Views: 1<\/p>
[Note:\u00a0 <\/strong>This MS is available in\u00a0 <\/strong>larger font on our Brief Articles 1<\/strong>\u00a0 page.]<\/span><\/p>\n Many modern religionists claim the power to perform the same miracles and signs as those recorded in the Bible. Claiming and doing are two different things. Some can make claims that deceive multitudes (e.g., Simon the sorcerer [Acts 8:9\u201311]). Jesus and the apostles did not claim<\/b> to perform signs and wonders; they performed them. Even their enemies could not deny their authenticity (Acts 4:16).<\/span><\/p>\n The Bible teaches explicitly<\/b> that miracles ceased with the completion of God\u2019s revelation to men (the New Testament).<\/span><\/p>\n The Corinthians were abusing their miraculous powers, and Paul wrote to correct them (1:12:1\u201330). He told them that non<\/b>-miraculous love was superior to the miraculous gifts he had imparted to them (v. 31), and without it the gifts were vain (13:1\u20133). After personifying love (vv. 4\u20137), he contrasted the duration of love and of the gifts (vv. 8\u201313).\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Love would never fail, but the gifts (prophecy, tongues, and knowledge, representing all of the gifts in 12:8\u201310) would be \u201cdone away\u201d or \u201ccease\u201d (v. 8). Paul then stated when<\/b> they would cease. The gifts enabled them to know and prophesy \u201cin part\u201d (God revealed His will part-by-part), but \u201cwhen that which is perfect\u201d (i.e., complete\u2014God\u2019s completed revelation) came, the \u201cin part\u201d entities (i.e., miraculous gifts) would cease (vv. 9\u201310). He next likened miraculous gifts to childhood traits, which end at maturity (v. 11). When Paul wrote these words, men could not see the fullness of God\u2019s revelation (it was still being transmitted), but the fullness of that revelation would provide fullness of knowledge (v. 12). Paul followed a similar line of argumentation in Ephesians 4:7\u201313.<\/span><\/p>\n Has God finished His revelation to mankind:<\/span><\/p>\n The miraculous gifts ceased with the completed revelation.<\/span><\/p>\n [Note:<\/b> I wrote this article for and it appeared in the Denton Record-Chronicle, <\/i>Denton, TX, March 22, 2013].<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution:<\/b> From thescripturecache.com<\/i>; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 1[Note:\u00a0 This MS is available in\u00a0 larger font on our Brief Articles 1\u00a0 page.] Many modern religionists claim the power to perform the same miracles and signs as those recorded in the Bible. Claiming and doing are two different things. Some can make claims…<\/p>\n\n