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 Surely
no Bible believing student doubts that various “signs and
wonders” (miraculous gifts) were manifested by members of the
early church. Nor can such a believer doubt that God has the power
to give such gifts today. The question is, does He?
It
is ridiculous to argue He must, or be a respecter of persons.
Not all early Christians had the same gifts (1 Cor. 12:4-11). He
made Paul an apostle, not me. Nor is our lack of faith the
answer. The apostle’s hands seem to have been required in
usual cases of spiritual gifts, even for believers (Acts
8:12-18; 19:2-6; Rom. 1:11).
Some
say God has promised such powers (Mk. 16:11). If this
verse refers to all believers in all ages, it certainly raises
questions about those who do not manifest such powers. But if
not all believers are included, then who are intended, and why?
For a starter, notice the immediate context of the citation. The
apostles “went forth, and preached every where, the
Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs
following.” For special reasons (the “why?”) only special
ones (the “who?”) had miraculous gifts and powers. Even
Jesus said, “That ye may know that the Son of man hath power
on earth to forgive sins. . .“ and then healed. (Mk. 2:5-12)
A
lady once told me she was “tarrying for the Spirit” (Lu.
24:49), and was embarrassed when I pointed out she must “tarry...
in Jerusalem” not in Urbana, Illinois. We must not appropriate
to ourselves promises made to others. Jesus promised the Holy
Spirit to the apostles as another (allos, “similar to
Himself,” Trench) Advocate. He had been their teacher,
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but now the Spirit of Truth
would guide them (14:16-17, 26; 16:12-13). Inspiration would
stand by their side when they were brought to trial (Lu.
21:12-15). Attention to context would remove many
so-called promises of Holy Spirit functions claimed for today.
The
apostles confirmed the word with signs following. Bagster
says confirm means “establish, render constant and unwavering;
to establish by arguments or proofs, ratify.” Notice its use
in Heb. 2:3-4, “confirmed unto us by them that heard him; God
also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, etc.”
The Holy Spirit miraculously delivered truth, and miraculously
proved its divine origin. (Compare “signs of an apostle” 2
Cor. 12:12.) Will charismatics of today claim apostolic powers?
A
distinctive outpouring of the Spirit (“as on us at the
beginning”) marked the bringing of the gospel to Gentiles
(Acts 11:15-f), and there is no evidence of a repetition of
this. Do those who claim current miraculous spiritual powers
believe new divine revelations are being given, or that the New
Testament needs reconfirming?
The
apostles were accompanied in their work of delivering the New
Covenant by others, called Prophets (see Eph. 2:20; 3:5); and it
seems spiritual gifts served the same purpose with them. Stephen
(Acts 6:8-10), and Philip (8:6, 26-39), are examples of men who,
in the absence of the written New Testament, were directly aided
by the Spirit to deliver truth. (continued next page)
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