Reformed theology is characteristically cessationist: the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit — including prophecy, tongues, and miraculous sign gifts — ceased with the apostolic age when the canon of Scripture was completed. The Westminster Confession (Chapter I.1) teaches that God 'committed... his whole counsel' to Scripture and that 'those former ways of God's revealing his will unto his people' have now ceased. The sufficiency of Scripture means that God's special revelation for the church is complete and no new binding revelation is to be expected.

The Belgic Confession (Article 7) declares that it is forbidden to add to or take away from Scripture. This cessationist position on prophecy distinguishes Reformed theology from charismatic and Pentecostal movements and is a point of ongoing debate within broader Reformed circles — some Reformed theologians (such as Wayne Grudem) have argued for 'continuationism,' but this is a minority position within confessional Reformed bodies. Scripture and the Spirit-illumined reading of Scripture are sufficient for all matters of faith and conduct.