Originally posted by D28guy:
DHK,
In your most recent posts you are just regurgitating the same things over and over again that were ineffective at 1st, and still are.
Why cant you just admit that you have been busted?
Mike
Because I haven't. I have answered every objection you have thrown at me with Scripture. You fail to believe God's Word, and his promises. Let's consider some of the facts:
Faith healers? Where are they? Can you point to even one faith healer alive today that has the Biblical gift of healling and can practice along the same lines as the apostles did in Acts 5:16?
Miracles? Can you point to any individual today that has "the gift of miracles," which would include raising the dead. That would be in the same catetgory as Lazarus who had been dead and buried for four days. In other words it was very public; he had been dead for sometime without any help of hospital machinery. In fact it would be good evidence if he had been buried. Can you raise the dead? Can anyone?
What about walking on water as Jesus instructed Peter to do? Any volunteers for that?
Acts 5:15 Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.
How many people do you know today that can heal simply by having their shadow passing over them? These were the miracles of the apostles--the gifts of miracles and healings. Are they present today? The answer is a resounding NO!
So, what about the gift of tongues, otherwise called the gift of languages in most other translations. For that is what they are--real actual languages, foreign languages as described in Acts 2. How common do you see people speak in actual foreign languages that are verified by others in the congregation, that someone in the congregation interprets, so that all in the congreation--whether by interpretation or by the foreign language (tongue) may be edified. That doesn't happen does it? The gift of languages has ceased.
What does the Scripture say?
Hebrews 2:3-4 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; 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?
--The message of salvation was confirmed unto the apostles (now dead), by signs and wonders, various miracles, and
the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
What were the signs of a true apostle. How did people know a true apostle from a false apostle?
Read the Bible--by signs, wonders, miracles and the gifts of the Spirit. Not everyone had these gifts, and not everyone could do miracles. They were given particularly to the Apostles, and especially for the Apostolic Age. It is very evident that they are not for today, in just this verse alone. They were the signs of an apostle.
Next verse:
2 Corinthians 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.
--The same corroborating evidence that Paul gives.
What are the signs of an Apostle? One knew a true Apostle because of the signs, wonders, and mighty deeds that he had the ability to do. These signs and wonders; the gift of miracles and healings, were the sign of an apostle. Paul verifies what the author of the Book of Hebrews has just said. The Scripture does not contradict itself. The Apostles all died in the first century, along with the gifts of the Spirit.
Why else did the cease in the first century?
More Scripture:
1 Corinthians 14:21 In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord.
--This is a quote from Isa.28:11,12. Jehovah is speaking to the nation of Israel. He is giving the
a sign. The sign is speaking in tongues, i.e., foreign languages. That is what happened on the day of Pentecost, and it happened in Acts 10 and in Acts 19, both times when Jews were present. It was a sign to the Jews that the message was from God. If they did not heed the message of the Apostles judgement would surely come upon them, and it did. It came in 70 A.D. Thus there is no longer any need for the sign. It has been removed out of the way. It ceased. The Jews of the first century no longer exist. Tongues no longer exist.
1Cor.13:8 state that tongues shall cease. Scripture points to the fact that they have. Charismatics, contrary to Scripture, demand that tongues are continuing when in fact they have ceased. They fail to believe the Scriptures in this matter.
A careful study of 1Cor.13:8-13 proves that tongues have ceased. There are many arguments within that chapter itself that point to the cessation of tongues.
But your inability to counter these points on a Scriptural basis demonstrates that you value experience above the Word of God. As most Charismatics do; they base their theology on their experience, and not the Bible.
DHK
Sheesh!!