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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | gift of healing same as prayer of faith | 1 Cor 12:9 | Makarios | 159698 | ||
Greetings Tim, Faith healing and the charismatic movement have grown up together. Acts 19:12 speaks of how Paul's handkerchiefs were taken to the sick.. Paul and the other apostles had been given unique power. Nothing in the New Testament suggests that anyone else could send out handkerchiefs to work healing miracles. The likes of Kenneth Hagin can give all kinds of outlandish examples on television of various healings that occurred from any kind of gimmick that you can think of. The Lord Jesus Christ was the great miracle worker, performing miracles to point to the fact of His deity (see John 2:11; 5:36; 20:30-31; Acts 2:22). Jesus healed people and raised people from the dead, He cast out demons, and He performed miracles of nature - such as multiplying loaves of fish, quieting the sea, and walking on water. Once Christ's work was finished, the apostles had the task of proclaiming and recording His message in Scripture. To authenticate the apostles' work, Christ gave to them the ability to cast out demons and heal the sick (Matthew 10:1). Matthew 10:1 is a single promise from Jesus to the twelve. But as the Spirit was given and the church age began, the apostles continued to manifest the gift of healings. In fact, they were so associated with this gift that Paul reminded the believers at Corinth that "the signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles" (2 Cor. 12:12). These miraculous healing powers were then limited in scope and restricted to the apostles, the seventy, and a few close associates, such as Philip. They were not given to the average Christian (Luke 9:1-2, Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:3-4), though some who were commissioned by an apostle shared in this ministry of miraculous healings (such as Philip, Acts 8:6-7). I believe that these miraculous gifts of healing were distinctively given for the authentication of the apostles. And, since no new Scriptural revelation is being given (Rev. 22:18-19), then there is no need for the presence of these miraculous powers of healing to authenticate a new Scriptural revelation. If every common disciple of Christ could perform the miracle of healing, then why is there a distinction that is noted in Mark 16:20, which says that the apostles' message was confirmed by "accompanying signs"? I also note that Mark 16:20, which is admittedly a highly disputable portion of Scripture, confirms that there is a link between the gospel message and the miraculous healing signs that accompanied them. If the gospel message has already been preached in every part of the world, then what need is there for any further accompanying sign, now that we have the Word of God in Scripture? To make a comparison between the gift of healing being claimed today and that which the Bible teaches, we simply need to take a look at Jesus' ministry. When Jesus healed, He healed disease to demonstrate His deity. He always healed with a word or a touch (see Matthew 8:6-7,13 and Mark 5:25-34). He always healed instantly (Matt. 8:13, Mark 5:29, Luke 5:13, 17:14, John 5:9, 9:1-7). He always healed totally (Luke 4:39-40), it was instantaneous and total. Jesus healed everyone. He did not leave long lines of disappointed people who had to return home in their wheelchairs. And the apostles were able to heal people with a word or touch, instantly, totally, and they could heal anyone. In fact, the apostles were even able to raise people from the dead. People who claim to have the gift of healing today do not spend much time in funeral parlors, funeral processions, or cemeteries. The reason is obvious. No one today is truly exhibiting the healing traits that were exhibited by Christ and the apostles in Scripture. So Tim, how many funerals have you had to conduct because you were not able to use your gift of healing to raise the person from the dead? Blessings to you, Makarios |
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2 | gift of healing same as prayer of faith | 1 Cor 12:9 | Morant61 | 159748 | ||
Greetings Makarios! I pray that you had a great Lord's Day my friend! Allow me to touch upon your points. 1) First of all, let's be clear that I am not an advocate of Hagin or his ilk. What they may or may not do or believe is not germane to this particular discussion. My point of contention has simply been that Dr. MacArthur calls the 'gift of healing' a temporary gift that is no longer for today. 2) We would certainly agree that Mt. 10:1 was addressed to the disciples. However, 1 Cor. 12-14 was not. 3) You write: "They were not given to the average Christian (Luke 9:1-2, Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:3-4),..." Yet, none of these verses prohbit the gift of healing to anyone other than the apostles. They are historical descriptions about the ministry of the apostles, but nothing is said in them that would limit the gift only to apostles. 3) I would agree that Jesus healed everyone that He healed, but He did not heal 'everyone' in every place. There were still sick people alive during the time of Christ. ;-) 4) You wrote: "And the apostles were able to heal people with a word or touch, instantly, totally, and they could heal anyone. In fact, the apostles were even able to raise people from the dead. " This isn't quite true! There are several places where the apostles were not able to heal some people. And, only Paul is ever recorded to have raised a dead person (to the best of my recollection). 5) Finally, you asked me about funerals. Where does Scripture say that a person with a gift of healing can use it anytime they choose? Where does Scripture prescribe how the gift of healing must be accomplished? My understanding of the gifts is that they are given and used as God wills, not the individual (See 1 Cor. 12). You rely heavily upon verses that describe the apostle's message being confirmed by signs and wonders. Yet, we also know from Scripture that Jesus spoke very negatively of the demand for signs. We know that many people did not believe even with the signs. We also know that false teachers will come in the last days with the ability to perform signs and wonders and deceive the elect. My contention is simple. There is no verse that calls the gifts temporary gifts only for the apostles. There is no verse that prescribes a certain method that must be followed. Given that 1 Cor. (and other passages dealing with spiritual gifts) was written to Christians, not apostles, I believe that the gifts are still in effect today. As I said earlier my friend, we may just have to disagree on this one point. :-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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