Anyone who believes the Bible is certainly aware of the fact that the early church performed miracles. In the book of Acts men spoke in tongues (2:4-6), healed a lame man (3:6), cast out unclean spirits (5:16), cured a paralytic (9:34), brought Dorcas back from the dead (9:40) and did many other signs and wonders (5:12). However, do Christians today perform miracles? What do the Scriptures say?
After the apostles had laid their hands upon a disciple named Philip (Acts 6:5-6), Philip walked thirty-five miles to the city of Samaria where he preached, performed miracles and converted several people. Then, “when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit….Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, saying, ‘Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit’” (Acts 8:14-19). But Peter rebuked him. Question: If Philip had the ability to lay his hands on the people who were standing right next to him so that they too could perform miracles, him so that they too could perform miracles, why didn’t he do it–instead of making the apostles walk 35 miles (70 round trip) to do it? It is obvious–Philip could not do it; it took an apostle.
Furthermore, Luke, the inspired writer of the book of Acts, recorded it accurately when he wrote “and when Simon saw that through the laying on of ____?____ hands the Holy Spirit was given.” Answer: The apostles. Thus, quite clearly, the Scriptures inform us that the means to obtain the ability to perform miracles was achieved only by the laying on of the apostles’ hands. Question: What happened when the last apostle died? Answer: The means of obtaining the ability to perform miracles ceased.
1 Corinthians 13:8-10 informs us, “Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophecy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part will be done away.” True or false: The prophecies, tongues and knowledge were miraculous abilities. [Note: see 1 Cor. 12:7-10]. True. True or false: These miracles were said to some day fail, cease, vanish away and be done away. True. These miracles are also described as what? Answer: That which is partial. When is the partial (the miracles) to be done away? Answer: “When that which is perfect is come.” What, then, is that which is perfect? God makes it very clear: “He who looks into the perfect law of liberty…” (Jam. 1:25). The “perfect” is “the perfect law of liberty” which is the completed (in contrast to partial) New Testament. Do you recall that the purpose of miracles was to confirm/prove that what the preachers said was indeed from God? (Mark 16:17-20). Thus, piece by piece, the miracles would confirm part of the Word until all had been revealed and thus making it that which is perfect. Thus, since we now have the completed and perfect law of God in the 27 books of the NT [which occurred by the end of the 1st century], miracles have been done away.
Tell us plainly, do Christians today perform miracles? No.
Gary Henson
“Tell Us Plainly…” (#10)