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Articles
Miracles For Today?
"Expect a Miracle tonight." "We are Having a Miracle Crusade this week." "A Daily Guide to Miracles" "Jesus Came to Bring Life and Health to People" "Be Baptized in the Holy Ghost and Begin Speaking in Tongues." On and on it goes in many human denominational pulpits across the land. On the radio waves, on television, through the Internet, in books and by word of mouth are these messages taught and propagated. The charismatic movement has grown to a slew of followers, in many of the denominations in the modern era, since 1906, with advent of the contemporary Pentecostal doctrine. Even some among us, in the body of Christ, has gone astray in the movement. But what does the New Testament say about miracles, are they for today? Do people receive the miraculous gifts of the Spirit today? Let’s look into the word of God and let God speak through his word and let’s let Him be the final authority on the subject.
Why?
I think when we can grasp WHY miracles were performed in the Bible times, we will go along way in understanding the temporal nature of the miraculous gifts of the first century. In John 3:1-2 we read, "There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him." Nicodemus saw the proof that the miracles gave Jesus as a spokesman for God. If I come and say I have a message from the President of the United States; what proof or evidence do I have to show the truthfulness of that claim? If I had a letter written on White House stationary that was sealed with a official stamp, that would be good evidence. If a man claimed to have a message from God, what evidence does one have to back up that claim. Miracles would back up that claim, that is what these following texts talks about, signs. John 20:30-31, "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." In Acts 2:22, "Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:" In Acts 2:42, "And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles." In Acts 5:12, "And by the hands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people; (and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch." Acts 8:13, "Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done." In Acts 14:3, "Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands." Paul said in 2 Cor.12:12, "Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds." So what do we see in all these verses? That the miracles were signs, an indication, a mark, a token of miracles and wonders by which God authenticates the men sent by him, or by which men prove that the cause they are pleading is God’s. These miracles and spiritual gifts were not to merely accommodate the needs and desires of men, (though some did accommodate men). They were given to provide divine credentials, a badge of authority to the men who spake. The word God gave them was confirmed to be of God. That is what we see in Mark 16:20, "And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen." The word confirm means: to make firm, establish, confirm, make sure. The gospel was a new message from God in the first century, how would people know to trust that it was a message for God? He confirmed it with the miracles, signs and wonders. They were called miracles, because that shows the divine origin. They are called signs, to show the purpose of the miraculous gifts. And they were called wonders, because that would be the effect it would have on people who saw them take place. Now since the word of God has been confirmed, we can begin to see the temporal nature of them. Once the word of the gospel was confirmed, it would not have to be confirmed over and over. For example, when I bought my car many years ago, I got a bill of sale, that was notarized and then the car was registered to be mine. Once that was recorded and confirmed to be mine, I do NOT have to confirm it to be my automobile every year. I have the title that proves it to be mine. Once God established the gospel to be his message for humanity in the first century, it did not have to be confirmed over and over every year. The evidence is sure and steadfast to cause any honest soul to believe, John 20:30-31, "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name." Those men were inspired to record the message and it was confirmed by these wonderful miracles. I have no doubt in the message today.
How The Gifts Were Received?
Let me begin by first affirming that there are only two historical cases of Holy Spirit baptism found in the New Testament: the apostles in Acts 2 and Cornelius and his group in Acts 10.
In Acts 2, observe what Jesus promised the apostles in Acts 1:4-5, "And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence." In Acts 2:1-4 we read of the fulfillment of this promise ten days after Jesus spake it Acts chapter 1, that the apostles were baptized with the Holy Ghost. "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance." Notice in these verses the pronouns "they." Who are the "they"? Well the antecedent of "they" are the apostles in Acts 1:26. Those who spake were Galileans Acts 2:7, the apostles were all Galileans, Acts 1:11. "Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven." Notice in Acts 2:14, "But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:" The passage did not say Peter standing up with the one hundred and nineteen, "but Peter, standing up with the eleven." Thus we must conclude that only the apostles were baptized with the Holy Ghost here on the day of Pentecost.
One more observation, in Acts 2:2 it said of the apostles, "and it filled all the house where they were sitting." You don’t read of them seeking, on their knees praying, anointing with oil, going to the altar, agonizing before God, laying on of hands in order to get baptized in the Holy Spirit; but they were sitting when they were baptized with the Holy Spirit. For Christ is the one who did the baptizing of them in the Holy Spirit.
Now we want to study about Cornelius and his group being baptized in the Holy Spirit in Acts 10 & 11. Cornelius and his group would be the first Gentiles converts to Jesus Christ. God sent Peter to preach to Cornelius and his group, the gospel of Jesus Christ. In vs. 34-43 we read of Peter’s speech to this group. Then something very interesting happened as Peter was speaking, notice in, Acts 10:44-45, "While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost." As with the apostles, there was no seeking, kneeling in prayer, anointing with oil, going to the altar, laying on of hands in order to get baptized in the Holy Spirit; God simply poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit. Peter in Acts 11 was "called out on the carpet" about what took place with the Gentiles. Peter rehearsed this matter step by step of what took place. Notice in, Acts 11:14-17, "Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?" Observe that Peter calls this a baptism of the Holy Spirit, and notice also, that he has to refer all the way back to Acts 2, to what happened to the apostles on the day of Pentecost to find anything like it. Notice that statement again in verse 15, "And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning." He did not say, "As I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on all the churches." Nor did he say, "As I begin to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them as on us since the beginning," as if this was an everyday occurrence. Beloved, we do not read of these people agonizing, on their knees praying, singing and shouting, seeking, anointing, going to the altar, laying on of hands, in order to get baptized in the Holy Spirit. Why was Cornelius and his group baptized in the Holy Spirit? In order to prove to the Jews that the Gentiles can be Christians, "When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life." Acts 11:18. Thus Holy Spirit baptism does not take place today!
Now others received miraculous gifts by the laying on of the apostles hands. In Acts 8:14-19 we read, "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost." Even though Phillip could work miracles, vs.7, he could not impart the miraculous powers and gifts to others. It took the apostles to come and impart the gifts of the Spirit. I would that people could see what Simon saw, "And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given." What did he see? "That through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given." If people could only see that today. Other texts show that the apostles imparted the miraculous gifts. In Acts 6:6-8 we read, "Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people." Consider Paul imparting these gifts in Acts 19:1-7, "And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve." Here are 12 more reasons to understand how the Spirit’s gifts were given to men in the first century. Paul laid hands on them, to give it to them. Also look at Romans 1:11, "For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;" Paul wanted to come and lay hands on the brethren at Rome to impart some spiritual gift upon them. Now when we see that the miraculous spiritual gifts were given by the laying on of the apostles hands, we see the temporal nature of these gifts. How many apostles do we have today? None that are living. So we have none to impart the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, thus the means to impart the gifts of the Spirit was limited to the first century.
The Duration of The Gifts
In 1 Corinthians 12-14 Paul affirms the duration and regulations of the gifts in the first century. Chapter 12 shows that the gifts came from the one Godhead, and that there should be no division over them. 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all." Notice Paul says the same Spirit, the same Lord, the same God, emphasizing the unity in the Godhead and what should have been concerning the gifts. They had divided over the gifts and missed the point of them. At the end of chapter 12 he said that he was going to show a more excellent way. Chapter 13 gives us the mores excellent way, the way of love. The gifts would pass away in a few years from the time of Paul’s writing, but the way of love would continue on, even into eternity. In Chapter 14 shows us while the gifts were still in existence, Paul gives regulations of how they were to be used in the assembly. Now notice in chapter 13:8-13, "Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity." Notice the language of verse 8 & 10, "they shall fail" "they shall cease" "it shall vanish away" "shall be done away". Does that sound like these gifts would continue on and on, or does it sound like that they would come to a grinding halt? Sounds to me that the gifts were going to stop. And indeed they did, when the word was fully revealed and confirmed. Paul said, "For we know in part, and we prophesy in part." When one spoke in a tongue, ( i.e. a language you had never studied and learned), and one gave the interpretation of that divine message, that was only a part of the whole of divine truth. Or if one prophesied a lesson, i.e. preached a lesson by inspiration and miraculous means, that was only a part of the whole of divine truth. But when the perfect would come, i.e. the completion of the word of God given by inspiration and confirmed by miraculous signs, then that which is part shall be done away, they would fail, they would cease, they would vanish away. Paul gives 2 illustrations of the temporal nature of the gifts. In verse 11 he said, "When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." Just as a child plays with toys and games in his youth, when adulthood comes the childish games are set aside. Even so in the infancy and childhood of the revelation of the gospel, the spiritual gifts were necessary for revelation and confirmation, but when the revelation was fully given and confirmed, the adulthood of God’s word, the childish gifts were put away. Then in verse 12 Paul gives another illustration, "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face." NRSV. As the word of the Lord is a mirror of the soul, is was dim and an incomplete reflection, when only parts were given at a time. But when the fullness and completeness of the word was given, we would see into the perfect mirror of God’s word. The word of the Lord is complete as is affirmed by these texts: 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." In Jude 3, "Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints." And again in 2 Peter 1:3 we read, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:" Jesus had said that the Holy Spirit would come and reveal all truth, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come." John 16:13. Did Jesus know what he was talking about? Was the Spirit able to accomplish the work He was sent to do? Did the apostles rebel against what the Spirit came to do? To ask those questions is to answer them! When we have grasped these basic concepts we will not be lead down the erroneous path of men’s devising. "That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;" Ephesians 4:14.
