I have shown in previous lessons that the baptism of
the Holy Spirit was to the Apostles only and that the purpose of it was to
guide them into all truth, and bring to their remembrance all things. This is
Revelation plus Inspiration. and the signs and miracles performed by these
inspired men confirmed (proved) that what they taught was the Word of God. This
confirmation was necessary since the Word was in the man, and not in the Book.
Now that it has been revealed and committed to the Book (New Testament) signs
and miracles are no longer needed, and have therefore ceased.
The gospel (the Lord's plan of salvation) was a mystery until it was revealed
to inspired men under the New Testament dispensation. It was promised and
prophesied of from the fall of man in the garden of Eden. When God told Eve
her seed would bruise the head of the serpent (Gen. 3:15) that was a
promise of the Christ, as was the promise unto Abraham, "In thee and
thy seed shall the nations be blessed". Paul said that seed was
Christ. (Gal. 3: 16) Thus, God planned down through the ages to offer all
nations salvation through Jesus Christ, and the prophets of old prophesied of
that salvation, but it remained a mystery until it was revealed through the
Apostles. Now that it has been revealed it is no longer a mystery. Paul said,
"If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is
given me to youward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery;
(as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my
knowledge in the myste ry of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known
unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets
by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body,
and partakers of his promise of Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made
a minister,according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the
effectual working of his power." (Eph. 3:2-7) Thus, we can see from
these verses that the gospel which was once a mystery had been revealed, or
made known to the apostles, and they wrote it down, so we can understand what
they understood. Therefore the gospel is no longer a mystery, but is now
revealed and is confirmed by the "signs, wonders and divers
miracles" which the Holy Spirit enabled these inspired men to perform.
Since this gospel has thus been revealed and confirmed, signs and miracles are
no longer needed and have therefore ceased. We now have, in the New Testament
the complete revealed will of God, which Jude says is "the faith once
for all delivered to the saints." (Jude 3) These inspired men were the
WITNESSES, AMBASSADORS, and EARTHEN VESSELS of Christ. (Luke 24:48 - Acts 1: 8
- 2Cor. 5:20 - Eph.6: 20 & 2Cor. 4: 7) No person today can scripturally
call him self a "Witness for Christ". We are not witnesses--we have
the evidence given by these inspired witnesses, and this evidence (the revealed
Word of God is what produces faith, and it comes in no other way. (Heb. 11: 1
& Rom. 10:17) We are not "Ambassadors". An ambassador is one who
represents or speaks for another. When our government sends an ambassador to a
foreign country, that ambassador has the authority to speak for, or in place,
of our government. These inspired men had the authority to speak for, or
instead of, Christ. "Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though
God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled unto
God." 2Cor. 5:20) Last, but not least, we are not "Earthen
Vessels". These men were. Paul said of the gospel, "But we have
this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of
God, and not of us." (2Cor. 4:7) At that time the Word was in the
man--Now it is in the Book (The Bible). When I hear people today say they are
"Witnesses" or "Ambassadors" or "Earthen Vessels"
of Christ, I know they do not understand inspiration as they should. We cannot
"witness for Christ" today-We can tell the world the evidence these
witnesses g ave. We cannot speak instead of Christ today--We can tell lost
mankind what His Ambassadors commanded. We cannot claim to be "Earthen
Vessels" - We can "go into all the world" and preach the word
once contained in these "Earthen Vessels", but now contained in the
Book.
Go to Lesson Eight
Signs And Miracles Ceased (2)