revelations would eventually become functionally equal to Scripture, which is why they paid close attention to doctrine and theology.
7. Union with Christ, not experiences.
The Bible locates every spiritual blessing in union with Christ.
The Christian does not seek a higher experience, a secret key, a fresh revelation because the canon of scripture has closed – and all that God has spoken to His church has been written – there is nothing else, and nothing coming.
The Christian grows by abiding in Christ through faith. All that Christ has accomplished becomes ours only through union with Him by the Holy Spirit.
Questions that expose the weaknesses of the Higher Life and Rhema teachings:
- Where does Scripture teach a two-stage Christian life?
- Which apostle describes himself as having reached sinless victory?
- If Scripture is sufficient, why are additional revelatory words necessary?
- How do you distinguish a genuine “word from God” from your own impressions?
- Why do the New Testament epistles consistently direct believers back to the gospel and Scripture rather than to fresh revelations?
- If extraordinary revelations are normative, why are the pastoral epistles almost entirely occupied with preaching, doctrine, prayer, and church order?
These questions encourage discussion on biblical grounds rather than merely criticizing a movement.
In summary, the Biblical answer is not that God is inactive today, but that God ordinarily governs and sanctifies His people through the Spirit working by the written Word and the ordinary means of grace. There is no special grace, word, or second blessing coming. If you are a Christian, you have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and you are to grow in grace and the nurture of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Growth in holiness is real and profound, yet it is progressive throughout the Christian life, not attained by an extra-Biblical event, or sustained by ongoing private revelations.