One In Jesus

It’s long been argued that miracles died out a generation after the apostles, because miraculous gifts were given exclusively through the laying on of apostolic hands. And there are indeed a number of verses that suggest this to be true. However, on close study, I’ve come to conclude otherwise.

(Acts 8:17-19) Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. 18 When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money 19 and said, “Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.” Continue reading →

[With thanks to Charles McLean for his post found here.]

As previously discussed, both 1 Cor. 13:8-14 and Eph. 4:11-14 promise the mature Christian a personal knowledge of Jesus–to know “face to face” or to have the “knowledge of the Son of God … attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” What does this mean?

First, this clearly is not referring to book knowledge. Non-Christians can read the Gospels, too. This is a knowledge only available to the mature Christian. Continue reading →

I am deeply concerned about a creeping Deism within the Churches of Christ. Following Campbell’s lead, many among us have long denied the personal indwelling of the Holy Spirit. We just have trouble getting comfortable with the mystical and miraculous. We want to push all such things into the safely distant past.

But this has led to a peculiar doctrine taught by a vocal few. These men argue that the age of miracles is over and therefore God now only works within the laws of nature. Continue reading →

And so, does this mean that tongues and other miraculous manifestations are with us today? Well, it’s not the purpose of these posts to answer all the questions–largely because I don’ t have all the answers.

I have no reason to doubt the reality of miraculous manifestations of God’s love among his people. God is certainly capable of doing whatever miracles suit him, and I wouldn’t presume to tell God what he needs to be doing with his powers.

Nonetheless, I am skeptical of many claims, Continue reading →

1 Cor. 13 may not tell us whether miracles have ended, but it does clearly tell us that the ability to speak in tongues or even to prophesy is no proof of spiritual excellence! Rather, these are given as crutches for the immature to help bring them to maturity. Continue reading →

I grew up at a time when Pentecostalism was highly controversial in the Churches of Christ. Many churches split over the issue. As a result of the controversy, the Churches had to develop a response to the question of whether tongues and other miraculous manifestations are still available in the church.

Among many arguments made, 1 Corinthians 13 was interpreted as stating that miracles were to end upon the completion of the New Testament, variously dated around the end of the First Century. Continue reading →