Have Miracles Ceased?

by A. G. HOBBS
God created the first man and first woman miraculously. Since then, with a few exceptions, the human race has multiplied through the operation of the natural law. Had God chosen to have done so, He could have continued to make men out of the dust of the earth and breathe into their nostrils the breath of life. We all recognize that God did not choose to do so.

Furthermore, even a casual reader of the Bible knows that God performed miracles through certain men. Our question is not could God enable men today to perform miracles as He did, but is He granting them such power now. So this is not a question of God’s power—but of God’s plan.

HAVE MIRACLES CEASED?1. THE NEED FOR MIRACLES HAS CEASED
God has enabled men to perform miracles in times past to spread and To CONFIRM TRUTH

When Moses went to Egypt to deliver the Israelites, God gave him power to do signs and miracles to confirm the truth of his mission, to the Israelites and to Pharaoh (Exodus 4:1-8, 29, 30). He first spoke the truth and then confirmed it with signs. Before Pharaoh permitted the Israelites to leave Egypt, Moses had to perform the ten miraculous plagues.

The miracles that Jesus performed were to confirm the truth of his mission and Divine Sonship (Matthew 11:2-5; John 20:30-31).

The miracles that the apostles performed, or that the Lord performed through them, were to confirm the word that they preached (Mark 16:17-20).

The gospel that they preached was a new message they were to take to all the world. How could they prove that Christ had sent them? They had no Bible — the New Testament had not been written. So the Lord promised them special power (Luke 24:46-48; Acts 1:5, 8), through which they were able to convince the world that He sent them and was with them, and that they were preaching the truth.

The apostles had power to lay their hands on others and likewise enable them to confirm their messages of truth with signs and miracles (Acts 6:6, 8:6, 8-14-18).

Truth Now ConfirmedJesus promised the apostles the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1: 5), to guide them into all truth (John 16:13), and to give them special power (Acts 1:8). This promise was fulfilled (Acts 2:4). Therefore, when they began preaching the gospel they were able to confirm the word with signs following (Mark 16:20). The truth has now been confirmed.

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will?”
(Hebrews 2:3, 4).
FOREVER CONFIRMEDDoes Jesus have to come back and raise Lazarus from the dead again, and do His other miracles in order for us to believe that He is the Son of God? Do the apostles have to come back and again perform miracles in order for us to believe? If a court proves a man innocent of a charge, does it have to convene and reconfirm this man’s innocence every year?

A Thing Once Proved is Forever Proved. A truth once confirmed is forever confirmed: The great salvation has been once confirmed, and is therefore forever confirmed.

EVIDENCE WRITTENWe now have the evidence in writing (John 20:30-31).---.the written word of God. Faith now comes by hearing the word (Romans 10:17). The written word supplies the man of God completely unto every good work (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

If a person will not be Convinced by the Bible, he would not be convinced if one should rise from the dead (Luke 16:19-31). Those who claim to perform miracles today are ignorant of God’s plan; and in reality deny that the salvation was ever confirmed as the Bible declares. Miracles fulfilled their purpose; and the need for them has ceased.

II. The Means Of Obtaining Miraculous Power Have Ceased
Miraculous power was bestowed upon men in New Testament times through two means:

(1) Baptism of the Holy Spirit (ActS 2:4, 43)
(2) Laying on of hands of the apostles (Acts 8:14-18; 19:1-7).

There are only two examples of Holy Spirit baptism in the New Testament. In Acts 2:4 the twelve apostles received it. Cornelius and his household received it in Acts 10:44-48; 11:18. The last occurrence was about AD 41, twenty-three years thereafter Paul wrote that there is “one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5). About the same time Peter wrote that baptism is in water (1 Peter 3 :20-21). There is just one baptism now, and it is in water. The conclusion therefore follows that there is no Holy Spirit baptism now. Hence, no one can receive power to work miracles through this means today.

All the apostles have died. Therefore, it is impossible for them to impart power to any one through the laying on of hands. So, no one can receive power to do miracles through means of the apostles’ hands.

The apostles were the only ones in the Jerusalem church who could work miracles, until they imparted the power to the seven deacons (Acts 2:43; 5:12). When the seven deacons were selected to serve tables (Acts 6:1-5), the apostles laid their hands on them (Acts 6:6) and they in turn could perform miracles. Stephen, one of the seven, did (Acts 6:8); and Philip likewise could work miracles (Acts 8:5-6). He was also one of the seven on whom the apostles laid their hands.

It is evident, however, that Philip could not impart miraculous power to others. He went to Samaria. preached Christ unto them and confirmed the word with miracles. Many of them believed and were baptized (Acts 8:12). Then Peter and John, two apostles, went from Jerusalem to Samaria to lay hands on the new converts and impart to them power to confirm the word with miracles (Acts 8:14-21).

If Philip could impart this power to others, why did the apostles make the trip to do so? It is an evident conclusion that the ones to whom the apostles imparted miraculous power could not impart the same to others. Even if they could, they are now all dead. The apostles have long since left the portals of time; and there is now no Holy Spirit baptism. Hence, the means of receiving miraculous power have ceased.

III. The Presence Of Miracles Have Ceased
That miracles were performed in New Testament times is not questioned. Peter and John healed a man who was lame from birth. “... and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. And he leaped up, stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God.” (Acts 3:7-8).

Peter raised the dead (Acts 9:40-41). Paul raised the dead (Acts 20:9-12). A deadly viper bit Paul on the hand. He shook it off, and felt no harm (Acts 28:3-5).

These are some of the genuine miracles. Have you seen any miracles like these today? No, neither have I. Those who had the baptism of the Holy Spirit could do all these signs and more, too, such as, drinking deadly poison, casting out devils, etc. (Mark 16:17, 18). If a person had the baptism of the Spirit today, he too could do these miracles. If he cannot do them, then he does not have the baptism of the Spirit.

A tongue was a language that men could understand (Acts 2:4-6). No one speaks a language today that he has not learned. Proof: When a person who claims to have the baptism of the Spirit goes to a foreign country as a missionary, he has to learn the language before he can preach in it! Therefore, the senseless jabbering that is carried on in so-called “Holiness” churches is not speaking in tongues at all!

The absence of miracles prove that they have ceased. Then we have Scriptural proof: “Love never faileth; but whether there be prophecies, they shall be done away, whether there be tongues, they shall cease, whether there be knowledge, it shall be done away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part: but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.” (1 Corinthians 13:8-10).

This passage definitely teaches that miracles have ceased. Prophecies, tongues and knowledge (supernatural) were to all cease at the same time. There is no man on earth today with the gift of prophecy, ability to teach by divine inspiration and to accurately predict future event (Acts 11:28). Neither is any man today inspired with the gift of knowledge. All must study today to know God’s will. If any man preach any gospel other than that revealed in the New Testament, let him be accursed (Galatians 1:8).

I challenge any one to find a man who knows one gospel truth that is not in the Bible. Since both the gift of prophecy and the gift of knowledge have ceased as is evident, the conclusion follows that speaking in tongues and other signs have likewise ceased.

Although Christ is perfect, Paul does not have reference to Him in this passage. If so, would he not have said, “When He who is perfect is come,” instead of “When that which is perfect is come?” Since the gifts here named have already ceased and Jesus has not yet come, it is further evident that Paul did not mean His second coming

The perfect revelation of God’s was not completed then. Now we have it complete. We are now furnished completely unto every good work (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). We can now all look into the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25). We can now see fully the purpose of spiritual gifts, and also understand why they were to cease.

The same Bible that says miracles would be performed and that says they were performed, also declares that they would cease. It is rebellion against God to try to perpetuate gifts in the church that God said would cease.

The apostles could perform miracles. They could lay hands on others and impart unto them spiritual gifts (Acts 8:14-19). The ones to whom the apostles imparted spiritual gifts could not impart them to others. Hence, when the apostles died, and all on whom the apostles laid hands imparting gifts had died, miracles then and there ceased.

"Lying Wonders - - - Counterfeits”Paul warned that the true signs would be counterfeited and used to deceive. “And then shall be revealed the lawless one ... whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, and with all deception of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of truth that they might be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:8-10).

The pretended miracles today are merely counterfeits of the original. They are “lying wonders.” No honest man is going to claim he has power that he does not have.

“Because they receive not the love of the truth, God has sent them a strong delusion that they might believe a lie and be damned” (2 Thessalonians 2:11, 12). Jesus said, “Thy word is truth.” (John 17:17). There is no hope for those who will not love, believe and be governed by the truth of God’s word. Yet all those who claim to have the baptism of the Holy Spirit either deny or pervert much of the Holy Bible and follow their own fancies, and feelings, and fakes instead. We challenge them to deny this publicly.

They ClaimTHAT they speak in tongues; yet tongues were languages that men could understand (Acts 2:4-6). Speaking in languages the audiences could not understand was condemned when spiritual gifts were in the early church (1 Corinthians 14:19). Today those who claim to speak in tongues merely jabber under a semi-hypnotic delusion, and do not speak in a language at all. If so, they could converse with foreigners in this country, or go to a foreign country and preach in any language without study --- which they cannot do.

THAT there are three baptisms. The Bible says that now there is only one baptism (Ephesians 4: 5), and that it is in water (1 Peter 3:20, 21; Acts 8:35-39).

THAT they are saved through prayer at the altar; yet Paul prayed three days, and before he was saved was commanded to “Arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord” (Acts 22:16).

THAT baptism is NOT for remission of sins (some excepted); the Bible says that baptism IS “for the remission of sins.” (Acts 2:38). Which will you believe?

THAT they know by feeling that they are saved, before and without doing what the Bible teaches Sinners to do to be Saved. Hence, they walk by feeling --- not by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7; Romans 10:17).

THAT they can ADD mechanical music to their worship, although we are not to add to divine revelation (Revelation 22:18, 19); and the Bible commands the KIND of music God wants us to use, “Singing.” (Ephesians 5:19)

THAT they can omit the Lord’s Supper from weekly worship on the Lord’s day. The writer attended a serve of the so-called “Church of God” in Borger, Texas, on Tuesday night, and they were having the Lord’s Supper. Hence, they refuse to follow the Bible example in this respect (Acts 20:7).


You see what I mean by charging the “Baptism of the Holy Ghost” people with denying or perverting the Bible! They will not believe what the Bible teaches!

Therefore, since they set aside the word of God, and follow their own fancies and feelings, it is evident that they do not receive the love of the truth; and this is the reason that God has sent them a strong delusion that they might believe a lie and be damned. If they would believe what the Bible says, and do what it says, they would never again tell sinners that they were saved at the “mourners bench” but would command them to repent and be baptized for the remission of sins. This they will not do. Furthermore, they would leave their guitars and pianos at home. No one can follow the New Testament and use mechanical music in worship, or incorrectly perform the Lord’s Supper.

Fakes ExposedSome avow that most assuredly they have seen people healed miraculously. Have you ever noticed that the claim is always made concerning an inward goiter or some trouble that is not outwardly apparent, or some trouble that people usually recover from naturally. No glass eyes or artificial legs are ever replaced! Furthermore, I challenge that they cannot heal a broken bone --- one that is actually broken. Neither can they heal crooked ankle bones.

A large percent of diseases are mental This the doctors will all affirm. It is only the mental cases that are apparently healed, or perhaps some nervous disorders. During excitement, a person actually has more strength. This added strength is due to a certain hormone that is discharged into the blood. Many who lay aside their crutches for a little while have to have them again after the excitement is over. If they do not, their disease was only in the mind. A man who had been walking on crutches for some time was attacked by a sow as he walked across the hog pasture. He threw his crutches down, outran the sow and jumped the fence. He never again needed his crutches. This was a case of swine healing. Did space permit, the writer could cite many such cases of healing, which prove that the trouble was merely in the mind.

After the apostles received the baptism of the Holy Spirit, there is no record where they ever tried to heal a person and failed. Jesus promised them that on whomsoever they laid their hands “He shall recover.” (Mark 16:17, 18). When one who claims power to heal fails, his dodge is that the afflicted person did not have enough faith. But during the personal ministry of Christ on one occasion the apostles failed, and Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith --- not the boy who was afflicted!

Some even claim to raise the dead today. Observe that the doctor did not pronounce the one dead that it is claimed was raised. Neither had he been dead four days as was Lazarus.

Yes, God answers prayer. He has only promised to answer the prayers of those who will do his will (John 9:31). Pentecostal people and all like cults have not obeyed the gospel of Christ, and are therefore not children of God. They refuse to do His will.

For God to answer prayer would not be a miracle in the sense we are studying. God in His providence can answer prayer. What the writer is affirming is that the miraculous gifts which were bestowed upon men in the early church that enabled them to perform miracles
have ceased.

Try a teacher to see if he is true or false is not tempting God (I John 4:1; Revelation 2:2). Put your preacher through the test. If he cannot do what he claims, and does not have what he claims, it is evident that he is false. If he will not teach and worship according to the New Testament he is a false teacher --- regardless of how pious he appears. He is misleading you; shun him. The writer will deny publicly that any person living has received the baptism of the Holy Ghost today. Will any one affirm it? We shall see!

“The Churches of Christ Salute You.”
Romans 16:16.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? You can accept the authority of Christ by doing what He commanded (Matthew 7:21; John 14:15; 15:10-14; Luke 6:46). Notice the pattern for becoming a Christian as revealed in the Scriptures. The Gospel was heard, resulting in faith (Romans 10:17). Repentance of (turning away from) sin (Acts 17:30) and confession of Jesus as the Son of God followed (Romans 10:10). Believers were baptized INTO Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins (See Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:20-21), and added to His church (Acts 2:47). Christians were taught to be faithful even to the point of death (Revelation 2:10).

WE WELCOME YOU Following the instructions of the Scriptures, members of Christ’s body assemble as congregations for worship, encouragement, and Bible study. The congregation in your community welcomes you to investigate the Bible with us. With a spirit of brotherly love we would seek to reconcile any differences by following the Bible ONLY. We recognize the Bible as God’s inspired word, the ONLY reliable standard of faith and practice. We desire the unity for which Christ prayed and which the Bible emphasizes in the expression, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Together we seek to maintain “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

A friendly welcome awaits you. We do not wish to embarrass you in any way. You will not be asked for contributions. We assemble for Bible study and worship each Sunday morning and we welcome you to meet with us. We would be happy to talk to you about your questions and we want to be of encouragement.

Please e-mail me, Dennis Crawford, at BibleTruths@hotmail.com for comments or further Bible information, or for the location of a congregation belonging to Jesus Christ near you.

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HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM

by A..G. HOBBS

Concerning Holy Spirit baptism, John, the forerunner of Christ, said:

"I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: ... Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Matthew 3:11,12.

This passage should be considered in the light of the time and circumstances in which it was spoken; and in the light of its fulfillment.

John was addressing a mixed audience. Some were righteous and some were not. Of some in his audience, he said: “0 generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” It is further evident that John has two classes in mind by the illustration of the wheat and the chaff. Therefore, we should not draw the conclusion that the same ones who were to receive the baptism of the Spirit were to also receive the baptism in fire.

Holy Spirit And Fire DistinguishedWhen Jesus, after the resurrection and before his ascension, had the Apostles assembled he told them that they would be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence, Acts 1:5. Jesus omits the baptism of fire. Evidently, therefore, the Apostles did not receive it.

In addition to the illustration used by John, other passages associate fire with the punishment of the wicked at the end of the world, II Thessalonians 1:7-9; II Peter 3:7.

FACTS ABOUT HOLY SPIRIT BAPTISM

1. It was always a promise and never a command.

2. There are only two recorded cases in the New Testament: Acts 2, the Jews; and Acts 10, the Gentiles. Joel’s prophecy were fulfilled when all flesh—both Jews and Gentiles received it.

3. The purpose of Spirit baptism was to fill a definite need. It was to endow the Apostles with power to accurately recall and teach the truth, John 14:26; to be guided into new truth, John 16:13; and to confirm their mission and their message with miracles, Mark 16:20, Hebrews 2:3, 4. When Cornelius and his house received it, it was to assure the Gentiles and to convince the Jews that salvation is for Gentiles the same as for Jews, Acts 11:18; 15:7, 8.

4. Holy Spirit baptism was always accompanied with miraculous power. The Apostles spoke in tongues --- which were languages that could be understood, Acts 2:4-6. They could also do other miraculous things, Acts 2:43; 5:12. Cornelius and his house also spoke in tongues, Acts 10:46. There is no record that they performed other miracles; but Peter said, “. . . the Holy Ghost fell them, as on us at the beginning.” Acts 11:15.

The Apostles were to be witnesses for Christ; but he did not send them out with-out power to confirm their mission and their message as both being of Divine authority. He assured them that they would receive this power when the Holy Spirit came upon them in a baptismal degree, Acts 1:5; 1:8 Luke 24:49. Some of the powers that they had are as follows: "And these signs shall follow them that believe: in My name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

"So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, He was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” Mark 16:17-20.

The Apostles could also raise the dead, Acts 9:40-41; 20:9-10, 12. If men today received the same baptism, they would have the same powers; if not, why not? If they do not have miraculous manifestations that accompanied Holy Ghost baptism, it is evident that they do not have the baptism.

1)Holy Spirit baptism never knocked a person down. The Apostles were sitting (not lying down at the altar) when they received it, Acts 2:2-4. The Spirit fell on Cornelius as Peter “began to speak,” Acts 11:15. It was not after a great excitement was worked up.

2) Holy Spirit baptism never did make a person run, jump, or fall and act like a maniac. It was an evil spirit that caused a boy to fall and foam at the mouth, Mark 9: 17,18.

Apostolic HandsIn the cases of Holy Spirit baptism, the Spirit overwhelmed, or took control of minds of the recipients and gave them miraculous power. In addition to the baptism of the Holy Spirit, miraculous power also given by the laying on of Apostles hands.

1. In the Jerusalem church, sign and wonders were done only by the Apostles, Acts 2:43; 5:12. This was true until after the apostles laid hands on the seven who were chosen to serve tables, Acts 6:6 --- THEN both Stephen and Philip performed miracles, they evidently could not impart this power to others. After many of the Samaritans received the word, believing and being baptized, Acts 8:12, 13; the Apostles sent Peter and John from Jerusalem to Samaria to lay hands on at least some of the new Converts and give them the Holy Ghost, Acts 8:14-18. If Philip could have given them the Holy Spirit, why were Peter and John sent to do so? What Simon wanted to buy was power to give the Spirit to others by the laying of his hands, Acts 8:19.

2. Another case is Paul and the Ephesians, Acts 19:1-7. These men who had been baptized unto John’s baptism, were rebaptized by Paul into Christ as John’s baptism was no longer valid. “And when Paul bad laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.”.

“One Baptism”"There is one body, and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.” Ephesians 4:4-6.

The first case of Holy Spirit Baptism, the Apostles, Acts 2:4, was about A. D. 33. The last recorded case, Cornelius and his house, was about A. D. 41. When Paul penned Ephesians, and said there is one baptism, it was about A. D. 64. Thus, it was about 23 years after the last example of Holy Spirit baptism that Paul wrote and said there is “one baptism.”

There are a number of passages that show that this one baptism is water baptism. In this same book, Ephesians 5:25-27, Paul declared that the church had been sanctified and cleansed by the washing of water by the word. The expression “washing of water” most certainly refers to water baptism.

About the same time, Peter wrote and said that Baptism is in water, I Peter 3:20, 21. Since there is just one baptism and it is in water, therefore, Holy Spirit baptism had ceased by this time. (Also see the example in Acts 8:35-38)

No Holy Spirit Baptism TodaySince baptism of the Spirit ceased even before the death of all the Apostles, we need not expect it today.

(1) There is no need for it today. It fulfilled its purpose in the first century of making possible the revelation and confirmation of the great salvation. It was never given, primarily, for the personal benefit of the recipients. We now have the truth revealed, confirmed, and written. There is no claim for needing the baptism of the Spirit but what it can be pointed out that the word of God supplies that need. Christians of the first century did not have the New Testament, but it was being written by inspired men. They lived in the age of inspired men. We Are Living In The Age Of The Inspired Book.

(2) There is no evidence of it. There is no one today that has the baptism of the Holy Ghost. All who make such claim, regardless of how honest and sincere they may be, are either self-deceived or have been deceived. If a person had it, he could perform miracles: raise the dead, heal the sick, drink deadly poison, speak in foreign languages, open eyes of the blind, remove glass eyes, and replace artificial legs, etc. After the apostles received the baptism of the spirit, they never tried to heal a person --- and failed; “and they were healed every one.” Acts 5:16.

Burden Of ProofLogically, the burden of proof falls on those who make the claim for special power. Can they prove it? Nay, verily! Their proof is lacking; and their claims bog down in a multitude of absurdities, inconsistencies, and contradictions. They try to prove their miracles by the Bible. The Apostles proved their word by their miracles. Paul’s preaching was “in demonstration of the Spirit.” I Corinthians 2:4;
II Corinthians 12:12. He did not just argue that he had miraculous power --- he demonstrated it. Signs were for the unbelieving, I Corinthians 14:22; they were to make believers, Mark 16:20.

It is scriptural to test a man’s claims. We are commanded to try the spirits, I John 4:1. Jesus commended the church in Ephesus for it: “... thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars.” Revelation 2:2.

Inconsistent SituationThere are many religious bodies claiming to have the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Yet they are not in fellowship; and they differ in their doctrine and practice. If the Spirit were guiding them, they would all teach the same things; and they would all be in fellowship. If not, why not?*1

God is not the author of confusion, but of peace. Yet confusion is characteristic of the “Baptism-of-the-Holy-Ghost” sects. There is neither command nor example to “carry on” as they do.

No religious group claiming spiritual gifts can establish their claims. No one group can establish their claims over those of the others. They all offer practically the same kind of “evidence.” They jabber and expect us to believe that it is a tongue. They want us to believe that they have seen persons healed, instead of demonstrating so we can see for ourselves. They claim that they have raised the dead, but they refuse to go to the cemetery and prove it. Jesus went to the tomb to raise Lazarus and he had been dead four days, John 11:17, 39-44.

The Apostles established their claims by their miracles. Men today try to establish their “miracles” by their claims.

Jesus said, “By their fruits ye shall know them,” as he was speaking of true and false teachers. What does a teacher or a religious body teach? All who claim to have Holy Spirit baptism teach and practice things contrary to the bible.

Conclusive Proof

They do not have the Lord’s Supper in their weekly worship on the first day of the week as the early Christian did, Acts 20:7; 1 Corithians 10:16-17; 11:23-29.

They add mechanical music to their worship when the Bible plainly declares that the kind of music God wants is singing, Ephesians 5:19; and we are taught not to add to or take from God’s word, Revelation 22:18,19.

They cannot converse with foreigners in this or any other country. Hence, they cannot speak in tongues. They work themselves up into a semi-hypnotic condition and merely utter a senseless jargon.

They cannot do other miraculous things as could the Apostles; such as, drinking deadly poison, and raising the dead. They teach (with a few exceptions) sinners to “pray through” at the altar and there is no such teaching and practice found in the New Testament. Paul prayed for three days and could not “get through;” he had to obey through, so he was commanded: “Arise, and be baptized and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord,” Acts 22:16.

If a sinner can be saved at the altar, then he cannot be baptized “for the remission of sins” as the Spirit declared through Peter in Acts 2:38. Jesus also put baptism between the sinner and salvation, Mark 16:16. When a person insists that he knows by feeling that he is saved before and without being baptized in water “for the remission of sins,” he is contradicting what the Spirit and Jesus teach in the Bible. He is also claiming salvation apart from the blood of Jesus because we are baptized into his death and benefits of his blood, Romans 6:3,4, Ephesians 1:7.

They teach there are three baptisms --- the Bible teaches that there is only one, (Ephesians 4:5) and that it is in water, I Peter 3:20, 21; Acts 8:35-39.

They refuse to follow the pattern of the New Testament church in its organization which consisted of elders and deacons, evangelists and teachers. There were no centralized headquarters, and no human head, nor general overseer. See Acts 14:23; Philippians 1:1; I Timothy 3; Ephesians 1:22, 23.

Kind reader, how can anyone have the audacity to claim baptism of the Holy Ghost when he refuses to follow the teaching of the Holy Ghost as revealed in the New Testament?

The fact that the so-called “Baptism of the Holy-Ghost” sects flatly deny what both the Spirit and Christ teach sinners to do to be saved, worship a different way, and maintain a different organization to the church revealed in the New Testament is undeniable proof that their claims are false.They are not being led by the spirit—they are not even filled with the spirit --- and most certainly not baptized with the spirit. They are not being led by the Spirit --- they are not even filled with the Spirit --- and most certainly not baptized with the Spirit!

Reply To Arguments
1. “Holy Ghost baptism is for all time because Jesus is the same”, Hebrews 13:9.”

Reply: He is the same in character --- but not in method. God is the same. Malachi 3:6;but his law changed, Hebrews 7:12. Jesus once walked the earth in fashion as a man, but He is not doing so today. He confirmed his Divine Sonship with miracles; but He is not performing miracles today. “These are written that ye might believe,” John 20:30, 31.

2. “The gospel needs to be confirmed constantly .”

Reply: A truth once confirmed and properly recorded is forever confirmed. The Apostles confirmed their mission and their message as being from God by their miracles, Mark 16:20. The great salvation “was confirmed,” Hebrews 2:3, 4. It is not necessary that Christ repeat his miracles, or that the Apostles repeat theirs. We now have the written record.

3. “Signs are to follow all that believe.”

Reply:(a) Signs and miracles of the first century confirmed the Divine origin of Christianity, and serve as credentials for all believers. But not all believers of the first century could perform miracles.
(b) The 3000 could not do so --- only the Apostles, Acts 2:43; 5:12. This was true UNTIL AFTER the Apostles laid hands on the seven, Acts 6:6. Immediately thereafter Stephen and Philip performed miracles, Acts 6:8; 8:6.
(c) The Samaritans who believed and were baptized could not perform any signs UNTIL AFTER the Apostles laid hands on them, Acts 8:12-18.
(d) Regardless of how strong a person’s faith is today he cannot perform signs or miracles.

Hence, these facts prove that it was never God’s plan that all believers do signs and wonders.

4. “The gift of the Holy Ghost is the baptism of the Holy Ghost and is promised to all who are baptized in the name of Christ for the remission of sins.”

Reply: The answer to the previous argument also answers this one.(a) Those baptized in the name of Christ for the remission of sins received “the gift” as promised in Acts 2:38 — but they could not perform miracles, Acts 2:43; 5:12; 8: 16-18.
(b) But all who had Holy Ghost baptism could perform miracles, Acts 2:4; 10:44-48.
(c) Therefore, “the gift” as promised in Acts 2:38 is not the baptism of the Holy Ghost.

5. “But,” it is insisted, “the promise is unto you, and to your children; and this has reference to Holy Ghost baptism.”

Reply: “The promise” here cannot mean Holy Ghost baptism. Proof: The fact that all who were baptized in the name of Christ for the remission of sins received “the promise” yet they could not perform miracles --- unless the Apostles laid hands on them proves it.

The Jews were interested in “the promise” made to Abraham --- that in him and his seed all nations were to be blessed, Acts 26:6. John said, “And this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life.” I John 2:25. All who have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. “And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:27-29. (See Ephesians 2:8; Romans 6:23).

6. “Was Paul baptized with the Holy Spirit? if so, does this not make more than two cases of Holy Spirit baptism?”

Reply: Paul was evidently baptized with the Holy Spirit, but it is not recorded. There are two recorded cases.

7. “Holy Spirit baptism puts one into the body of the church and I Corinthians 12:13 so teaches.”

Reply:
(a) All who received Holy Spirit baptism could speak in tongues, Acts 2:4; 10 :44-48.
(b) But all in the church in Corinth could not speak in tongues, I Corinthians 12:30.
(c) Therefore, they all had not been baptized with the Spirit.


(1) Through the agency of Spirit-guided men, the Corinthians (and all Christians of the first century) had been baptized into the body of Christ, I Corinthians 12:13.
(2) But they all had not been baptized with the Spirit --- if so they all could have spoken in tongues.
(3) Therefore, the baptism of I Corinthians 12:13 is water baptism.


8. “The baptism of the great commission, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15,16, is Holy Ghost baptism.”
Reply:

(1) This baptism was to be performed by men --- and men cannot baptize with the Holy Ghost. (2) This baptism is essential to salvation, Holy Ghost baptism never was. Therefore, this baptism which was performed by the Apostles and their co-laborers and is to continue “even unto the end of the world,” is water baptism.
*2

9. “Holy Spirit baptism is needed to remove all desire to sin and thus enable one to live above sin.”
Reply: Holy Spirit baptism never did do this. Peter sinned after being baptized with the Spirit, Galatians 2:11-14. Paul had to keep his body under subjection constantly,
I Corinthians 9-27.

10. “Spirit baptism is needed to remove ‘inborn’ sin.”
Reply: There is no such thing. Sin is transgression of law, I John 3:4. “The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father...” Ezkiel 18:20.

Warning—Lying WondersBe not deceived. Both Jesus and Paul warned against signs and lying wonders being used to deceive, Matthew 24:24, II Thessalonians 2:10-12. God sends a strong delusion to those who love not the truth --- that they may believe a lie and be damned. Is it not evident that a person does not love the truth when he follows his feelings instead of the truth? Those who believe that Spirit baptism and miraculous gifts are in operation today deny and reject some of the most clear-cut and plain passages --- as previously pointed out.

The pretended miracles today are merely counterfeits of the original. They are “lying wonders.” No true follower of Christ is going to claim that he has power that he does not have. For one to do so makes it evident that he is deceived.

The Miraculous Has CeasedIn I Corinthians 13:8-10, Paul teaches that the miraculous gifts would cease when that which is perfect is come. We now have the perfect law of liberty, James 1:25 --- the complete and final revelation of Gods will. In Ephesians 4:10-16, it is taught that spiritual gifts were of a temporary nature and were to last only “Till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God . . .”“ The faith was once for all delivered to the saints,” Jude 3. The faith has been revealed, delivered, confirmed, and recorded. That which is perfect has come; that which was miraculous has ceased.

ConclusionYes, we believe in the Spirit. We believe that He operates today through the Spirit-inspired word. The word is the sword of the Spirit, Ephesians 6:17. There is a sense in which God, Christ, and the Spirit all dwell in Christians: those who believe, in it, confess, and are baptized for the remission of sins, Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4; 10:10; II Corinthians 6:16; Acts 5:32. It is explained that Christ dwells in our hearts by faith, Ephesians 3:17. Paul admonishes that we be filled with the Spirit, Ephesians 5:18; and in a parallel passage, he says: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly...” Colossians 3:16.

We must be led by the teaching of the Spirit in becoming a Christian and in living the Christian life, Romans 8:14. If we permit the Spirit-inspired word of Christ to dwell in us richly, then we will bear the fruit of the Spirit, Galatians 5:22, 23.But no one today has the baptism of the Spirit. If there is one who wants to so affirm in public debate, the writer will be glad to deny the same.

"The Churches of Christ Salute You.” Romans 16:16


Notes:
*1 It has been suggested that Peter's sin of hypocricy in not fellowshipping the Gentile brethren in Acts counterdicts this claim.
*2 The laying on of the Apostles' hands did not impart Holy Spirit baptism, but only the miraculous gifts.


WHAT CAN YOU DO?You can accept the authority of Christ by doing what He commanded (Matthew 7:21; John 14:15; 15:10-14; Luke 6:46). Notice the pattern for becoming a Christian as revealed in the Scriptures. The Gospel was heard, resulting in faith (Romans 10:17). Repentance of (turning away from) sin (Acts 17:30) and confession of Jesus as the Son of God followed (Romans 10:10). Believers were baptized INTO Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins (See Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:20-21), and added to His church (Acts 2:47). Christians were taught to be faithful even to the point of death (Revelation 2:10).

WE WELCOME YOUFollowing the instructions of the Scriptures, members of Christ’s body assemble as congregations for worship, encouragement, and Bible study. The congregation in your community welcomes you to investigate the Bible with us. With a spirit of brotherly love we would seek to reconcile any differences by following the Bible ONLY. We recognize the Bible as God’s inspired word, the ONLY reliable standard of faith and practice. We desire the unity for which Christ prayed and which the Bible emphasizes in the expression, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Together we seek to maintain “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

A friendly welcome awaits you. We do not wish to embarrass you in any way. You will not be asked for contributions. We assemble for Bible study and worship each Sunday morning and we welcome you to meet with us. We would be happy to talk to you about your questions and we want to be of encouragement.

Please e-mail me, Dennis Crawford, at BibleTruths@hotmail.com for comments or further Bible information, or for the location of a congregation belonging to Jesus Christ near you.

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Spiritual Gifts

Many people in the world today have a great deal of misunderstanding about spiritual gifts, more commonly known today as miracles. They were brought to my attention recently by a girl who asked if I believed in them. Yes, I do, and they are real. But, according to God's Word, they have ceased. I would like to take a moment of your time to look at what the Bible says on spiritual gifts.

ARE SPIRITUAL GIFTS [MIRACLES] REAL?
Spiritual gifts were real. These spiritual gifts were foretold, "And it shall come to pass, that afterward I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit"(Joel 2:28-29). They were also foretold by Jesus, "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover" (Mark 16:17-18). These spiritual gifts were going to happen, and they did. There are many examples of these spiritual gifts being used throughout the New Testament.

In Acts 2:4-8, "And they [the apostles] were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?" This is when those spiritual gifts came about "which was spoken by the prophet Joel" (vs. 16). They were foretold and they came to be. There are many other numerous examples of these spiritual gifts. But, for time sake, I will not proceed to quote them all. (See Matthew 3:11. For other examples of these spiritual gifts being used, I recommend you read the book of Acts)"

HOW SHALL YE BELIEVE MY WORDS?"Now that we can see from the scriptures that spiritual gifts were real, I would like to ask a very important question. What was the purpose of spiritual gifts? Jesus put it well when He asked, "But if ye believe not his [Moses's] writings, how shall ye believe My words?" (John 5:47). If people would not believe Jesus' words, Jesus had another way of persuading them to believe that he was Son of God; he said "the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent Me" (vs. 36). The very purpose for those spiritual gifts was to confirm the word. Because of the miracles Jesus had performed "a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased." (John 6:2). They would not believe His word, but when he performed miracles they believed and knew that Jesus was the Son of God. These miracles confirmed Jesus' words. The apostles "preached everywhere," "the Lord working with them," "confirming the word with signs" (Mark 16:20).People would not take heed to the word; the evidence the apostles had to confirm that what they taught was of God were these miracles. God was “bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost" (Hebrews 2:4). Jesus said, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will by no means believe." (John 4:48). The miracles were the early Christians only witness that their words were of God. That what they said was of divine inspiration. As Jesus said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth" (John 17:17; see also John 4:43-54).

HOW LONG WOULD THEY LAST?
How long were these spiritual gifts going to last? That's seems to be a question that has too many answers today. Paul said, "Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way" (1 Corinthians 12:29-31). What was this "more excellent way" than miracles? It is the written word of God. In other words, the Bible. Spiritual gifts weren't going to be around forever.

THERE WAS TO BE AN END
Paul also says, "Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." (1 Corinthians 13:8-10) No one at that time had all of God's word written down in it's completeness, but rather they had His Word in part and they knew "in part", (vs. 12), through the letters and writings of inspired men which were received periodically. Paul says, “when that which is perfect [or complete] is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." There would be a time when all of God's word was in completion, [the combined written word, from Genesis to Revelation], and the people would not have to rely on other disciples or the apostles with divine inspiration to teach them God's word. But a man could look "into the perfect law of liberty [the Bible], and continue therein... being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work... this man shall be blessed in his deed" (James 1:25). In the early Church the letters and writings of inspired men were to "be read unto all the holy brethren" (1 Thessalonians 5:27). This was accomplished by these writings being passed from congregation to congregation (Colossians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 16:1). But these letters and writings were not all written and compiled together in their completeness until around the year 150 A.D., about two generations after the death of the last apostle, John.

THE WORD OF GOD IS COMPLETE
However, the word of God is complete today. That is why we no longer need spiritual gifts to persuade men to believe the word of God. We have God's word in written form before our very own eyes. Those spiritual gifts were to persuade men to believe and to instruct the early church. The word of God (the Bible) is "written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name" (John 20:31).

Those spiritual gifts were used to persuade men to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God by the early Church. Today, we use the Bible to persuade men to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. When we teach, we are to go by what God's word says, because it is His will. Some people poke fun at people that go by what the Bible teaches; but we know that "the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness" (1 Corinthians 1:18-23; see also James 2:12; Hebrews 2:3-4; John 20:30-31).

IS GOD A LIAR?
Are the people who teach that spiritual gifts exist today willing to call God a liar? I don't think they are, and I've yet to meet one who would call God a liar. If God is not the liar, then it must be the people who are teaching that spiritual gifts still exist today. If someone teaches that spiritual gifts exist today, but God's word teaches that they no longer exist today, who's the liar? God or Man? Paul says, "Let God be true, but every man a liar" (Romans 3:4). Are you willing to call God a liar just because you want to believe what someone has said, or because it was the way you were raised, or because it was “good enough" for your parents, or because of some “experience” or feeling you have had? Paul says, "there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed" (Galatians 1:7-10). Are you willing to give up an eternity in Heaven to live a lie on earth and have an eternity in Hell? If someone teaches something contrary to what God’s word teaches remember, "God...cannot lie" (Titus 1:2). If someone says some teaching of the word of God is inaccurate or not true, ask yourself, "Who's the liar? 'God, that cannot lie,' or Man?" (See also 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12; Matthew 7:21-27).In conclusion, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven" (Eccl. 3:1). Spiritual gifts had a purpose, that purpose had a season, and that season has ended.
-- RR 1 Box 1665 St. James, MO 65559-9801

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Lessons From Simon The Sorcerer

Acts 8: 5-24, “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. And there was great joy in that city. But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 18And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me. And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.”

We have here under consideration the first century conversion of a man by the name of Simon. The Scriptures tell us that this man had at one time practiced some form of magic or sorcercy in the city of Samaria. The conversion of Simon was a milestone in the conquest of the Gospel as it showed it’s superior power over the false religions of man.

What I want to do today is to have us note some things that Simon saw when he was confronted with the Gospel for the first time. The first thing I want to mention is that Simon was able to see the difference between Bible miracles and the counterfeits of his own experiences.

In the eighth chapter of Acts and verse nine, Simon deceived people with his magical arts prior to the coming of the evangelist Phllip. He pretended to be someone great and he deceived the people. He was probably like one of our modern magicians and performed tricks of sleight of hand and so forth. He is called Simon Megas by some of the commentators.

I’m sure all of us have seen magicians perform. They do things that appear to us to be impossible, with their various “sleight of hand tricks,” through the use of misdirection and other things. And yet, when Phillip performed the genuine miracles of the New Testament by the power of God, then Simon immediately saw the difference in the two.

This is one of the problems in our world today: many people, it seems. do not have the discernment to be able tell the difference between the genuine miracles of Christ and the spiritual counterfeits that are sometimes palmed off on a unsuspecting and gullible public today.

I would like to point out some of the genuine miracles of the New Testament: These are some that you never see anyone perform or attempt to perform. You never see anyone try too imitate these for the simple reason that they cannot. The first on these is:

· RAISING THE DEAD

Sometimes I hear people say, “Oh, well, there are a few people that have been raised from the dead.” But when you trace it down, it’s in far off India or Indonesia or somewhere like that. You and I have never seen anyone raised from the dead (and I dare say no one else has either). But there were hundreds of people who had seen people raised from the dead back in New Testament times.

· TURNING WATER INTO WINE

Jesus was able to do that. They would put some modern distilleries out of business today if they had that power.

· HEALING MEN WHO ARE BORN BLIND

So many times a person with one good eye is called to the platform and an attempt is made to perform an act of healing. But Jesus and the Apostles were able to heal men who were born blind.

· WALKING ON WATER

Jesus could do that, without even exerting Himself.

· FEEDING 5,000 WITH FIVE LOAVES AND TWO FISHES.

· HEALING CRIPPLES WHO HAD BEEN LAME FOR FORTY YEARS.

These are the kind of miracles that were in the New Testament that cannot be duplicated today. Instead we get evangelists and preachers over television offering such things as “miracle oil” which when analyzed turns out to be common old olive oil that they have bought somewhere at a store and prayed over --- that is supposed to work “wonders and miracles.” Just “put it under the pillow of someone you want saved or healed.” You are supposed to be able to receive “wonders” from it.

Many times we see these things on T.V. We’ll see a person limping onto the stage, and then walking better as he goes off. These are not like the miracles of the New Testament times. They’re not a 32nd cousin to the miracles of the New Testament times. They’re the kind of “miracles” that Simon was performing when he came in contact with the genuine miracles of Christ --- through the evangelist Phillip.

Many times we’ll be confronted with people that claim that miracles and signs are still for our time today. Sometimes Mark 16:16-18 will be quoted as a proof text. It reads, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues ... they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” Now you will notice that the verse has not been read in it’s entirity. Why do you think that they left this part out? That’s because the remainder of the verse(s) do not support the view that’s being put forth.

Let’s read the part that was omitted in Mark chapter 16 verse 18“They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. “ It would be a little inconvenient to have to handle deadly snakes and drink deadly poisons to prove that miracles are for today. This shows that those using Mark 16:16-18 while leaving out that part of the verse are not “shooting squarely” with you, because it becomes contradictory when the remainder of the verse is quoted. The whole truth is not being told here. They’re trying to pull a “fast one” on you, and you’d better beware! Normally this is part of the illusion people are trying to pass off on an unsuspecting gullible public.

Let’s continue reading in Mark 16:19-20 “ So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.” So, what was the purpose of all of that? To “CONFIRM THE WORD!” In other words to prove that the word that the Apostles and those early prophets spoke that they were indeed the words of God. That they had the power to back it up!

Now let me ask you this question; Does this need to be reconfirmed? As we read over in Hebrews the second chapter verse 3, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?”

So the Word of God has already been confirmed. It doesn’t need to be redelivered. It doesn’t need to be reconfirmed, because God has already confirmed it, and the signs that are in the New Testament follow it today. I submit to you that Simon saw the difference betweem fake miracles and genuine miracles. You don’t see any legs grown on; you don’t see anybody restoring a man’s ear that’s been cut off; or causing a man that’s been blind all of his life to see; or a man tha’s been lame from his mother’s womb rising up and walking. And I submit that you never will see it. Because men do not have the power of the first century. When the Word of God was confirmed then that power ceased.

Our Saviors warned in Matthew 24:24, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

Not long ago there was a famous evangelist, by the name of Peter Popoff, who preaches on television. He was found to have a remote receiver concealed in his ear. His confederate would filter through the crowd and find out information about people; their names, addresses, and also the names of their doctors. Then they would report to his wife in the back room somewhere. She by radio would report to him when these people would come forward, and he would pretend to have a word of knowledge. That kind of chicanery is too cheap, and too common, and absolutely too crooked to be passed off as anything from God. It’s a shame that such is the case. But that’s what Jesus said would happen, that they “shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” You and I must be care not to be deceived by such as this! We don’t want to condemn the Samaratians too much for be carried away with Simon, because today we have those same type of individuals.

I want to read from 2 Thessolonians the second chapter verses 8-10 what the Apostle Paul said about this in . He said, “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” Now it says here that some don’t have a love of the truth. That the only thing saves, Jesus said in John 8:32, “you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.”

Let’s continue reading in 2 Thessalonians 2: 10-12: “And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Oh precious one, wouldn’t it be tragic to believe a lie and be damned because we have not the love of the truth. I believe that if you and I will exalt the love of the truth above all of the opinions, the ideas, and the wishes of man, the “the truth will make us free” as Jesus said it would.

Well, let’s continue on with what Simon saw. Not only did he see the genuine miracles and signs that were performed, but he saw something else, too. He saw that the kingdom of God was established upon the earth. Not as some people expect it to be sometime in the future, but he saw that the Kingdom of God was established at that time. In Acts in the eighth chapter verse 5, the Bible says, “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.”

Now the Bible is a little more specific about what “preaching Christ” involves. I’d like to point out three things that “preaching Christ” involves. He said “But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” So here’s three things that preaching Christ involved:

One was the Kingdom, or the church. You know, Jesus says in Matthew 16 verses 18 and 19, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” So Jesus equated the church to the Kingdom. But look at this now: In Acts 8:12 in the NAS this is rendered, “When Philip told the good news of God’s kingdom and of the name of Jesus Christ, men and women believed him and were baptized.” Now what was the good news? Why the “good news” was that the kingdom had come! Not that it was thousands of years away, but that it had come. In spite of these scriptures, there are some who are still looking for the kingdom of God. But Simon saw that the kingdom of God had come, and he wanted to be in it. That’s the reason he did what he did.

Now I can show you by the Scriptures that the kingdom has come. Hebrews 12:28, “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:” How can you receive something that hasn’t come? Again in Mark 9:1 Jesus said, “... there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.” Do you know who He’s talking about? He talking about the people and the twelve Apostles that were there with Him. He says to them. “there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.” Now I submit that either the kingdom has come, or there are some men walking around the earth today that would make Methusla look like a baby by comparison! Because they’re over nineteen hundred years old! That’s how long ago when Jesus said “some of you won’t die, some of you won’t taste of death, till you see the kingdom of God come with power” (paraphrase).

I might just go ahead and say that “power” came on the day of Pentecost, didn’t it? Jesus said, “Ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come upon you,” in Acts 1 and 8. In Acts 2 and 1-4 it says, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” Well, that’s when the kingdom came. So the kingdom was come with power ; the power was to come with the Holy Ghost, or the Holy Spirit. Well, you see, that Simon saw that the kingdom had come, and he wanted to be a part of it, and that’s the reason he was baptized. Because Jesus said in John 3 and 3, “Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God..” He cannot discover, experience, or apprehend it. He cannot realize the kingdom of God. Now down in verse five He says, “...Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” So Simon saw that the kingdom of God --- the church had come. He wanted to become part of it through the “new birth.”

But, then there was something else that Simon saw. Simon saw what is necessary for salvation. That’s right. He saw what it took to be saved. Let’s see what he did. Here’s what he did. In Acts 8 verse 13, “Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized continued with Phillip...” Phillip preached the Gospel and Simon believed, and then was baptized for the forgiveness of his sins. The Bible also says that repentance of our former life and confession of Christ as Lord and Savior is necessary, so we know that Simon also did that. See Acts 2:37-38, Mk 16:16; Matthew 10:32; Romans 10:9-10, 2 Peter 3:16-18; Hebrews 3:14.

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The Day of Pentecost

by Irvin BarnesActs 2:1-4, “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they [the 12 Apostles, see Acts 1:26, dc] were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

· What is the meaning of the word Pentecost?
· What is or was the day of Pentecost?
· What was it’s significance and does it hold any importance in this present time in which we live?

The Bible is divided into three major dispensations: the patriarchical, the Mosaical and the Christian dispensations. Dispensation means spiritual arrangement.

God’s first spiritual arrangement with man was the patriarchical age or family arrangement. God would speak to the head of a family, such as Noah, who in turn would pass on God’s will to the rest of the family. Therefore, the FAMILY arrangement.

The next arrangement was the national arrangement. God promised that through the lineage of Abraham a great nation would arise. To this nation He gave law through His servant Moses. The nation was to be guided by the law of Moses. Hence, the NATIONAL arrangement.

Christ died on the cross, taking away the law of Moses and ushering in the gospel age of the world. Christ told the apostles, “go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature,” (Mark 16:16). Therefore, the WORLD arrangement under which we now live was brought into existence.

To prove that even though God is the same, His law has changed, please note the following scriptures:

Hebrews 8:13, “In that He says, ‘A new covenant, He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.’ ”
Hebrews 8:7, “For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second.”
Hebrews 7:11-12, “Therefore, if perfection were through the Levitical priesthood, (For under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise according to the order of Melchisedic, and not be called according to the order of Aaron? For the priesthood being changed, of necessity there is also a change of the law.”

Under Moses’ law, sacrifices, observances, and celebrations were required daily, weekly, monthly and annually.

The day of Pentecost was a part of Moses’ law. It was observed each year — one of five yearly festivals or celebrations.

The following list serves to show the place of the day of Pentecost in the yearly feasts of Moses’ law.

The Israelites, under the law of Moses were commanded to observe five festivals each year.

1. Feast of the Passover — Leviticus 23:5, “On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover.”
2. The Day of Pentecost — Leviticus 23:15-16, “And you shall count for yourselves from the first day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven Sabbaths shall be completed. Count fifty days to the day after the seventh Sabbath; then you shall offer a new meat offering to the Lord.”
3. Feast of Trumpets — Leviticus 23:24, “Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall have a Sabbath-rest, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it; and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.”
4. The Day of Atonement — Leviticus 23:27, “Also the tenth day of this seventh month shall be the day of atonement. It shall be an holy convocation to you; and you shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.”
5. Feast of Tabernacles Leviticus 23:34, “... The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days to the Lord.”

On the Pentecost day mentioned in Acts 2:1, the Jews had come into Jerusalem to observe the feast which followed fifty days after the Passover supper. They were to number seven Sabbaths complete or forty-nine days and on the day following the seventh Sabbath, they were to offer a new meat offering unto the Lord. The day after the seventh day would mark fifty days. Seven days in a week times (seven Sabbaths complete) would equal forty nine days. The day following would be the fiftieth day. Any reliable Bible dictionary will define Pentecost as meaning simply fiftieth, in this case the fiftieth day after the Passover.

Pentecost was a busy day filled with all kinds of activities. A new meat offering was sacrificed. Seven lambs of the first year and two loaves of specially prepared bread were offered by a priest. One young bullock and two rams were burned unto the Lord. Drink offerings were made unto the Lord. A kid goat and two lambs were offered as a sin offering and a sacrifice of peace offering.

The highlight of the day, so it seems, was when the priest would take some grain either threshed or in a sheaf and wave it over a new meat offering in oblation to God to show the people’s thanksgiving for the bountiful harvest from their fields.

To the Jews, the day was very significant because of what they were commanded to do on that day according to Moses’ law.

What is the significance of Pentecost to Christians? It is significant only because of some special things that occurred on the day, i.e. one particular day of Pentecost.

Pentecost is mentioned only three times in the New Testament. We have already noted in Acts 2:1.

When Paul departed from Troas, the Bible says of him, in Acts 20:16, “ ... he was hurrying, to be at Jerusalem, if possible, on the day of Pentecost”.

Paul said of himself in 1st Corinthians 16:8, “But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost.”

In all three references the day marks a time on the calendar. The day itself has no significance or the Christian except to mark a day on the Jewish calendar.

The things that happened on this particular day of Pentecost in Acts 2, are very significant.

The apostles, by the Holy Ghost, spoke with other tongues or in various languages. When this was noised abroad, the multitude came together and was confounded because they heard the apostles speak in a variety of different languages. People were gathered out of every nation under heaven. They asked, “Are not all these who speak, Galileans? And how is it that we hear each in our own language in which we were born?”

The apostles, all Galileans, who had been chosen by Christ as special ambassadors — were able to speak in various languages which had previously been unfamiliar to them. This is in harmony with the great commission given to the apostles at Mt. Olivet, by Christ, when He told them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” Supernatural ability to speak in many languages would equip them for this mission.

Other great things happened on this particular Pentecost day. As a result of the preaching of the gospel by Peter and the other apostles, three thousand people repented and were baptized. The Lord added to the church those who were saved.

Acts 2:41, “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day about three thousand souls were added to them.”

Acts 2:47, “...And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.”

Hence, the beginning of the New Testament church.

What The Bible Does Not Say!As we have noted, Pentecost belonged to the law of Moses. God never intended for New Testament Christians to be named or called after the day of Pentecost. Neither does God’s word indicate that the doctrine of the New Testament was to be named after the day upon which it was first preached.

The Apostles were never called Pentecost apostles, before, during, or following the day upon which they received the Holy Ghost. The three thousand that were baptized were never called by the day on which they believed.

In view of the religious events and the present conditions of our day — one cannot help but wonder — if the Holy Spirit had been sent to the apostles during the Passover, would we see a phenomenon emerge called Passoverism? If the events that happened on Pentecost had happened on one of the other Jewish festivals, would we have denominations in the world today known as Trumpetism, or Atonementism, or Tabernaclism?

The events of Pentecost are significant. The day itself is significant only, in that it marks a day on the Jewish calendar. Other than this, the day itself has no New Testament importance [except that it is the day that the church belonging to Jesus Christ began! dc].

Bible Study QuizPlease look up and read the passages listed below. Circle the T if the statement is true and F if the statement is false.

T/F 1. Christians are called Pentecostals in the Bible. Acts 11:26; Acts 26:27-28; 1 Peter 4:16.

T/F 2. When the apostles were baptized with the Holy Ghost, they began to speak in tongues which no one but God understood. Acts 2:1-8.

T/F 3. Pentecost was a day of Jewish celebration under Moses’ Law. Leviticus 23:15-16.

T/F 4. Pentecost denotes fiftieth or in Acts 2:1 refers to the fiftieth day after the Passover, Leviticus 23.

T/F 5. On Pentecost day, 120 people received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Acts chapters 1 and 2.

T/F 6. On Pentecost day, the twelve apostles received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Acts chapters 1 and 2.

T/F 7. On the Pentecost day, 3000 people received the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Acts chapters 1 and 2.

T/F 8. When the apostles spoke in tongues, the people who heard them understood what the apostles were saying. Acts 2:1-8.

T/F 9. The apostles had been promised the baptism of the Holy Ghost. Acts 1:2-8

T/F 10.The priesthood being changed made it necessary to also change the law. Hebrews 7:11-12.

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MIRACULOUS GIFTS --- a Bible-study

by Don French

I. WHAT IS TO BE THE BASIS OF OUR STUDY
A. I Corinthians 12:1-2 “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant: 2You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.”

1. Does God want us to be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts?
2. Should we get carried away by ignorance or opinion?

B. Galatians 1:6-10 “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, 7which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 9As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. 10For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.”

1. If we change the gospel of Christ, are we removed from the grace of God?
2. What is to happen to an Angel, an Apostle, or any person who changes the gospel?
3. Are we to persuade God to accept men's will or persuade men to accept God's will?
4. If we teach different than what the Bible says, are we servants of Christ?

C. Deuteronomy 18:20-22 “But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’ 21“And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?’ 22“when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him..”

1. If anyone speaks falsely for the Lord, what was to happen to them under the old law?
2. How can one tell if a prophet has spoken falsely?
3. Are we to pay attention to prophets who speak presumptuously?

D. Deuteronomy 13:1-5 “If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, 2“and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods’—which you have not known—‘and let us serve them,’ 3“you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4“You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice, and you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. 5“But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst.”

1. If someone gives a sign or works a miracle, are they to be automatically followed?
2. Who are we to obey?
3. What is to be a sign that someone is from God?
4. How seriously did God feel against people claiming falsely that they could perform miracles?

II. WHAT ARE THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS?
A. I Corinthians 12:8-11 “for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.”

1. Gift of Wisdom (Ability to discern right choice)
2. Gift of Knowledge (Instant knowledge of God's will)
3. Gift of Faith (Faith the size of a grain of mustard seek)
4. Gift of Healing (Full and instantaneous healing)
5. Gift of Miracles (Turning water into wine - etc)
6. Gift of Prophecy (Fore telling future events )
7. Discerning of Spirits (try every spirit)
8. Tongues (Greek Word "glossa" - language)
9. Interpretation of Tongues

III. WHAT IS THE GIFT OF TONGUES?
A. Acts 2:1-11 “When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.5And there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under heaven. 6And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. 7Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? 8“And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born? 9“Parthians and Medes and Elamites, those dwelling in Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10“Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya adjoining Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11“Cretans and Arabs—we hear them speaking in our own tongues the wonderful works of God.”

1. What signs accompanied the baptism of the Holy Spirit?
2. Were the Apostles able to speak with other tongues?
3. How many countries were people from?
4. Were the apostles talking in groups or to one crowd?
5. Were they able to hear the Apostles speaking in their native languages?
6. Could people understand what was being spoken?
7. What did they hear?

B. I Corinthians 14:1-5 “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. 2For he who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries. 3But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 4He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5I wish you all spoke with tongues, but even more that you prophesied; for he who prophesies is greater than he who speaks with tongues, unless indeed he interprets, that the church may receive edification.”

1. Are Christians to desire to be able to teach others?
2. If a person speaks in an unknown tongue, do they speak unto men?
3. Who do they speak to?
4. What does one speak, who talks in an unknown tongue?
5. If someone preaches who do they speak to?
6. What is the purpose of preaching?
7. If someone speaks in an unknown tongue, do they edify the church?
8. Why is the church not edified?
9. Who do they edify?
10. When a person speaks in an unknown tongue, do they understand what they say?
11. Which is greater, one who edifies or one who speaks in tongues?
12. When tongues is spoken, what must be done for edification to take place?

C. I Corinthians 14:7-9 “Even things without life, whether flute or harp, when they make a sound, unless they make a distinction in the sounds, how will it be known what is piped or played? 8For if the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will prepare himself for battle? 9So likewise you, unless you utter by the tongue words easy to understand, how will it be known what is spoken? For you will be speaking into the air.”

1. How does one know what is played on a musical instrument?
2. What tells a soldier to prepare for battle?
3. If the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, will the soldier know what to do?
4. Does preaching help prepare the Christian to battle Satan?
5. If the preacher does not talk where they can be understood, will the Christian be edified?
6. If one speaks in an unknown tongue, what does he speak into?

D. I Corinthians 14:10-11 “There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. 11Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me.”

1. Does every voice spoken have significance?
2. If I cannot understand what is spoken, what am I to the speaker?
3. If I can not understand the speaker, what is the speaker to me?

E. I Corinthians 14:13-17 “Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. 16Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? 17For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.”

1. What is one who speaks in an unknown tongue to do?
2. If one prays in an unknown tongue, what is praying?
3. What does not bring forth fruit when one prays in an unknown tongue?
4. Does one who prays in an unknown tongue understand what they are saying?
5. How is one to pray?
6. How is one to sing?
7. Are we to pray and sing with feeling?
8. Are we to understand the things we speak?
9. Are we to speak where others can understand what is being said?
10. Is it important that everyone is edified by everything that takes place in the worship?

F. I Corinthians 14:26-28 “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 27If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. 28But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.”

1. What is to be the purpose of everything that is done in the assembly of the church?
2. Is someone to speak in a foreign language, if there is no interpreter present?
3. How is the interpretation of the foreign language to take place?
4. If there is no interpreter present, what is the person who does not speak the language to do?

G. I Corinthians 14:31-33 “For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged. 32And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 33For God is not the author of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”

1. How many people may preach during the assembly?
2. How many may teach at one time?
3. Can the Christian control their spirit and what they say?
4. Is God the author of confusion in the church?
5. If someone says that they cannot control what they say, is it from God?

III. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF MIRACULOUS GIFTS?
A. John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. ”

1. Who is the Comforter?
2. Who sent the Holy Ghost?
3. What was the purpose of the Holy Ghost?
4. Had the New Testament been written yet?
5. What purpose would the gift of knowledge play in the purpose of the Holy Ghost?
6. What purpose would the discerning of spirits play in the purpose of the Holy Ghost?
7. Was the will of God revealed all at once to the church or a little at a time?

B. I Corinthians 14:21 “In the law it is written: “With men of other tongues and other lips I will speak to this people; And yet, for all that, they will not hear Me ”

1. Was it written in the law of Moses that the new testament would be delivered in other languages?
2. Would Israel accept the message of the New Testament?

C. Isaiah 28:11-13 “For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, 12To whom He said, “This is the rest with which
You may cause the weary to rest,” And, “This is the refreshing”; Yet they would not hear. 13But the word of the LORD was to them, “Precept upon precept, precept upon precept, Line upon line, line upon line, Here a little, there a little,” That they might go and fall backward, and be broken And snared and caught.”

1. How did Isaiah say that God would speak to Israel?
2. Would Israel hear the message?
3. How was the New Testament to be delivered?
4. Did God have a reason to deliver the New Testament the way that it was?
5. What was God's reason for having the New Testament a little at a time?

D. I Corinthians 14:22 “Therefore tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers; but prophesying is not for unbelievers but for those who believe.”

1. Is the gift of tongues to be a sign to the believer?
2. Who is the gift of tongues to be a sign to?
3. Does preaching serve the believer or the non-believer?
4. Was a purpose for the miraculous gifts to confirm the word of God?

IV. HOW LONG WILL THE MIRACULOUS GIFTS LAST?
A. I Corinthians 13:8 “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.”

1. Will the love of God ever fail?
2. What will happen to the ability to foretell the future?
3. What will happen to the gift of tongues?
4. What will happen to the miraculous ability to gain knowledge?
5. Would God let these disappear before their purpose was fulfilled?

B. I Corinthians 13:9-10 “For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.”

1. Are miraculous gifts associated with that which is in part or that which is perfect?
2. What would happen to the things that were in part?
3. When would the things in part be done away with?

C. James 1:25 “But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”

1. What makes a someone a doer of the work?
2. Who will be blessed in their deeds?
3. What is spoken of as perfect?
4. Can following the law of liberty allow one to grow unto maturity?

D. II Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

1. Who inspired the writing of the Bible?
2. What is the Bible profitable for?
3. Can the man of God reach perfection (maturity) following the scriptures?
4. Does the Bible contain everything necessary to equip the Christians to handle all good works?
5. Do Christians need anything other than the Bible to know the will of God?

E. I Corinthians 13:11 “When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.”

1. What does a child do when it is a child?
2. What does a man do when he grows up?
3. Is a child able to take care of itself or does it need to be taken care of?
4. In its infancy, did the church need to be taken care of?
5. When the church had the ability to take care of itself, what would happen to the miraculous gifts?
6. What gave the church the ability to take care of itself?

F. I Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.”

1. When that which is in part is in place, how do we see?
2. How will we see when that which is in part is done away?
3. Are miraculous gifts during the time of knowing in part?
4. When miraculous gifts are around, how shall we know?
5. When that which is part is done away, how shall we know?

G. John 12:48 “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day.”

1. How do we reject Jesus?
2. If we reject Jesus, do we have one to judge us?
3. What will judge us on the last day?
4. How shall we be known on the last day?
5. How can we know as we shall be known?

H. Revelations 20:12 “And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.”

1. Who shall stand before God?
2. By what shall they be judged?
3. What are the books that are opened?
4. How will we be known on judgment day?
5. When can we know as we shall be known?

V. ONLY THE APOSTLES COULD IMPART SPIRITUAL GIFTS
A. Acts 1:26 - 2:4 “And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.1When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

1. Who was gathered together in one place on the day of Pentecost?
2. Who was baptized in the Holy Ghost?
3. What signs accompanied the baptism of the Holy Ghost?

B. Acts 6:1-6 “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3“Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4“but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them.”

1. Who had the hands of the apostles laid on them?
2. Was Philip among the seven?

C. II Timothy 1:6 “Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.”

1. Did Timothy have a gift of God within him?
2. Did he receive that gift by the laying on of the hands of an apostle?

D. Acts 8:5-19 “Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them. 6And the multitudes with one accord heeded the things spoken by Philip, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 7For unclean spirits, crying with a loud voice, came out of many who were possessed; and many who were paralyzed and lame were healed. 8And there was great joy in that city.9But there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, 10to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is the great power of God.” 11And they heeded him because he had astonished them with his sorceries for a long time. 12But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. 13Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.14Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, 15who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. 16For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”

1. Who went to Samaria preaching the gospel?
2. Did he have the ability to work miracles?
3. Had Philip had the hands of the Apostles laid on him?
4. When those in Samaria were baptized, did they receive the Holy Ghost?
5. What had to be done for the Christians to receive the Holy Ghost?
6. Why did the Apostles have to come to impart the Holy Spirit?
7. When the Apostles all died, who would be able to impart the Holy Spirit?

VI. THE BIBLE SAYS HOW LONG MIRACULOUS GIFTS WOULD LAST
A. Micah 7:15-20 “As in the days when you came out of the land of Egypt, I will show them wonders.”16The nations shall see and be ashamed of all their might; They shall put their hand over their mouth; Their ears shall be deaf.17They shall lick the dust like a serpent; They shall crawl from their holes like snakes of the earth. They shall be afraid of the LORD our God, And shall fear because of You.18Who is a God like You, Pardoning iniquity And passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, Because He delights in mercy.19He will again have compassion on us, And will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins Into the depths of the sea. 20You will give truth to Jacob And mercy to Abraham, Which You have sworn to our fathers From days of old.”

1. How long would God show marvelous things?
2. How long did Israel wonder through the wilderness after leaving Egypt?
3. When would this begin to take place?
4. When did God begin to forgive sins?
5. Approximately what year did this take place?

<-------------- 40 YEARS ---------->
+ +------------------------------------+------+
33 AD.....................................70 AD 73 AD
Christ's...................................Destruction
Crucifixion................................of Jerusalem
V. SUMMARY
A. The basis of any Bible topic is the Bible, not human emotion or feelings.
B. If we change the doctrine that God gave, we will be anathema.
C. If a prophet claimed something would happen and it didn't, they were to be stoned to death.
D. If a prophet gave a sign or wonder that came to pass, but they taught different than the known scripture, they were to be stoned to death.
E. The gift of Tongues was the miraculous ability to speak & understand a foreign language without studying.
F. The gift of Tongues could be controlled by the speaker.
G. The gift of Tongues served no purpose in the Church unless it was interpreted.
H. The purpose of everything done in Church is for the edification of the listeners.
I. An Apostle traveling from place to place had opportunity to speak in foreign languages more than an entire congregation.
J. If a preacher speaks a foreign language and there is no interpreter, the preacher MUST keep silent.
K. Only one preacher may speak at a time, the rest MUST keep silent while he is speaking.
L. If the people involved are Christians, they WILL follow God's commandments regarding these things.
M. The Holy Ghost was sent to the Apostles to help them to clearly remember the things Jesus said unto them while he was with them on the Earth.
N. The purpose of the miraculous gifts was to confirm the Word of the Apostles.
O. The purpose of the gift of tongues was not for the believer, but was for the unbeliever.
P. Miraculous Gifts were only in part and were never expected to last.
Q. Miraculous Gifts were needed when the Church was in it's infancy, but would be put away when the Church was able to take care of itself.
R. Miraculous Gifts were needed when the New Testament had not been written, but would be done away when the New Testament was finished.
S. The Old Testament prophecy in Micah shows that Miraculous Gifts (Wonderful Things)would last 40 years.
T. Only the Apostles could pass on Miraculous Gifts through the laying on of hands and after the Apostles died the Miraculous Gifts rapidly passed out of existence.

WHAT CAN YOU DO? You can accept the authority of Christ by doing what He commanded (Matthew 7:21; John 14:15; 15:10-14; Luke 6:46). Notice the pattern for becoming a Christian as revealed in the Scriptures. The Gospel was heard, resulting in faith (Romans 10:17). Repentance of (turning away from) sin (Acts 17:30) and confession of Jesus as the Son of God followed (Romans 10:10). Believers were baptized INTO Christ for the remission (forgiveness) of sins (See Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Peter 3:20-21), and added to His church (Acts 2:47). Christians were taught to be faithful even to the point of death (Revelation 2:10).

WE WELCOME YOU Following the instructions of the Scriptures, members of Christ’s body [collectively called the “churches of Christ” Romans 16:16),] assemble as congregations for worship, encouragement, and Bible study. The congregation in your community welcomes you to investigate the Bible with us. With a spirit of brotherly love we would seek to reconcile any differences by following the Bible ONLY. We recognize the Bible as God’s inspired word, the ONLY reliable standard of faith and practice. We desire the unity for which Christ prayed and which the Bible emphasizes in the expression, “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” Together we seek to maintain “the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

A friendly welcome awaits you. We do not wish to embarrass you in any way. You will not be asked for contributions. We assemble for Bible study and worship each Sunday morning and we welcome you to meet with us. We would be happy to talk to you about your questions and we want to be of encouragement.

If you have any comments or questions --- or would like the location and contact names of a congregation of the church belonging to Jesus Christ near you, please e-mail me at BibleTruths@hotmail.com or call 253-396-0290. Thanks Dennis Crawford, editor.

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