Great job DHK. You hit each point well.
I have included some scriptures, that we have tossed around before on this issue to show what the Bible is saying in regards to the doctrine we are discussing.
Eph. 2
19] Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
[20] And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
[21] In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Heb. 2
3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
[4] God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
1 cor. 12
11] I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
[12] Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds
Acts 8:
13] Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Mark 16:
[20] And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen
Paul taught a foundational aspect of the early church. The writer of Hebrews and Mark concur on the fact that the Apostles confirmed their message with signs and wonders. Now Simon believed but he cold not do what the Apostles did. There was a very specific group of people that could perform signs and wonders to authenticate the Gospel. Tongues was not a huge gift but had to be given to enough people that Isreal could be properly warned. All the sign gifts were performed at the will of the gifted person. There are more verses to show this concept but I think I used enough for it to make sense. The idea of a foundation is that it is different from the rest of the building. It is obviously the strongest part of the building. So were the Apostles and the Prophets the strongest part of the church, with Jesus being the chief cornerstone, the stone in the foundation that must be the strongest. We, in 2005 are the building itself and we can look back at the "foundation" to see how the building was built. We can learn from the foundation but we can't tear the building down and insert ourselves as the foundation. (I'll let you ponder that analogy for a while). So, this doctrine of the sign gifts ceasing (which may include all gifts) is in the Bible and so started from the pen of Paul (or his writer, I suppose).
In Christ,
Brian
I have included some scriptures, that we have tossed around before on this issue to show what the Bible is saying in regards to the doctrine we are discussing.
Eph. 2
19] Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
[20] And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;
[21] In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
Heb. 2
3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;
[4] God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
1 cor. 12
11] I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.
[12] Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds
Acts 8:
13] Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.
Mark 16:
[20] And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen
Paul taught a foundational aspect of the early church. The writer of Hebrews and Mark concur on the fact that the Apostles confirmed their message with signs and wonders. Now Simon believed but he cold not do what the Apostles did. There was a very specific group of people that could perform signs and wonders to authenticate the Gospel. Tongues was not a huge gift but had to be given to enough people that Isreal could be properly warned. All the sign gifts were performed at the will of the gifted person. There are more verses to show this concept but I think I used enough for it to make sense. The idea of a foundation is that it is different from the rest of the building. It is obviously the strongest part of the building. So were the Apostles and the Prophets the strongest part of the church, with Jesus being the chief cornerstone, the stone in the foundation that must be the strongest. We, in 2005 are the building itself and we can look back at the "foundation" to see how the building was built. We can learn from the foundation but we can't tear the building down and insert ourselves as the foundation. (I'll let you ponder that analogy for a while). So, this doctrine of the sign gifts ceasing (which may include all gifts) is in the Bible and so started from the pen of Paul (or his writer, I suppose).
In Christ,
Brian
