Results 1 - 8 of 8
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Our authority in His name? | John 6:29 | Derby | 217656 | ||
Christ gave the disciples authority to cast out demons in His name, Mathew 10:1. Do we have this authority? If so, how do we recognize demonic influence from something like mental illness? | ||||||
2 | Our authority in His name? | John 6:29 | BradK | 217657 | ||
Hello Derby, Here's my answer: The entire verse reads, "Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness." (NASB) The primary purpose of Christ's performance of miracles was to validate His ministry- that He was the Messiah! So, it was of the disciples- that they were indeed (His)apostles. In context, do we see anyone "having authority over unclean spirits", "casting them out", "healing every disease and every affliction"? No, we don't! Empirically, we should see we do not have this authority. Christ Himself said when asked, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?", answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." (John 6:29) So too should we. Pauls' exhortation is "to know him and the power of HIs resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death" (Phil. 3:10) I trust I've provided some perspective to help:-) BradK |
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3 | Our authority in His name? | John 6:29 | Derby | 217662 | ||
Thank you BradK You are right,Jesus validated His ministry with miracles. But,isn't He still glorified by demonstrating His love and power through the faithful. This question came to me because of the descriptions in scripture of people possessed by demons is quite similar to some that I know. Also, it was so common then for someone to be possessed, Even Mary Magdelaine was by seven spirits,(Mark 16:9, Luke 8:2), isn't it as common now, after all we are involved in a spiritual battle. James 5:14-15 (New American Standard Bible) 14Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for (A)the elders of the church and they are to pray over him, (B)anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15and the (C)prayer offered in faith will [a](D)restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will (E)raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Footnotes: |
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4 | Our authority in His name? | John 6:29 | BradK | 217663 | ||
Hello Derby, Yes, Christ can be glorified by "demonstrating His love and power through the faithful." The question becomes, "are the acts described in Matt. 10 normative for believers today?" I do not believe they are! Rather, they're descriptive vs. prescriptive. Consider John 14:12 in which we're told, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father." (NASB) This is not referring to 'sign gifts', but salvation! To whom do you refer as possessed? I don't see any Biblical evidence of a true believer being (able to be) possessed (1 John 4:4)! I wouldn't call it common for someone to be possessed. I find only 7 instances in the NT of demon possession. Can you elaborate? Speaking the Truth in Love, BradK |
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5 | Our authority in His name? | John 6:29 | alex39 | 217665 | ||
Hello BradK, You stated, "Consider John 14:12 in which we're told, "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father." (NASB) This is not referring to 'sign gifts', but salvation!" Where do you see that this is only speaking of salvation. Salvation is a singular noun, Yahoshua speaks of "works", plural. Can you give references that back up your statement, as I've always seen this as referring to what you called sign gifts, or working gifts/ministries. Thank you in advance Alex |
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6 | Our authority in His name? | John 6:29 | BradK | 217670 | ||
Hello Alex, I'll be happy to. I think it important to consider the meaning of Christ's words, "and greater works than these he will do". If we consider the great works He had already done, i.e. raising the dead, healing the sick, restoring sight, etc, what can He mean? What greater works are there? Only further 'sign gifts"? Again, the purpose of the gifts was to authenticate His ministry! These are, "because I go the My Father". Christ was limited while on earth, but now that he has ascended the Holy Spirit, "the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify of Me: (John 15:25) What greater "works" are there than the salvation of many souls, via the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? I believe He refers to the complete work of redemption. I'll check my exposition notes, to see if I can clarify a bit better. I hope this helps, BradK |
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7 | Our authority in His name? | John 6:29 | Morant61 | 217672 | ||
Greetings BradK! I agree with you that the greater works mostly likely includes salvation. However, note that John 14:12 also says that he who believes in Him will do the works that He did in addition to the greater works! Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |
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8 | Our authority in His name? | John 6:29 | hopalong | 217678 | ||
I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father (John 14:12). (RAY STEDMAN) This is one of the most startling promises in the Scriptures. Notice the reason Jesus gives for these greater works. It is because He goes to the Father. And when He goes to the Father, He will send the Spirit. He says later, "Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you" (John I6:7b). He is referring here to the coming of the Spirit. As the Spirit of God comes into human hearts and dwells in them, these things will happen. The Spirit is releasing to us the life of Jesus, so that it is still Jesus who is doing these things. Some people read this passage and think that we ordinary humans are somehow so capable that we can actually do greater things than the Son of God Himself did when He was here in the flesh. But what He is really saying here is that as the risen Lord, who dwells in us by means of the Spirit, He will do greater things through us than He did when He was here in the days of His flesh. Jesus goes on immediately to say: "And greater works than these will you do." What are they? Obviously they can't be greater miracles. Can you think of anything greater than opening the eyes of those born blind or speaking a word and enabling a lame man to walk or raising the dead? Of course not. Then what are these greater works? The only answer that makes any sense at all is that they are greater in their significance and importance. They are spiritual accomplishments rather than physical. Anything done to the spirit of a person is far more significant than something done to the body. As you read the account of Jesus' ministry, notice that the crowds followed Him when He did those amazing wonders, and entire cities would turn out to hear His message, yet when you come to the end of His life, where are all the crowds? Where are the hundreds He healed? They are gone. Only a handful stands at the foot of the cross. His miracles did not change people; they merely touched the surface of their lives. But later on Jesus says to His disciples: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last" (John l5:16a). Isn't it interesting that the ones whom Jesus healed would not stand with Him through the test of the cross, but that when these disciples went out and preached in the power of the Spirit, they won converts by the thousands? And when the testing came, these men and women were willing to face lions, to be pulled apart on the rack, and to he burned as living torches rather than deny Jesus? Those are greater miracles. Anything done to the spirit of a person is permanent; that which is done to the flesh is merely temporary. All those whom Jesus healed or raised from the dead died again. So what is done to the spirit of a person is far greater, and this is what Jesus means by "greater works." |
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