Are Spiritual Gifts and Miracles for Today?                Index

 The Bible is a very supernatural book.  In both Old and New Testaments God is presented as One who works miracles, heals and delivers, and delights to show Himself powerful on behalf of His people (II Chronicles 16:9). Anyone who suggests that God has changed, that He no longer works miracles, has all of the burden of proof on them. No such proof has been put forward. 

Two arguments have been made to ‘prove’ that miracles and gifts have ceased:

 1)     Based on the supposition that only the apostles and those on whom they laid their hands ever worked miracles or had spiritual gifts in the NT.

2)     Based on a misunderstanding of I Corinthians 13:10—“When perfection comes the perfect disappears.” 

Any other so-called reason is based on a modern prejudice against miracles. 

THE APOSTLES:

--Stephen and Philip (Act 6:8; 8:6-8). No evidence that the Apostles laid hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit. The Promise of the Father to all (Act 2:37).

--Paul. Only Ananias, an unknown disciple, laid hands on Paul (Acts 9:17-19)

--Cornelius and his household. (Acts 10:44-46)

 THAT WHICH IS PERFECT:

--I Corinthians 13:8-12. “face to face,” “know as I am known.” Not referring to the completed New Testament.

 MIRACLES AND GIFTS TO CONTINUE:        

--Mark 16:17-20. An open-ended, unqualified promise to ‘those who believe.’

--John 14:12.  An open-ended promise to ‘anyone who has faith in me.’

--I Cor. 1:4-8 (Mark 16:20; Heb. 2:3-4). The preaching of the word confirmed (bebaioun) by signs, gifts, and miracles.

 I Corinthians 1:4-8:  “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; 5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: 7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Tell me that this doesn’t say that Paul expected the spiritual gifts to endure until the coming of Christ—when we will see Him face to face.