by Jefferson David Tant<\/p>\n
Jesus\u2019 last words to his disciples are known as \u201cThe Great Commission,\u201d which is recorded in Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-18. Verses 17-20 in Mark\u2019s record have been used by some denominations as proof that these miraculous manifestations are still in operation today. It is the purpose of this study to examine these claims.<\/p>\n
“These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed<\/em>\u201d (Mark 16:17-20).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The apostle Paul enumerated some of these signs or miraculous gifts in I Corinthians 12:8-10:<\/p>\n
\u201cFor to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; \u00a0to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, \u00a0and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.<\/em>\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Jesus had earlier in his ministry promised his twelve disciples that miraculous powers would be given to them.<\/p>\n
“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give<\/em>\u201d (Matthew 10:7-8).<\/p>\n
\u201cFor John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now \u2026 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth<\/em>\u201d (Acts 1:5,7).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
It is generally agreed that this baptism in the Holy Spirit was a reference to receiving the ability to perform miracles.<\/p>\n
How was the power to perform miracles acquired?<\/h2>\n
Jesus told the disciples that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit came upon them. We see this happening on the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2 at the fulfillment of prophecy in the establishment of the church or kingdom of God.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance<\/em>\u201d (Acts 2:2-4).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
We are aware that the disciples had been able to perform miracles before as was cited in Matthew 10, but there is another aspect of this power which the disciples evidently had not had before\u2014the ability to pass on the gift of miracles to others. We have the record of events that transpired in Samaria when the gospel was being preached there. Among the converts was Simon, who had been practicing sorcery.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven Simon himself believed; and after being baptized, he continued on with Philip, and as he observed signs and great miracles taking place, he was constantly amazed. Now when the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent them Peter and John, who came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For He had not yet fallen upon any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they began laying their hands on them, and they were receiving the Holy Spirit. Now when Simon saw that the Spirit was bestowed through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money, saying, “Give this authority to me as well, so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit<\/em>” (Acts 8:13-19).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
We remember that Peter severely rebuked Simon, upon which Simon repented and asked forgiveness. But the point to be made is seen in that fact that Simon came to understand that these miraculous gifts were \u201cbestowed through the laying on of the apostles\u2019 hands<\/em>.\u201d We see the same thing with respect to Paul and young Timothy: \u201cFor this reason I remind you to kindle afresh the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands<\/em>\u201d (II Timothy 1:6).<\/p>\n
The only other reference to the reception of any miraculous gifts is in the case of the household of Cornelius in Acts 10 as Peter was preaching to them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening to the message. All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they were hearing them speaking with tongues and exalting God. Then Peter answered, \u2018Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?\u2019<\/em>” (Acts 10:44-47).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
It is significant to note that it had been perhaps nine or ten years since Pentecost in Acts 2 and multiplied thousands have been baptized into Christ during this period of time. But with respect to Holy Spirit baptism, Peter had to go all the way back to Pentecost to find a similar experience. Evidently none of the thousands who became Christians from Acts 2 to until Acts 10 had experienced this. And we find no like experience after Acts 10.<\/p>\n
What was unique about Cornelius? He was the first Gentile convert. We know that Gentiles were \u201cunclean\u201d to the Jews, and God is using this occasion to prove in a powerful demonstration that Gentiles are now accepted. Peter expounded on this as he related the event to fellow Jewish Christians in Acts 11:15-18.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as He did upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how He used to say, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way? When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, \u2018Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.\u2019<\/em>“<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The evidence shows that baptism in the Holy Spirit occurred only twice \u2014 once upon the apostles in Acts 2 and once upon the household of Gentile Cornelius in Acts 10. All others who may have possessed miraculous gifts received it through the laying on of hands of the apostles \u2014 Acts 8:13-19 and II Timothy 1:6.<\/p>\n
As a further indication that only the apostles had the ability to impart to others gifts through the laying on of hands, we note that in Acts 8, it is evident that Philip (the evangelist, not Philip the apostle) did not have the power to pass on miraculous gifts, even though he had the power to perform miracles himself. That had to wait until Peter and John arrived (Acts 8:13-19). This then brings the question as to how those who claim miraculous powers today obtained them.<\/p>\n
The Scripture shows<\/p>\n
\n
- that only the apostles and the household of Cornelius received the baptism of the Holy Spirit,<\/li>\n
- that only the apostles had the ability to pass on the power to impart miraculous powers to others through the laying on of hands, and<\/li>\n
- those people have all died.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Therefore the Bible provides no other way for people today to receive miraculous powers.<\/p>\n
What was the purpose of miraculous gifts?<\/h2>\n
It should be obvious to all that the main purpose of gifts was not to heal the sick in the world or give sight to all the blind, etc. If that was the purpose, then there was a great failure. Christ could have spoken one word, and every malady in the whole world would have been eliminated. Christ\u2019s purpose in performing miracles was to establish his credentials and identity as the Messiah, the Son of God, not to heal all the ills in the world.<\/p>\n
The familiar story of Christ healing the paralytic man in Matthew 9:2-8 illustrates this clearly.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, \u2018Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.” And some of the scribes said to themselves, \u2018This fellow blasphemes.\u2019 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, \u2018Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins” –then He said to the paralytic, \u2018Get up, pick up your bed and go home.\u2019 And he got up and went home. But when the crowds saw this, they were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men.<\/em>\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
There had been others through the years who claimed they were the Messiah. Gamaliel had so testified before the council as he cautioned them as they were about to inflict punishment upon some of the apostles (cf. Acts 5:34ff). And now we have Jesus claiming that he<\/em>\u00a0is the true one. When Christ told the man his sins were forgiven, there was no black cloud over his head that dispersed or any other visible sign of this happening, and Christ understood that his words alone could not establish his claim. But he knew a way to get their attention.\u201d‘But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’ — then He said to the paralytic, \u2018Get up, pick up your bed and go home.\u2019<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n
The main purpose of the miracle was not to cure the paralytic but to certify his identity.<\/p>\n
On another occasion when John the Baptist was in prison, he sent his disciples to confirm that Christ was indeed the Messiah, \u201cthe Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world<\/em>\u201d (John 1:29).<\/p>\n
\u201cNow when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, \u2018Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?\u2019 Jesus answered and said to them, \u2018Go and report to John what you hear and see: the blind receive sight <\/strong>and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the\u00a0poor have the gospel preached to them<\/strong>\u2019<\/em>\u201d (Matthew 11:2-5).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Thus we see that the purpose of Christ\u2019s miracles was to establish his identity.<\/p>\n
Well, what about the miracles that the apostles performed? They really had much the same purpose. We go back to Mark 16 and the Great Commission where Jesus promised they would perform different miracles, and then in Mark 16:20 the record says \u201cAnd they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed<\/strong>\u00a0the word by the signs that followed\u2026.<\/em>“<\/p>\n
What were the miracles for? To confirm the word! Peter and the others were preaching to the multitude on Pentecost in at least 16 different languages. When the people were puzzled about this, Peter reminded them of the prophecy in Joel 2 and cited that day\u2019s events as fulfillment of the prophecy. This was a sign or miracle that he was speaking the truth.<\/p>\n
When Paul or others of the apostles went into some city and began to proclaim that the Messiah had come, many were probably thinking, \u201cYeah, we\u2019ve heard this before.\u201d So what was different this time? Their preaching was \u201cconfirmed \u2026 by the signs that followed \u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n
Question<\/strong>: Has the word been confirmed? The answer is an emphatic \u201cYes!\u201d Over and over again. We don\u2019t need to confirm it again. Consider an example. We believe John Wilkes Booth assassinated Abraham Lincoln. The evidence has been presented and affirmed. It has been proven, and we do not need to have a new trial and present evidence every time the matter is discussed. We can present the evidence that has already been established. The same is true of the Bible, the word of God. The evidence has been presented and the word has been confirmed. We don\u2019t need any more miracles today to \u201creconfirm\u201d the word. That would be a denial of the evidence God has already given, and be telling him that he didn\u2019t do enough.<\/p>\n
How long would the miraculous age last?<\/h2>\n
It has been shown that the only way miraculous powers could be conferred upon others (besides the apostles and Cornelius) was through the laying on of the apostles\u2019 hands (Acts 8 and II Timothy 1). There is no evidence given that those who received the gifts could then pass them other to others. Thus, by the time the last person died upon whom an apostle had laid his hands, then miracles would have ceased. That would have been either late in the 1st Century or early in the 2nd Century.<\/p>\n
There is evidence that supports this.<\/p>\n
\u201cLove never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away<\/em>\u201d (I Corinthians 13:8-10).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Paul says the gift of prophecy would be done away. Tongues and (miraculous) knowledge would cease and be done way. When? \u201cWhen the perfect comes.<\/em>\u201d Now, some claim that refers to the coming of Christ, and thus miracles will continue until he returns.<\/p>\n
But notice the text says \u201cthe perfect,\u201d not \u201cthe perfect one,\u201d nor \u201che that is perfect.\u201d Other translations read \u201cthat which is perfect.\u201d Christ is not a \u201cthat.\u201d He is a person, not an inanimate object.<\/p>\n
The point Paul is making is quite clear. During the 1st Century, the revelation was not complete. It took perhaps 50 years for the writings of the New Testament to be completed, as there is evidence John wrote the book of Revelation in the 90s. This is why the proclaimers of the gospel had to be \u201cinspired\u201d by the Holy Spirit to know what to write and preach. Christ told the apostles that after he had gone, the whole of God\u2019s truth would be made known to them.<\/p>\n
“I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you<\/em>\u201d (John 16:12-14).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Question<\/strong>: Did the Spirit of truth guide the apostles \u201cinto all the truth?\u201d If \u201cyes,\u201d then there is no more truth to be revealed, and therefore no more need for inspired revelations from the Holy Spirit. If \u201cyes,\u201d then there are no more prophecies from the Lord. The prophets have spoken. The apostle John elaborates on this in closing the book of Revelation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book<\/em>\u201d (Revelation 22:18-19).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
It cannot be clearer that\u00a0there are no more prophecies \u2014 no more revelations.<\/em> A prophet is one who speaks forth a revelation from the mind of God. God\u2019s word makes it clear that prophecies have ceased. Paul said that would happen when the revelation was completed. He said, \u201cgifts of prophecy will be done away.<\/em>\u201d Yes, there are self-proclaimed prophets today, but they are\u00a0all<\/em>\u00a0false prophets if we can believe what the Bible says. In fact, John warns us about them in I John 4:1: \u201cBeloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n
Jude adds weight to the matter in declaring that we are to \u201ccontend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints<\/em>\u201d (Jude 1:4). If it has been \u201conce for all handed down,\u201d then there is neither nothing else nor nothing new to be revealed.<\/p>\n
If the answer is \u201cno\u201d to the Holy Spirit having guided the apostles into all the truth, then we are in big trouble, for Christ\u2019s promise did not come to pass.<\/p>\n
Well, what about the healing miracles that are performed today?<\/h2>\n
We have TV preachers and others who hold great healing campaigns that attract huge crowds to witness so-called healings. Many \u201ccures\u201d have proven to be faked, others are imagined, and still others may actually experience healing. Let us consider some examples.<\/p>\n
Fake cures. Investigations at some of the big revival \u201chealing\u201d campaigns have revealed an elaborate system of fraud. Greeters are trained to talk to people as they arrive and gather information as to any ailments they might be suffering. They will pick out likely candidates and radio the information to the evangelist, who has an earpiece-receiver. He will then announce that he has been told by the \u201cspirit\u201d that there is someone present with acute lumbago or whatever. That person jumps up shouting \u201cMe, Me,\u201d and rushes up to the stage where he is \u201chealed.\u201d<\/p>\n
These greeters will on occasion encounter a person with an obvious ailment, such as a prosthetic arm, or a large goiter on the neck, or some other similar problem. They would not dare to allow that person on the stage, but they are sent to a private room for prayer. Why? Because they\u00a0know<\/em>\u00a0that the \u201chealer\u201d could not heal this person, and they don\u2019t want a farce to be seen on the stage.<\/p>\n
There have been documented cases of out-and-out fraud where \u201csick\u201d people fake some disability and go to be \u201chealed\u201d before a large audience. Did anyone mention the vast sums of money that are contributed to these healers? It seems I remember Jesus telling his disciples \u201cHeal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give. Do not acquire gold, or silver, or copper for your money belts<\/em>\u201d (Matthew 10:8-9).<\/p>\n
What has happened? Doctors tell us that a great many of our ailments are psychosomatic, that is, they are caused by the mind. If your mind is convinced that something is wrong, then something is wrong. Thus, if you convince the mind that the ailment has been removed, it is gone. The same thing has been demonstrated to occur with hypnosis. It is the matter of the mind over the body.<\/p>\n
There was a story of a young mother lifting a car off her child whose legs are pinned under a wheel. In her panic, her adrenalin flows and her strength is increased so much that she can actually move the car enough to extract her child. If she attempted to lift the car on the next day, she would find it impossible. Many stories exist of superhuman strength that has manifested itself in emergencies.<\/p>\n
Now, in a fit of emotion at the healing service, a person may have some affliction, some inability to walk properly, or something like that. But, being convinced they have been healed, the body\u2019s adrenalin might provide enough strength to begin walking. But then a few days later when the adrenalin subsides, the pervious ailment returns.<\/p>\n
Dr. William Nolen once followed the healing revivals of evangelist Kathryn Kuhlman. He received permission to interview those who had been \u201chealed\u201d a few days after the event took place. He wrote a book, and I believe it was titled \u201cA Doctor In Search of a Cure.\u201d I believe he stated that he did not find a single permanent cure. They all relapsed after their supposed miraculous cure.<\/p>\n
Oral Roberts was a well-known TV evangelist and healer. He founded Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and conducted healing revivals in many cities. He taught and evidently strongly believed in miraculous power by the laying on of the hands, as the apostles did.<\/p>\n
On one of his TV programs, he revealed that a nine-foot-tall Jesus had appeared to him while he was praying in his closet. (I was not aware that closets had ceilings that high, or that Jesus was that tall.) He said Jesus told him he was going to take his life unless he raised $8 million to finish the hospital he was building. Sure enough, some man in Florida sent him the money. Question<\/strong>:\u00a0If Roberts could heal people by praying over them and\/or laying his hands on them, why did he need a hospital?<\/em>\u00a0Neither Jesus nor any of his apostles\u00a0ever<\/em>\u00a0told those they healed to go find a doctor or a hospital.<\/p>\n
Some years ago the late Foy Wallace, Jr. visited Angeles Temple in California, where faith-healer Aimee Semple McPherson held forth. A guide was taking people on a tour through the facilities, which included a \u201ctrophy\u201d room \u2014 a place where crutches, canes, etc. were displayed. As the tour group continued on, Wallace stayed behind. In a few minutes the guide, who was a member of the church, came back and asked Wallace if he could help him. Wallace replied that he was looking for a glass eye, an artificial limb or some other artificial device which a healed person had left behind after being made whole. There was nothing like that. (And the guide, a member there, actually had an artificial leg!)<\/p>\n
Why do the \u201cmiracle workers\u201d today not raise the dead, cause the blind to see, and do other miracles that would be obvious to all? Isn\u2019t that what Christ promised to his disciples? Why do today\u2019s workers cure stomach aches, ulcers, cancers and other ailments that cannot be seen, and thus are not obvious to all watchers?<\/p>\n
There was an occasion when Peter and John healed a man and were preaching the gospel. The authorities were upset and wanted to put a stop to their preaching.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they had nothing to say in reply. But when they had ordered them to leave the Council, they began to confer with one another, saying, \u2018What shall we do with these men? For the fact that a noteworthy miracle has taken place through them is apparent to all who live in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it\u2019<\/em>\u201d (Acts 4:14-16).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
No one ever questioned a single miracle that Christ or the apostles performed. Christ healed a man born blind (John 9:1-7). Has anyone ever done that in modern times? Christ replaced a man\u2019s ear that had been severed after Peter cut it off (Luke 22:51). Has anyone ever restored a severed body part today? Peter raised the dead Dorcas (Acts 9:40). Has anyone raised the dead today? Surely the news media would be all over this astounding accomplishment.<\/p>\n
This all reminds me of something Paul wrote to the Thessalonian church about \u201cthe one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders<\/em>\u201d (II Thessalonians 2:9). Does Satan have the power to deceive people with \u201csigns and false wonders?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of \u00a0\u00a0 Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds<\/em>” (I Corinthians 11:13-15).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Some years ago I had a part in a debate which David Harkrider had with a Pentecostal preacher \u2014 Preacher Payne. Payne claimed he had all the miraculous powers the apostles had. Harkrider then produced a bottle of syrup of ipecac and put a \u201cPoison\u201d label on it. He then challenged Payne to drink it, for, in Mark 16:18, Jesus said \u201cand if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them\u2026<\/em>\u201d obviously the ipecac would not kill Preacher Payne, but it might make him throw up. But Payne responded by pointing to the word \u201cif\u201d in the passage. \u201cThe Bible says \u2018if,\u2019 and therefore I don\u2019t have to drink it.\u201d<\/p>\n
After the session that night, Harkrider asked me if I could find a rattlesnake for him. I called a local Science Center and talked the curator into lending me a rattlesnake. Of course, I had to sign a waiver, and he said that if the snake got out of the box and bit someone, he did not know me and never heard of me!<\/p>\n
So the next night the snake was in a glass enclosure inside a closed cardboard box. Harkrider then gave Payne the opportunity to pick up the snake, and quoted again from Mark 16:18 where it says \u201cthey will pick up serpents.\u201d He reminded him of the \u201cif\u201d that enabled Payne to get out of drinking the \u201cpoison\u201d the night before, and pointed to \u201cthey\u00a0will<\/em>\u00a0pick up serpents,\u201d not \u201cIf.\u201d Payne finally went over the looked inside the box and saw there really was a rattlesnake there. But Payne refused to touch the snake.<\/p>\n
The apostle Paul was bitten by a venomous snake and was unharmed.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat and fastened itself on his hand. \u00a0When the natives saw the creature hanging from his hand, they began saying to one another, \u2018Undoubtedly this man is a murderer, and though he has been saved from the sea, justice has not allowed him to live.\u2019 However he shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm<\/em>\u201d (Acts 28:3-5).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
If Payne had the same power as the apostle Paul had, he would not have hesitated to pick up the snake.<\/p>\n
What about speaking in tongues?<\/h2>\n
The first instance of speaking in tongues was on the Day of Pentecost, as the people were amazed that they heard these men speaking in their native tongues \u2014 some 16 of them.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, “Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia\u2026<\/em>\u201d (Acts 2:4-9).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Notice that the apostles were speaking in known languages, not some unintelligible babbling. I have visited various denominations and have heard various people speaking in \u201ctongues,\u201d but no one seemed to know what was being said.<\/p>\n
The apostle Paul gave some clear instructions as to the use of tongues. In I Corinthians he chides them for the improper use of the gift of tongues in I Corinthians 14:18-23,\u00a0 and then in I Corinthians 14:26-28 says \u00a0the following:<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at the most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; but if there is no interpreter, he must keep silent in the church; and let him speak to himself and to God.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n
I have\u00a0never<\/em>\u00a0observed tongue speakers following these instructions. One time some woman in a balcony where I visited did give a brief \u201cinterpretation\u201d of what the preacher was saying in a tongue, but I don\u2019t recall that she said as much as he had said. I have been present when 15 or so were all speaking in \u201ctongues\u201d at the same time, with no interpreters. Obviously, this is not of God, and therefore must be from Satan. If it were from God, then they would follow Paul\u2019s inspired instructions.<\/p>\n
And with the \u201cinterpreters\u201d there are also some problems. Recordings have been made of someone speaking in a tongue, and then the recording is played for different people who claim they have the \u201cgift of interpretation.\u201d Now, when they all give different \u201cinterpretations\u201d of what was said, that is just further evidence that this is all fake, and therefore not from God.<\/p>\n
How many baptisms are there?<\/h2>\n
In general, the claim is made that today there are two baptisms\u2014baptism in the Holy Spirit and baptism in water. In truth, there are several baptisms mentioned in the Scripture.<\/p>\n
\n
- John\u2019s baptism (Luke 7:29);<\/li>\n
- the baptism unto Moses (I Corinthians 10:1-2);<\/li>\n
- the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8);<\/li>\n
- the baptism commanded by Christ (Mark 16:16);<\/li>\n
- the baptism of suffering (Matthew 20:22);<\/li>\n
- the baptism of fire (Matthew 3:11);<\/li>\n
- Christ\u2019s own baptism (Matthew 3:16).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
But many years later, as Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus, he said there was only one baptism.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all<\/em>\u201d (Ephesians 4:4-6).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
What was this one baptism? The baptisms in numbers 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 were all in the past. And number 6, baptism of fire, is yet in the future, as that refers to hell. So that leaves number 4. We have already shown that the baptism in the Holy Spirit only occurred twice\u2014on Pentecost (Acts 2), and upon the household of Cornelius (Acts 10). It accomplished its purpose, and there is no need for it today. We also noted that Paul said in I Corinthians 13:8-10 that the miraculous would cease then the \u201cperfect\u201d had come \u2014 the completed revelation.<\/p>\n
What is the significance of number 4? It is the baptism commanded by Christ that accomplishes various things.<\/p>\n
\n
- It is a baptism \u201cfor the remission of sins\u201d (Acts 2:38);<\/li>\n
- It is a baptism connected with salvation (Mark 16:16, I Peter 3:21);<\/li>\n
- It is the means of our being united with Christ (Galatians 3:27);<\/li>\n
- It is connected with washing away our sins (Acts 22:16);<\/li>\n
- It is a picture and reenactment of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, where we put to death the old man of sin and are raised a new creature (Romans 6:3-7);<\/li>\n
- It is the occasion of our becoming united with the church or body of Christ, as we are\u00a0baptized<\/em>\u00a0into the body of Christ (I Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 1:22-23).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
Now, we can understand what Paul wrote when he said there is \u201cone God, one Lord, one Spirit,\u201d etc. No one can misunderstand that. The Holy Spirit baptism had nothing to do with one\u2019s salvation, but the baptism in water commanded by Christ has\u00a0much<\/em>\u00a0to do with our salvation.<\/p>\n
Cornelius\u2019 baptism by the Holy Spirit took place about 41 A.D. That is absolutely the last reference that is made to Holy Spirit baptism in the Bible. Then, over 20 years later, Paul said there remained only one baptism. The Holy Spirit had accomplished its purpose, just as John\u2019s baptism had. They were no longer in existence. Thus those who claim there are two baptisms today fly in direct contradiction of the Words of Inspiration. I believe I\u2019ll take what Paul said rather than the \u201ctwo baptisms\u201d preachers.<\/p>\n
Is there a difference between the \u201cbaptism of the Holy Spirit\u201d and the \u201cgift of the Holy Spirit\u201d?<\/h3>\n
Peter\u2019s response to the question asked in Acts 2:37 (\u201cWhat must we do\u2026?<\/em>“), was \u201cRepent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit<\/em>\u201d (Acts 2:38). Some have taken this to mean that everyone who is baptized for the forgiveness of sins would also be baptized in the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n
We have already established that this cannot be true, for Ephesians 4:4-6 says there is only one baptism. One cannot equal two. It is also worth noting that in the New Testament church, it is obvious that not all Christians had miraculous powers automatically given to them when they were baptized. Remember that many were baptized in Samaria as Philip was preaching to them, but they did not receive any power to perform miracles until Peter and John came and laid hands on them (Acts 8:12-17).<\/p>\n
Thus baptism did not give miraculous power. But Acts 2:38 says that all who are baptized will receive \u201cthe gift of the Holy Spirit.\u201d Therefore, it is obvious that the \u201cgift\u201d is different than the \u201cbaptism.\u201d<\/p>\n
So, just what is the gift? There are two possibilities:<\/p>\n
\n
- The Holy Spirit is given in some measure.<\/li>\n
- The Holy Spirit gives the believer something.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
One possibility is seen in Acts 3:19: “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.<\/em>\u201d Consider, their sins have been forgiven, and \u201ctimes of refreshing\u201d have come. Could it be that the Holy Spirit gives this comfort to the believers whose sins have been erased?<\/p>\n
Another possibility is that the Holy Spirit is given to dwell within us even as Christ dwells in us. There are various passages that speak of this idea of \u201cdwelling in us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ephesians 3:17 \u2013 \u201c\u2026so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n
Colossians 3:16 \u2013 \u201cLet the word of Christ richly dwell within you\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n
James 4:5 \u2013 \u201cOr do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: \u2018He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us\u2019<\/em>“?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
How, then, does Christ dwell in us, or the Holy Spirit? It is not a personal indwelling, but they dwell in us through the Word,\u00a0by faith.<\/em>\u00a0Notice the language: \u201cso that Christ may dwell in your hearts\u00a0through faith<\/strong>\u2026\u201d<\/em>\u00a0And again,\u00a0\u201cLet the word of Christ richly dwell in you<\/strong>.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
How do we obtain faith? Does God just zap us and plant faith in our minds? Paul informs us in Romans 10:17 that \u201c\u2026 faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.<\/em>\u201d Thus, as we read and study God\u2019s word, and take it into our hearts, that\u2019s how these spiritual beings come to dwell in our hearts. There is no Scripture that indicates that it is a\u00a0personal<\/em>\u00a0indwelling.<\/p>\n
What is the conclusion?<\/h2>\n
Sadly, all this confusion and false teaching are but a fulfillment of what the Scripture says. \u201cBut the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons<\/em>\u201d (I Timothy 4:1). Over and over again we are warned about false teachers, and some even disguise themselves so as to fool people.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds<\/em>” (II Corinthians 11:13-15).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
It is my prayer that the readers of this material will follow the Bible rather than the doctrines of men.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jefferson David Tant Jesus\u2019 last words to his disciples are known as \u201cThe Great Commission,\u201d which is recorded in Matthew 28:18-20 and Mark 16:15-18. Verses 17-20 in Mark\u2019s record have been used by some denominations as proof that these miraculous manifestations are still in operation today. It is the purpose of this study to…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[27],"tags":[363],"class_list":["post-10242","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-miracles"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":33619,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/belief-baptism-and-signs-following-still-today\/","url_meta":{"origin":10242,"position":0},"title":"Belief, Baptism, and Signs Following \u2013 Still Today?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 24, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"by Larry Ray Hafley Here is the text of Mark 16:15-20: No, I do not possess the power to perform any of the above signs and neither does anyone else.\u00a0 Observe why this is true. First, if these signs are to be possessed by all believers, all who do not\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":55964,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/do-miracles-occur-every-day\/","url_meta":{"origin":10242,"position":1},"title":"Do Miracles Occur Every Day?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 20, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"by Leon Mauldin via\u00a0Gospel Power, Vol. 15, No. 40, Oct. 12, 2008. What does the Bible teach regarding miracles? Is it true, as some claim, that miracles are happening every day? In reality, even during Bible times, miracles did not occur \"every day.\" Miraculous activities for the most part were\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":88233,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-there-are-no-genuine-miracles-today\/","url_meta":{"origin":10242,"position":2},"title":"Why There Are No Genuine Miracles Today","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Roger D. Campbell In the New Testament, a \"miracle\" refers to a supernatural act of power that had observable and immediate results or effects. We should not expect God Himself to perform miracles or bestow miraculous powers upon humans today. Why not? God's Will It is not God's will\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":29961,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/could-any-believer-cast-out-demons\/","url_meta":{"origin":10242,"position":3},"title":"Could any believer cast out demons?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"January 10, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Could believers who had been baptized cast out demons as well or just the apostles? Answer: \"These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":59425,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/church-snake-handlers\/","url_meta":{"origin":10242,"position":4},"title":"Church Snake Handlers","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 21, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton I am sorry that a preacher died due to his misunderstanding of the promise of Jesus in Mark 16:15-20. But, the promise was to the apostles who had just been rebuked for \"their\" unbelief. The miracles that would \"follow\" those apostles who believed included the promise\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Snake-300x213.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2064,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/now-concerning-spiritual-gifts\/","url_meta":{"origin":10242,"position":5},"title":"Now Concerning Spiritual Gifts","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"February 28, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"by Ron Drumm It would be wonderful to have a spiritual gift like the ability to do miracles or the ability to speak in tongues. There are nine gifts of the Spirit listed in the New Testament. They are the word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healings, working of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10242","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10242"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10242\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10242"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10242"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10242"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}