No Miracles?

Please know that all email’s are edited and the names have been left out to assure everyone’s privacy – Internet Pastor

Dear Internet Pastor,

Last night I attended a small group study of the Bible, one I go to here each Wednesday. Right now we are in Acts 9, and have gone through all of Acts thus far.

The leader (no pastor here) stated that he wished God would perform amazing miracles in our time as he did with the Apostles.

Well, at the end of the hour he asked if anyone had something to discuss, and I did. I merely stated what I believe; that God performs miracles all over the world each day, and most of us never know of other miracles, but I see them in MY life and so on……

wow, did that ever open up a hornet’s nest! A preacher’s wife said that there are NO miracles now, they were only done when the Apostles were on earth…and it is written in the Bible thusly……

Boy did I wish you were here! I need your guidance on this one. I came home frustrated over her view point. Most others who spoke agreed with me, but she and her ‘preacher’ hubby were adamant.

I ended my view point with, ” as long as we all agree that we have different views of what we read in our Bibles, but continue to believe and minister to others, it is ok.”

I KNOW this discussion will go on next week. Please guide me here.

Signed,

No miracles?

Dear No miracles,

I am including several things to help you with your discussion next week. I appreciate your comment that “as long as we agree that we have different views…” I like to think of that as keeping the main things the main things. To much division has happened over things that really aren’t the main thing. Of course you know that I believe that miracles are happening today and that all of the Gifts of the Spirit are still in operation. There really isn’t a good theological reason to believe that the gifts ceased with the Apostles. Here are the three things I am including to help you with the issue.

Notes with Bible verses about the topic.
An audio file of a teaching I did on the topic.
A video link to the teaching

Here are the Notes

Acts 1:4-8 (NIV)
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” 6 So when they met together, they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

1 Corinthians 12:1-7 (NIV)
1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit. 4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

There is quite a range of thought on where the spiritual gifts and miracles fit in to the church today.

Position 1: Signs and wonders ceased at the end of the Apostolic Age

BB Warfield – Counterfeit Miracles – Pages 5-6

Everywhere, the Apostolic Church was marked out as itself a gift from God, by showing forth the possession of the Spirit in appropriate works of the Spirit – miracles of healing and miracles of power, miracles of knowledge, whether in the form of prophecy or in the discerning of spirits, miracles of speech, whether of the gift of tongues or of their interpretation. The Apostolic Church was characteristically a miracle working church. How long did this state of things continue? It was the characterizing peculiarity of specifically the Apostolic Church, and it belonged therefore exclusively to the Apostolic age….These gifts were not the possession of the primitive Church as such… they were distinctively the authentication of the Apostles. They were part of the credentials of the Apostles as the authoritative agents of God in founding the Church. Their function (i.e. healing and other miracles) thus confined them to distinctively the Apostolic Church, and they necessarily passed away with it…The possession of the charismata (i.e the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit in the early Church) was confined to the Apostolic Age…They (the miracle workings) were confined to the Apostolic Age, and to a very narrow circle then.

Here is the scripture used to support this position: (There isn’t any)

Position 2: Signs and wonders ceased because they belonged only to the earliest centuries. They ceased because they were no longer needed as divine credentials since the church had been widely established and officially sanctioned and the Canon was completed.

John MacArthur – The Charismatics

There he states the following:

“As we study the Scripture, we find three categories of spiritual gifts. In Ephesians 4 there is the category of gifted men: Apostles, prophets, evangelists, teaching pastors and teachers. These gifted men are called to be leaders in the church. Secondly, there are the permanent edifying gifts, which would include knowledge, wisdom, prophecy, teaching, exhortation, faith (or prayer), discernment, showing mercy, giving, administration and helps (see Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28). Thirdly, there were the temporary sign gifts. These were certain enablements given to certain believers for the purpose of authenticating or confirming God’s word when it was proclaimed in the early Church before the Scriptures were penned. These sign gifts were temporary. Their purpose was not primarily to edify, although sometimes edification did occur. The four temporary sign gifts were miracles, healings, tongues, and interpretation of tongues. These four sign gifts had a unique purpose – to give the apostles credentials, to let the people know that these men all spoke the truth of God. But once the Word of God was inscriptured, the sign gifts were no longer needed and they ceased. The gift of miracles and the gift of healing were both special sign gifts given for the single purpose of confirming God’s revelation.” (p. 131)

“The gift of healing was one of four miraculous sign gifts that were given to help the apostolic community to confirm their preaching of the gospel message in the early years of the Church. Once the Word of God was completed, the signs ceased. Miraculous signs were no longer needed.” (p. 149)

1 Corinthians 13:8-10 (NIV)
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.

This whole argument is based on a reading of 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 which says, “.. when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part is done away with”. The phrase, “… that which is perfect…” is interpreted to be the completed Canon of Scripture (that is the New Testament). This brings us down to approximately 400 A.D. The words, “…that which is in part will be done away with…”, refer to the Spiritual Gifts (miracles, healing, etc.). This is a widely held position by both Reformed and Dispensationalist scholars. The ARGUMENT follows these lines: 1) the word “perfect” is a neuter noun and refers to a thing and not a person. Since Scripture is a thing and is neuter in gender, it must be the “perfect” to which Paul is referring. 2) This concept fits well with Paul’s illustration in verses 11-12. Scripture and knowledge. These gifts were “childish” while Scripture is “mature”. These gifts give “dim” images and “partial” knowledge contrasted with Scripture which reflects perfectly and conveys full on knowledge. Some of the WEAKNESSES of this position are: 1) While “perfect” is neuter, it should not necessarily be equated with another neuter noun. A neuter noun or pronoun can be used to describe masculine and/or feminine things or even persons. One example is the word “begotten” (John 3:6) which is neuter as a reference to Jesus, which is masculine. The word “Spirit” is also neuter, but it is clear from Scripture that even though neuter, He is not an “it” but a “He”. 2) The interpretation calls for a leaving of the immediate context to determine the identity of “perfect”. The proponents look to 2 Timothy 3:15-16 when “Scripture” is neuter to file their case. Certainly the Corinthians did not have 2 Timothy at their disposal to help them interpret the text.

2 Timothy 3:15-16 (NIV)
15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,

If not “Scripture”, then what is “the perfect”? A British scholar, F.F. Bruce, says that “perfect” is the second coming of Christ. (Bruce, F.F., 1 & 2 Corinthians, p. 122). This certainly fits well within the context of the overall book. 1 Corinthians 1:7 gives that very impression.

1 Corinthians 1:7 (NIV)
7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.

Position 3: Signs and wonders continue today

In my opinion all of scripture supports this position as does church history.

Below is a link to the Audio Teaching

Click here for the Audio Teaching

Here is the Video

Hope that helps!

Pastor Online

(Internet Pastor Online Ministry is provided for education and entertainment purposes. This site is in no way a substitute for a relationship with a local church/pastor or with a licensed counselor when necessary.)