Simply demonstrate one confirmed miracle as was preformed in the first century. Show one example of anyone being Healed from Blindness...after being so from birth, show us one example of anyone being brought back from the dead by the simple laying on of hands, show us one example of someone being healed of a crippling spinal injury.
I just cited a number of them. Not to mention that I myself am a witness to some of them. Faith proceeds miracles. Christ clearly taught that Gospel with power as did His disciples after Him. As His disciples have in all ages of time. Why do you imagine a God who has changed? God reveals His will today and demonstrates it with power just as He did in the past. How can you claim to follow Christ and deny the power of godliness when the scriptures so clearly warn against doing just that?
The Bible clearly details the exact reason that God demonstrated His power in the form of the miraculous. Miracles served the purpose in the New Testament of "Conformation". When an inspired speaker declared God's word in revelation (as they had no prior doctrine to worship in, with the Old Law being nailed to the cross of the Christ -- Col. 2:14), God simply validated the authority of the speaker and confirmed the message was from God, this was a divine endorsement of the message. For example the apostles, "went forth, and preached everywhere, the LORD WORKING WITH THEN, and confirming the word by the signs (miracles) that followed." -- Mark 16:20.
So your argument is that there are no authorized servants of God on this earth. Paul has taught us that Christ has given us gifts of the Spirit for the edifying of the Church.
So why should we listen to someone who denies the gifts of God? You freely admit you have no power from God behind your words, yet you think that somehow proves you chosen by God when you have cited the standard?
The only time miracles cease is when faith ceases. Because those who have Faith in Christ unto salvation will recieve revelation. They will recieve the gifts of the Spirits and the power of God will be upon them in their preaching.
I dont see how you can possibly undermine your position and argument any further than you already have.
And in the book of Hebrews we find, "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great a salvation; which having at the first been spoken through the Lord (Jesus), WAS CONFIRMED unto us by them that heard; God ALSO BEARING WITNESS WITH THEM, BOTH BY SIGNS AND WONDERS, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit." -- Heb. 2: 3-4.
I completely concur. Which is why the fact that you seem to think God is different nowadays or that He causes His word to be preached without power and signs following them quite puzzling.
With Luke adding, " And the multitudes gave heed with one accord UNTO THE THINGS THAT WERE SPOKEN BY PHILLIP, WHEN THEY HEARD AND SAW THE 'SIGNS' HE DID -- Acts 8:6.
Because those authorized by God produce signs through their faith in His name. They heal and prophecy. They do many Great and Marvelous things.
Yet we are supposed to believe that God ceases to do these things, despite the fact that the prophecies are clear that these things will occur in the last days? The entire Book of Revelation speaks of the miracles that will be done prior to the Second coming of Our Lord. Are we simply supposed to ignore it?
These passages among others (Acts 13:12, 14:3, 15:12; Romans 15:18-19; 1 Cor. 2: 4; Thess. 1:5, as crossed referenced to Ex. 4:30) show that the purpose of the miracles was to AUTHENTICATE the oral/spoken word as God's word. These miracles validated the message presented by the true disciples of the Christ in the infant church as compared against the many false prophets (Like Simon in Acts 8:9 or Pharaoh's magicians in Ex. 7:11) who were attempting to mislead people.
They still do. That's my entire point. Yet you deny this because you dont see miracles. Doubt not because you see not because you will not see until after the trial of your faith.
If God's intention was to totally exempt the Christian from sickness, disease and poverty, He certainly has fallen down on the job, since the majority of Christians throughout the past 2000 years have experienced the exact same afflictions suffered by NON BELIEVERS. If the miracles of the 1st century had as their purpose to improve the health and finical stability and well being of the recipient, then Jesus and the Apostles were complete failures, because they left untouched a lot of sick, dying and poor people in their wake. With Jesus healing the majority of the sick people of Palestine, and having healed NONE outside that tiny demography of peoples ( with the lone exception being the woman's daughter from Canaan). In fact, one would be forced to conclude that God's compassion did not extend to everyone (thus making Him a liar) as the word of God affirms that God LOVES THE ENTIRE WORLD..without respect. (John 3:16, Romans 5:8)
The whole point of the Atonement of Christ is to heal the sick physically, mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. Christ came to succor His people in their infirmities. Yet you deny the power of God because you lack the faith to see it done in your life.
Miracles ceased after the first century because the people rebelled and murdered the Apostles as Christ said they would. They changed the ordinances and broke the everlasting covenant as Isaiah prophecied they would. Every Epistle of the New Testament documents the people turning away. Why do you think the Epistles were written? It was to correct the Saints. Why did they need to be correct? Because they were turning from the Gospel after barely accepting it. If they were turning from it in the days of the Apostles, how much more do you think the people turned from it after they murdered them?
If miracles ceased, it was not because God ceased to be a God of miracles. Its because the Body of Christ ceased to exercise faith. Its because the Body of Christ suffered and died as was prophecied.
Thankfully, as Christ rose from the grave so did His Church which is a type for Christ. And He has given us Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers, etc for the edification and perfecting of the Saints.
Miracles are real, Ive seen them. Ive witnessed them first hand.
Thus, it becomes very evidence as declared in the Holy Scriptures....miracles did not have as their main purpose to demonstrate God's compassion, nor to ease pain, sickness, poverty and suffering....as clearly defined by the Christ himself....THE POOR will be among you ALWAYS -- John 12:8. As He even openly chastised those that followed Him because He felt compassion and feed the 5000, as He turned them away...scolding them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me not because your SAW THE SIGNS, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, WHICH THE SON OF MAN WILL GIVE YOU, because God the Father has set His seal on Him."
So youre arguing that Christ died, not to heal us because of love, but because it shows His power? What Bible are you reading? And how do you conclude that the miracles werent acts of compassion when you cite references that specifically say Christ had compassion for the people and thats why He feed or healed them?
Why do you think God exercises His power if its not out of compassion and love for His children?
Jesus purpose was to teach the truth. -- John 18:37. Thus, His service to the Poor was not the healings and sings, but the teaching of the Gospel TRUTH, that which had the power to give them, eternal salvation. -- Luke 7:22.
What exactly do you think Christ is saving us from? He is saving us from the Pains of death and hell. The Atonement is specifically designed as an act to heal. Read Isaiah 53 sometimes. It's one of the most beautiful passages in scripture describing the purpose of Christ's ministry.
So How can someone be saved and not healed?
As I said, anyone that propagates a message that Christianity will make them SPECIAL as compared to ANYONE ELSE...even the sinner in this physical life has missed the boat already. As even the Christian will surely suffer, hunger, become ill..etc...they are promised nothing Special...only the TRUTH of the GOSPEL, as that was the commissioned duty of the Holy Spirit to bring ALL TRUTH (John 16:13) to help in establishing the infant church and help validate the 'PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY'.
You're absolutely wrong here. The Saints are promised everything. Everything the Father has. We are joint heirs in Christ. Christ even went to the point to say that those who recieve the word are gods.
More specifically, those who make sacred covenants with the Lord are entitled to the promise He gives in those covenants. They can recieve the Gift of the Holy Ghost. And with the Holy Ghost comes the gifts of the Spirit.
This is the Doctrine of Christ that Jesus and the Apostles testified. That those who have faith in Jesus Christ will repent and be baptized by water. And then they will recieve the Laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost.
And the Holy Ghost will teach you all things. Without the witness of the Holy Ghost we cannot know that the Bible is true. Without the witness of the Holy Ghost we cannot know Christ and His doctrine. We cannot know the Truth.
As the only way to TRULY worship God is in Spirit and Truth ( John 4:24), and be sanctified in the entire truth of God ( John 17:17) ...and friend there is no truth in pretending to have some miraculous power that you certainly cannot confirm as a true messenger of God...with signs and wonders. Just what NEW MESSAGE from God do you have for us...today, as we were given EVERYTHING to make the man of God PERFECT in doctrine, reproof, correction....and Righteousness by the Word of God..the Scriptures ( 2 Tim. 3:16-17), as was delivered ONCE AND FOR all time by the saints of the 1st century. (Jude 3). Just how can you add unto PERFECTION by pretending to be speaking for God...which as demonstrated is directly in contradiction to the RECORDED truth given by the saints of the 1st century?
I agree that the only way to truely worship God is in Spirit and Truth. Yet how can you claim to have either when you deny the power of God? When you admit you recieve no signs? You have clearly demonstrated Signs follow the disciples of Christ. One must conclude that from your admission that you have no signs, then you are not truly following Christ.
I dont pretend to have any miraculous power. I simply refuse to deny the power of God as it works on man. I was healed by the power of God. Who am I to deny God? I know the truth and God knows the truth. And you dont have to accept my witness alone. The Spirit will tell you the truth of all things. And even if no one believes me, I know the truth. So why should I lie and say God does not do miracles in this day when He does? Why should i allow you to misrepresent the scriptures when they testify to the exact opposite of what you say they do.
You and I both know Jude 1:3 and 2 Tim 3:16-17 dont say what you are attributing to them.
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. (Jude 1:3)
Nothing in that passage says "once and for all time". In fact, Rev. 14:6-7 directly contradicts your claim. If Jude says what you claim he said, then why does the Apostle John prophecy that an angel will come through the midst of heaven in the last day carrying the Everlating Gospel to be preached on earth? If Jude says what you claim, how can the Gospel be sent to the earth to be preached in the winding up without God being a liar?
I promise you God isnt a liar.
And 2 Tim doesnt state that the Bible has everything God has given to man or ever will give to man. It mere says:
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Tim 3:16-17)
It doesnt say the Bible. You simply presume the Bible is all the scripture there is and ever will be. But the Bible itself says something quite the opposite:
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. (John 21:25)
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. (1 cor 3:1-2)
These are merely two of many passages where the writers of the Bible teach us that they havent begun to tell us everything. We know nothing of what Christ taught the disciples during the 40 day ministry after His resurrection. We know that Paul was forbidden to tell us many of His visions. You honestly think that everything God has to teach us is found in the Bible? The Bible on the other hand teaches us that we need to seek God for answers. We need to learn through revelation from Him. Something all are entitled to if they Humble themselves and seek it in faith.
You cannot be saved without revelation. We need to live off every word that proceeds forth from the mouth of God. And you cant do that if you deny the gifts of God. You cant do that if you deny revelation. You cant have a testimony of Jesus Christ without the Spirit of prophecy. And how can you be saved unless you have faith in Christ?
)! I also said Buddhaist and Hinduism, which I don't know enough about, were probably based on miracles also. So take your sensitivity and shove it.
