MIRACLES HAPPENED AND MIRACLES CEASED

The Bible teaches that miracles both happened and ceased. Men in our city and across our nation claim to be miracle workers today. I believe what the Bible teaches about miracles. Therefore I believe these men are frauds.

They do not teach the Gospel plan of salvation. God’s plan of salvation is for a penitent believer to confess faith in Jesus and be baptized for salvation (Acts 2:36-41). Most of those who claim miracles today teach salvation through the “sinners prayer” and accepting Jesus. Would God give miracles to such false teachers?

They do not teach New Testament worship. Most of the so-called “Miracle Working” churches have women in leadership roles, instruments of all kinds, do not observe communion weekly and participate in other acts of worship foreign to the New Testament (Read I Cor. 14:34, Acts 20:7, Eph. 5:19). Will God give real miracles to those who teach and practice false worship?

They do not practice Bible miracles. These religious racketeers bleed as much money as they can from the poor, unsuspecting and helpless. They make a mockery out of Christianity. They do no real miracles. Jesus performed great miracles, real miracles! Nicodemus said, “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” (John 3:2). Matthew 15:30 says, “And great multitudes came unto him, having with them [those that were] lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them.” Jesus rebuked the wind and the waves and caused the great calm (Matt. 8:26). No one is doing these miracles today!

Miracles ceased when the perfect or complete revelation was received. “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” (I Cor. 13:8-13).

When the last words of the New Testament were written in about 96 A.D. miracles had ceased. The only miracles we have or need today are those written in the Bible.

DOES THE LORD PERFORM MIRACLES TODAY?

There was a time when miracles happened. When Jesus was upon earth he performed many signs and miracles (Matt. 8:16; 9:34; 14:14-36; John 11). Jesus even gave others the power to perform miracles. But not one miracle is being performed today.

What was the purpose of miracles? Miracles were performed by Jesus, the apostles and those on whom they laid hands, to confirm the word (Mark 16:17-20.) Miracles confirmed that the message preached was divine. “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” (John 20:30-31). Jesus performed miracles to prove His claim of being the Son of God and to confirm that what He taught was God’s message.

Are miracles needed today? Everything originated by miracle, but it continues by divine law. Adam is the only man God created by miracle (Gen. 1:27-28). We were not created by miracle like Adam. God originated things by miracle but continues them through natural law.

Both Old Testament and New Testament were ushered in by miracles (Exodus 18-20; 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21). When the New Testament was completed, the need for miracles ended. Paul described the purpose and duration of miracles in these words, “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 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” (Eph. 4:11-14).

Are miracles being performed today? No person living on earth today has been baptized with the Holy Ghost (Eph. 4:5). There are no people living today who have had the hands of the apostles laid on them to impart miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:14-18). These were the only two ways miraculous powers were received. Therefore, the Lord does not perform miracles through any human today!
Miracles ceased when the perfect came. Miracles were both “in part” and temporary. Miracles ceased when the perfect or complete will of God -- the New Testament -- was completely revealed (1 Cor. 13:8-10).

Do Christians speak in unknown tongues today? There is no doubt that the gift of speaking in unknown tongues was a reality in the early church (Mark 16:17; Acts 2:4; 10:46; 19:6; 1 Cor. 12-14). These unknown tongues were languages (Acts 2:4-6). These languages could be interpreted (1 Cor. 14:26). Tongue speaking was the ability to speak intelligently a language you had not studied. The purpose of this miraculous gift was as a sign to unbelievers (1 Cor. 14:22). The gift of tongue speaking ceased near the close of the first century (1 Cor. 13:8-10).

No one living today can walk on water, raise the dead or perform any other real miracle. This cannot be done because the Bible teaches miracles have ceased. Have you ever wondered why the so-called modern day miracle worker: 1) Only selects healing and tongues from I Corinthians 12, 2) Cannot raise the dead or stop a tornado, 3) Refuses to drink deadly poison, 4) Believes the Bible is incomplete and still needs confirmation, 5) Does not possess the signs of an apostle?

Let us be content with being New Testament Christians today. To become a Christian a believer must repent and be baptized for remission of sins (Acts 2:38). True miracles caused faith (John 20:30-31). The so-called miracles of today cause doubt and confusion.

By Charles Box

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