Bob Prichard
Topic(s): Holy Spirit, Miracles

To answer this question, we must consider the real issue.

There is no question that Christ and His apostles performed miracles, because the Bible clearly says that they did. There is also no question whether God is powerful enough to perform miracles, because we know that He has infinite power. It is also not a question of whether there is value in prayer for the sick, because the Bible tells us to pray for the sick. The question is not one of what we think we have seen, but what does the Bible teach about miracles today?

Why were miracles given in the first place?
In the beginning, God created by His miraculous power, speaking things into existence, but then after the creation, things continued according to the natural laws that God established. God spoke through inspired men and His Son, but He now speaks through the inspired written scripture, the Bible, and no longer needs inspired men to speak for Him.

Miraculous powers exhibited in the early church confirmed the truth of their words, but today we have the Bible, and no longer need miracles to confirm the truth of the word.

Jesus said, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me (John 10:25). The disciples went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following (Mark 16:20).

Miracles have not continued to the present, because the Bible said they would cease.
1 Corinthians 12 lists nine miraculous spiritual gifts, such as the gifts of wisdom, tongues, and prophecy. Paul reminded the Corinthians that not every Christian had the gifts, and then proceeded to show them the more excellent way (12:31) of love in chapter thirteen. Paul said that Charity [love] never faileth: but whether there be prophecies [the miraculous gift of prophecy], they shall fail; whether there be tongues [the miraculous gift of tongues], they shall cease; whether there be knowledge [the miraculous gift of knowledge], it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away (1 Corinthians 13:8-10). The time when these gifts would cease is when that which is perfect is come, referring to the completion of God's written revelation of the Bible, what James called the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25).

The New Testament shows that the Lord never failed when He attempted to heal anyone. The only exception to the principle was the lunatic the apostles could not heal because they, the healers, did not have enough faith.

We also find that the cures of Christ were immediate and were 100% effective.
Those who claim the power to heal and perform miracles today are selective in whom they heal and do not heal immediately, and are not 100% effective. They appear to be successful because their followers believe they are healed, whether or not it has actually happened.

Many marvelous and unexplainable things happen today, but they are not miracles, even if we cannot explain how they happened.
Miracles have ended as the Bible predicted.

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