Passage (KJV)
Content
Matthew 7:21-23
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name hav...
It is a great question, and the very reason we are to walk by faith today and not sight (2 Cor 5:7). Satan, the god of this world, keeps unbelievers (those who lack faith) blinded from the freeing gospel of Christ crucified. 2 Cor 4:3-4 "3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."
@RayButterworth Therefore the miracles performed within all those false denominations must be from Satan, not God - I fail to see how this follows. Peter and Paul disagreed about a few things, therefore all miracles performed by Peter (or all miracles performed by Paul) were from Satan?
@RayButterworth Every denomination is probably mistaken about at least one thing. So I'm skeptical of the idea that a denomination has to have nailed down all of its doctrines perfectly well in order for God to be "authorized" to perform miracles as He sees fit. Now, what if a doctrine is profoundly heretical? Maybe in that case God would withhold miracles from that denomination, but even in that case there might be sincere outliers in said denomination who might be whole-heartedly seeking the truth, and God might still be willing to answer their prayers, so you never know.
@RayButterworth That is possible, but even if we grant that assumption it wouldn't follow that all miracles are false (i.e., from Satan). Among all the false and the fake surely there must be a genuine remnant, right? Unless you espouse the position that everything is false across the board, without exceptions.
@RayButterworth Right, but that either only zero or one of them has enjoyed genuine miracles from God doesn't follow.
It follows: 1 Cor 13:8-10 "Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." Paul was "to fulfill the Word of God" (Col 1:25). The Bible was not complete (perfected) until the end of Paul's ministry...when miracles would then cease...for the current age "of God's grace" (Eph 3:2). True "miracles" will commence during the trib.
@LukeHill Satan and his ministers deceive through "righteousness": 2 Cor 11:12-15 "But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works." This is why we walk by FAITH today.
@MarkVestal Furthermore, 1 Cor 13:8-10 says nothing about miracles, the passage talks about tongues, knowledge, and prophecy. Nothing else is mentioned. It certainly says nothing about healings, for example. Nothing about miracles in general. The passage bears literally no relevance whatsoever to the point I was discussing with RayButterworth.
@Mark It is in perfect alignment with "faith alone". Here's what Paul says about healing: 2 Cor 12:8-10 "For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." Why didn't Paul heal Timothy?
@Mark Why didn't Paul just perform miracles before everyone to prove who he was? It was transitional from a time of required miracles to a time of faith alone: 1 Cor 1:21-24 "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God."
Discussion between Mark Vestal and Mark
Discussion between Mark Vestal and Mark