Views: 1<\/p>
\u00a0[Note:\u00a0 <\/strong>This MS is available in 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. Anyone can make claims and can deceive multitudes, as did Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:9\u201311). Jesus and the apostles did not go about claiming <\/strong>the power to perform signs and wonders; they just performed <\/strong>them. Even their enemies could not deny their authenticity (Acts 4:16).<\/span><\/p>\n The Bible teaches explicitly that miracles ceased with the completion of God\u2019s revelation to men (the New Testament). <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n The Corinthians were abusing their miraculous powers, and Paul wrote to correct them (12:1\u201330). He told them that non-miraculous love was superior to their miraculous gifts (v. 31), and without it the gifts were vain (13:1\u20133). After personifying love (vv. 4\u20137), he contrasted the duration <\/strong>of love and of the gifts (vv. 8\u201313). Love would never fail, but the gifts (prophecy, tongues, and knowledge, a synecdoche for all of the gifts listed in 12:8\u201310) would be \u201cdone away\u201d or \u201ccease\u201d (v. 8). He then states when <\/strong>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 vehicles (miraculous gifts) would be \u201cdone away\u201d (vv. 9\u201310). He next likened their miraculous gifts to childhood traits, which one ceases to manifest in 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 If God has finished His revelation to mankind, the gifts ceased upon its completion. His revelation is complete:<\/span><\/p>\n [Note:<\/strong> I wrote this article for and it appeared in the Denton Record-Chronicle, <\/em>Denton, TX, March 23, 2007].<\/span><\/p>\n Attribution:<\/strong> From thescripturecache.com<\/em>; Dub McClish, owner and administrator.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Views: 1\u00a0[Note:\u00a0 This MS is available in 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. Anyone can make claims…<\/p>\n\n