Truth Magazine

By Carol R. Lumpkin

Can people really perform miracles and healings today as were performed in the first century of the church? Either they can or they cannot. The only way to determine whether miracles and healings are possible today is turn our attention to what the scriptures teach.

A miracle is something above the laws of nature which could not happen in the ordinary course and operations of nature. For example, the law of nature could not have brought Adam and Eve into this world full-grown. It is not a miracle for the oak tree to produce the acorn, nor for the acorn to produce the oak tree, but it was a miracle to produce the first oak tree without the acorn. Every species of life-animal, insect, and vegetable began by a miracle. A miracle is above the finite mind and ability of man. For example, it is not possible for man to raise the dead, give sight to the blind, or speech to the dumb. Jesus performed a miracle when he fed the 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fishes. A miracle is above the human concept, law and regulation; it is Divine.

Is it possible to perform miracles and healings as they were performed in the first century? Christ and the apostles performed miracles, such as taking up deadly serpents without harm, raising the dead, and healing the sick. “And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them, they shall, lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover” (Mk. 16:17-18). When Jesus sent the twelve apostles on the limited commission He gave them a similar charge (Matt. 10:8).

The designs and purposes of miracles and healings were two-fold: (1) to confirm the truth. “And they (apostles) went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following” (Mk. 16:20). (2) To make men believe that Jesus was the son of God. “For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward: 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 Spirit, according to his own will” (Heb. 2:2-4). This is further stressed as John wrote, “And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (Jn. 20:30-31).

Miracles performed by the apostles were to serve notice to the world that the message of salvation which they spoke was from heaven, and that they were sent from God. From Mark 2:1-12, we read that Jesus healed the person with the palsy “that ye might know the Son of God hath power on earth to forgive sins.” Nicodemus was led to Jesus because of the miracles Jesus performed (Jn. 3:2).

The apostles were the only individuals in the Jerusalem church who could work and perform miracles until they imparted this power to others. “And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles” (Acts 2:43). “And by the’`..4ands of the apostles were many signs and wonders wrought among the people” (Acts 5:12). The seven men who were selected to minister to the Grecian widows received certain spiritual gifts by the laying on of the apostles hands (Acts 6:6). Stephen, one of the seven, received such power. “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people” (Acts 6:8). Philip, another of the seven, also received miraculous gifts. “And the people in one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did” (Acts 8:6). Even though Philip could perform these Works, he could not impart this power to others because he was not an apostle. Later we see, Philip preaching to the people of Samaria concerning the kingdom of prod, and the name of Jesus Christ, and men and worm were baptized (Acts 8:12). Peter and John, apostles, came down from Jerusalem to lay hands on certain of the Samartians that they might receive spiritual gifts (Acts 8:15-16). Since the apostles have been dead fit about 1900 years, there can be no spiritual gifts today.

Miracles .have ceased. “Charity never failrth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail: whether there be tongues, they shall cease: whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away (1 Cor. 13:8-10). Spiritual gifts were to continue to, be used until the completed will of God was revealed. Those spiritual gifts have served their purpose and no person has a single one of them today.

Pretenders fail and will continue to fail. No one knows any better than they that they are deceivers and do not have any more power than the next person. Healing campaigns today serve to deceive people and to rob them of their money. Not once was money asked for when spiritual gifts where in force. A gospel preacher, while preaching in a meeting in Cotton Valley, Louisiana, had a conversation with a supposed healer who said, “He had been baptized in the baptism of the Holy Spirit like the apostles were.” He claimed to be able to speak in tongues and heal the sick. He was asked if he could raise the dead. He replied, we have raised some near about dead. The days of miracles and healings have passed. We are living subject to the “perfect law of liberty” (Jas. 1:25).

The apostles were the only individuals who had the power to lay hands on others to impart spiritual gifts. The apostles have been gone from this earth for hundreds of years. Spiritual gifts were useful and served their purpose for the early church until the full, complete law of Christ was revealed; after which they passed away. There is no person who can perform a single miracle on earth today, those who claim that they can are’ deceivers and false teachers.

Truth Magazine XXII: 3, pp. 60-61
January 19, 1978

By Earl E. Robertson

Though it is the religious conviction of many that once one is saved from sin by the blood of Christ it is then impossible for one to apostatize and be lost in hell, the Bible does not teach it. The Bible plainly teaches the possibility of a child of God, one saved by the grace of God, to so sin as to be lost.

Phillip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ to the people (Acts 8:5). The things Philip spake were agreed to by some (Acts 8:6). Philip preached Christ! He preached things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, and the people believed it. “When they believed what he preached, they were baptized, both men and women” (Acts 8:12). Jesus said, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark 16:15, 16). The Samaritans, like the Corinthians (Acts 18:8), believed and were baptized. Who is prepared stay they were not saved?

However, in the city of Samaria lived a man who practiced sorcery, bewitching the people, whose name was Simon. His efforts failed in the presence of the truth preached by Philip. Simon knew he too must yield to the power of God that saves (Rom. 1:16, 17; 1 Cor. 1:21). Luke testifies, “Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized. . .” (Acts 8:13). Who shall judge Simon’s action as that of an imposter? He did exactly what the others in Samaria had done at Philip’s preaching. The Bible says he believed “also” and was baptized. “Also” translates the Greek kai, and is used in the New Testament as conjunctions, cumulative particles, adversatives, and introduction of the apodosis of a sentence. Here it takes the nature of an adverb; it makes something added to what has already been said. The conversion of ,the Samaritans as stated in verse twelve still holds good, and Luke says Simon did exactly what they had done!

But, later when Simon saw the disposition of the Holy Spirit by the apostles’ hands, he “offered them money” in an effort to do likewise (Acts 8:18). Yes, a baptized believer attempting to traffic in sacred things! It was sinful; so sinful that Peter said unto him, “Thy money perish with thee …. thy heart is not right in the sight of God” (Acts 8:20, 21). He is then commanded to `Repent therefore of this wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity (Acts 8:22, 23). This is not a description of a saved man! So, the case of Simon proves the possibility of apostasy from the faith and the results of such a condition being lost.

Truth Magazine XXII: 3, p. 59
January 19, 1978

By Donald P. Ames

Throughout northwest Indiana we still have many Christian Churches that continue to refer to themselves as “Churches of Christ.” This has led to some confusion in teaching the lost as they see what appears to be contradictions between what “we” teach and practice from their reading the papers, and also forces us to constantly draw some clear distinctions to help teach others the differences. Sometimes, though, these Christian Churches pull some moves that even surprise me, and emphasize that indeed they are not only no longer “of Christ,” but that differences far greater than “just instrumental music” exist between us, as many still think.

On Monday, Feb. 14th, the Merrillville Church of Christ (7071 Broadway in Merrillville) opened their doors to a very surprising set-up. The Zondervan Publishing Company (which also operates a Family Bookstore in the Southlake Mall there) announced in the Gary, Indiana Post-Tribune (2-9-77) that Zondervan would be sponsoring a “Summer Ministries Workshop” on Feb. 14th at the Merrillville Church of Christ. All inquiries, etc., were to be directed to the Zondervan Family Bookstore.

The program was to consist of V.B.S. material and “ways to increase the effectiveness of your church’s V.B.S. program.” To be present and to present their material were to be representatives of the Standard Publishing Co., Gospel Light Publishing Co., Scripture Press, Concordia and the Augsburg Publishing Co. This immediately raised some questions for me, so Royce DeBerry (of DeMotte, Indiana) and I decided to attend and see what we could learn.

One of the first things we learned was that the Gospel Light Publishing Co. was not the same one operated by our liberal brethren who publish a paper by that name from Delight, Arkansas, but rather was located in California and affiliated with the Christian Church. Thus there were two organizations affiliated with the Christian Church (Gospel Light and Standard), two affiliated with the Lutheran Church (Concordia and Augsburg) and one with the Bible Church (Scripture Press)-all sponsored by the Zondervan Publishing Co. (which is Presbyterian, Calvinistic and strongly Premillennial), and all meeting under the approval of this Christian Church to sell their material to the general public from their building.

The local minister conveniently failed to show up (I assume this expressed his complete confidence in all the activities), so we had no opportunity to discuss with him the fact the church there had opened the doors of their building to a secular business enterprise (cf. John 2), and had extended the open hand of endorsement and fellowship to these false religious organizations and their teachings (see Eph. 5:11; 2 John 10-11). When we mentioned the unusual arrangement of the Zondervan Publishing Co. sponsoring such a meeting in the Merrillville church building with all the different beliefs present to the Gospel Light representative, he admitted he was also “very surprised” at it, but offered no defense for it and quickly left us when we pursued it. Finances apparently meant more at the moment. I would love to have heard someone present attempt to justify such an arrangement, but it was apparent no such effort was going to be made.

In addition to the abundant supply of Zondervan Publishing Co. catalogs present and all the V.B.S. material and presentations, refreshments were also served to all who desired (real “fellowship” no less-coffee and rolls!). Promotionalism was self-evident.

One other point of interest also occurred while there. While the Gospel Light representative freely acknowledged they endorsed instrumental music (“though we haven’t always stressed it in the past”), he added that it was all a matter of “opinion” with him and entirely dependent upon “local option”-with no offer to defend the practice, which was also present in their V.B.S. material. He then went on to add that the Sweet Publishing Co. was their outlet among the “non-instrumental brethren” and carried their literature for them to those churches. He also felt that while a “difference of views” existed among a “few churches” on the instrument, it was “not really that important.” Perhaps this accounts for some of the liberalism that is becoming more and more apparent in much of the material coming from the Sweet Publishing Co. today, and raises some questions as to which direction they are striving to lead their customers.

But some of our own liberal brethren are also moving rapidly in the same direction. Ira Rice, who has been editing Contending For The Faith, “published monthly by the Shades Mountain Church of Christ” in Birmingham, Alabama, has also gotten pretty heavily involved in secular profit making through that “church paper.” Not only does he charge a subscription fee (962.00 per year), but recent issues have had several pages of the journal devoted to advertising lists of books and records to be ordered from them at retail prices. Where is the authority for the church to become involved in such secular practices as a book dealership? Spiritual Sword, published quarterly by the Getwell Church of Christ in Memphis, Tennessee (sent free, but 75″ for all back issues), has also been busy pushing books published by their writers and sold by the National Christian Press in Jonesboro, Ark., with regular ads appearing in their quarterly just as the Religious Supply Center places its ads in Searching The Scriptures. Maybe we would do well to begin dwelling on such passages as John 2, and the church becoming an advertising and distribution center for secular book businesses. We need to get the church out of such business ventures and back into the business of saving souls and spreading the gospel-without charge for such.

When in this area, or others as well for that matter, remember that there is more to being “of Christ” than just hanging a sign over the door of the meeting place. It is sad to see those who used to be “of Christ” continuing their movement of open fellowship with secular business ventures and their endorsement of false doctrine published by denominational organizations. It is equally sad to see others today moving in the same direction. To be “of Christ,” let us be sure that He is serving as our Head and Lord in all that we do (Eph. 1:21-23; Luke 6:46).

Truth Magazine XXII: 3, pp. 58-59
January 19, 1978

By Irvin Himmel

King David was seated between the two gates when the watchman on the wall announced the approach of a messenger. The king anxiously inquired of the messenger, ,”Is the young man Absalom safe?” Not telling of Absalom’s condition, that messenger was asked to stand aside. Another runner was arriving from the battlefield, and David’s first question to him was about the welfare of the young man: “Is the-young man Absalom safe?” (2 Sam. 18:24-32).

Fathers and mothers need to be concerned about the safety and welfare of their sons and daughters. Young people had better become concerned about themselves. No young person is safe unless he makes his heart secure. David’s son had a rebellious heart. He had tried to take the kingdom away from his father. When David was anxiously asking about the young man’s safety, Absalom was already dead. In the bitterness of grief David poured out his soul when he heard the tragic news: “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Some parents wait until it is too late to take an active interest in the spiritual and moral security of their children. Some young people, like David’s son, develop a rebellious attitude. I hereby appeal to the young people who may read these lines — I appeal to your good sense — to think about how you may secure your hearts.

Remember Your Creator

Another son of David, a wise preacher, wrote these words: “Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them” (Eccl. 12:1). A young person who remembers the Creator will do more than call to mind that there is God. That remembrance will be in the form of recognition that God as the Designer and Ruler of our being has absolute claims on us. To “remember” one’s Creator is to surrender to His will. And there is no time when this can be done to better advantage than “in the days of thy youth.”

No person’s heart is secure if he forgets God. To trust in the Lord is like having a strong shelter in time of storm. “The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Prov. 18:10). Young people can secure their hearts by remembering to serve God.

Be Humble

Pride and arrogance are disgusting. Never is haughtiness of spirit more repulsive than when displayed in youth. The young person who is really smart will not allow himself to be a smart aleck. Conceit closes doors of opportunity. A know-it-all is a real goof. Many sticky situations await the one who is stuck on himself. “Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility” (Prov. 18:12). Young people, can you say with David, “Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty” (Psa. 131:1)?

Live By God’s Word

Solomon said, “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not” (Prov. 1:10). “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil” (Prov. 3:7). “For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding” (Prov. 2:6). “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men” (Prov. 4:14). “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Prov. 4:23).

Only when young people love God and are willing to fill their hearts with His word are they secure. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psa. 119:11). Think about the words of the well-known hymn in this connection.

“How shall the young secure their hearts,

And guard their lives from sin?

Thy word the choicest rules imparts

To keep the conscience clean.

” ‘Tis like the sun, a heav’nly light,

That guides us all the day;

And, thro’ the dangers of the night,

A lamp to lead our way.

“Thy word is everlasting truth;

How pure is every page!

That holy book shall guide our youth,

And well support our age.”

Keep the Heart Pure

Paul admonished young Timothy, “Flee also youthful lusts” (2 Tim. 2:22). Under the heading of “youthful lusts” would come such things as unholy ambitions, love of power, desire for worldly honor, intemperance, stubbornness, sensuality, rashness, and vanity. Timothy’s heart and life were to be such that older people would respect him. “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers . . .” (1 Tim. 4:12).

A pure heart is exemplified in pure speech and righteous conduct. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8). My young friend, a pure heart is a secure heart. Is your heart a pure heart?

Truth Magazine XXII: 3, pp. 57-58
January 19, 1978