Let me first say that I don't mean to question your integrity.I simply believe you are wrong.I don't mind a discussion as long as we are civil with each other.
1.The same way they recieved before Christ's resurrection.It has never been an individual's power but God working through them.Even Jesus said it was the father doing the works.Just one example is Ananias,who had no apostles hands laid on him,laying his hands on Paul to recieve his sight.Mark 16 says these signs shall follow them that are babtized and believe.It does not say,these signs shall follow you 11 and thoes you lay hands on untill I have time to have a bible written,so I won't need signs anymore.
2.God's plan all along was to live inside all Christians through the Holy Spirit and have his power and influence increase in the earth not to have it fade away as the apostles died off.
3.Same purpose before Christ and after his resurrection,to confirm his word.A better question might be the purpose of his word.God has always made covenant and released his word into the earth for the benefit of his creation.
4.Certinly,you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.
I didn't go through and list a lot of scripture today because I am limited on time untill next week.I am sure you will try to find a lot of scripture to prove me wrong.I am just as sure I can use the same scripture and see it a different way.I'm not sure we will accomplish anything in the end.
Let me ask you a couple questions as well.
1.What gifts of the Holy Spirit do you believe have passed away? I find it very difficult to understand why you would think we don't need thoes gifts today.You will have to do better than 1 Cor. 13 as I have already explained that above.
2.Do you think God still heals today?
As to your last statement,what do you attribute miracles to today? Your arguement doesn't hold to what I said.Do you expect God to do miracles in a church full of people who believe he won't? What would you say if I brought to you different people who claim to have received miracles, healings and even had children raised from the dead? Would your answers be similar to the Pharisees?
Please know that I don't ask just to anger you.I truly believe that (ALL OF THAT IS PASSED AWAY) type of teaching has robbed God's people.Let's look at it from both sides a moment.If I am wrong,all I have done is incourage people to believe God.All I believe is that God will still do for his people EVERYTHING he has promised in his word,nothing more but nothing less.Now,if you are wrong,as I see it,someone might believe that God would perform a promise they had read in their bible,but you would tell them,..sorry that passed away when the last apostle died.
The fundamental premise you hold is that people today perform miracles the same way they did in the 1st Century. My premise is that people today don't have the ability to do them... but God works them in a way that would be called "providence".
A study of miracles in the 1st Century reveals much. If you go back and search the New Testament, miracles were utilized for three main purposes.
(1) To confirm Christ's authority over Satan (Mark 6:7; Luke 4:33-36; Luke 5:20-24)
(2) To confirm a message was from God, not man (John 20:30-31; Luke 9:1-2; Hebrews 2:2-4)
(3) To equip the believers for the work of ministry/allow them to grow (Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31)
So called "miracles" of today don't match up to what Scripture says about them in the New Testament. Notice a few discrepancies:
(1) Nowhere do you find that miracles in the NT were "expressions" of a person's individual faith. In fact, when you look at miracles in the book of Acts (a "portrait" of early Christians), never do you see people performing miracles for that type of reason.
(2) Tongues of "today" are giberish... not a known language. In Acts 2:4-11 and 1 Corinthians 14:6-11, it's clear that "tongues" were a language never studied by the one possessing the gift.
(3) Tongues in a church assembly should never be used unless those who were present could understand via an interpreter (1 Corinthians 14:27-28).
Regarding your questions, here's my reply.
(1) All of the supernatural gifts of the Spirit as seen in the NT have passed away. 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 and Ephesians 4:11-13 indicated the gifts were needed until the church would become mature... be able to exemplify the fulness of Christ. Today, the word of God provides those same things... something they didn't have access to as we have today (2 Timothy 3:16-17). BTW, you haven't satisfactorily made a case that 1 Corinthians is only about love... notice the references in my second post.
(2) God heals today... but he doesn't do it via a person praying to Him and then telling them they are healed as seen in Acts 9:36ff. But again, you have to go back and study why miracles were utilized in the 1st place in the New Testament. Miracles were for far more than just healing/helping a person... there was a broader purpose.
I respect your willingness to discuss the matter... please realize my beliefs come from a total study of miracles in the New Testament, not a study of just one or two passages. Simply put, today we have a very important tool at our disposal that 1st Century people did not have... the completed written word of God. And remember our Lord said those who were unwilling to believe the written word would not believe if they witnessed a notable miracle (Luke 16:31). Understand I'm not limiting God... I'm simply saying that this is how God has chosen to operate in our day and age. IF he wanted, he could equip anyone he wanted to do anything with power... power from his hand alone. Thanks for the opportunity to discuss God's word.
