PROOF OF THE SUPERNATURAL
Irenaeus, writing 100 years after the completion of the New Testament, boasts that the church in his day “frequently” saw the dead raised to life as the result of the prayers of Christians. He goes on to describe other kinds of common miracles …
“Some most certainly and truly cast out demons. Others have the knowledge of things to come, as also vision and prophetic communications; others heal the sick by the imposition of hands, and restore them to health. And, moreover, as we said above, even the dead have been raised and continue with us for many years.”
Augustine, in the early 5th century, was one of the most influential theologians in history. Early in his ministry, Augustine held a cessationist view. However, after witnessing first-hand many miracles wrought at the hands of Christians, he began to document all he was observing. Over a two-year period, he compiled a list of more than 70 well-attested miracles … including the healing of blindness, breast cancer, pout, paralysis, hernias, and other conditions and diseases. Augustine also recounted miracles in which demons were cast out, and the dead were raised. He even documented cases where farm animals were cured! Toward the end of his life, he wrote a retraction of his earlier cessationist beliefs, and went on to devote much of his personal time to the ministry of healing. Yet, one of the tragedies of the false doctrine of Cessationism is that, to this day … even though Augustine renounced his beliefs … many cessationists still quote Augustine to support their false beliefs!
Examples of documented miracles literally FILL the pages of church history. Here are just a few:
Justin Martyr (2nd Century) … “Many of our Christians have healed and do heal, driving possessing spirits out of men, though they could not be cured by all the other exorcists, or by those who used incantations and drugs.”
Theophilus of Antioch (2nd Century) … “Physical healing is evidence that the power of the resurrection is already working in us. Death is being put to flight.”
Irenaeus (2nd Century) … “Those who are His disciples do, in His name, perform [miracles] so as to promote the welfare of men, according to the gift which each one has received.”
Theodotus (late 2nd Century) confirmed that the signs of the Spirit, healings and prophecies, were still being performed is his day.
Origin (3rd Century) … “Christians expel evil spirits and perform many cures and foresee certain events.”
Novatian (3rd Century) … “The Holy Spirit places prophets in the church, instructs teachers, directs tongues, gives power and healing, does wonderful works … and orders whatever gifts there are to make the Lord’s church perfected and complete.”
Tertullian (3rd Century) lists a wide range of diseases he has cured. He also describes a number of times when Roman officials who, in times of persecution, dismissed charges against Christians because a friend of relative had been healed by a Christian.
In his book Healing and Christianity, Morton Kelsey writes … “The prevailing acceptance of healing as a norm in the Christian church appears from many sources. In the very early Shepherd of Hermas, we find a fascinating reference to those who did NOT undertake to relieve illness and distress in the Christian way. He, therefore, who knows the calamity of such a man, and does not free him from it, commits a great sin, and is guilty of his blood.”
Kelsey concludes … “Healing was a part of a total framework in which Christians were educated; a reality of religious experience in which they participated. For if they were to follow the teachings of Christ, it is hard to see how they could do otherwise.”
Simply put, the documented evidence is overwhelming that one of, if not THE most prominant characteristics of the lifestyle of early Christians was that they carried supernatural abilities that could not be explained by men.
Supernatural people, set apart in a natural world ... and it drew the lost to faith in Jesus Christ!
“Some most certainly and truly cast out demons. Others have the knowledge of things to come, as also vision and prophetic communications; others heal the sick by the imposition of hands, and restore them to health. And, moreover, as we said above, even the dead have been raised and continue with us for many years.”
Augustine, in the early 5th century, was one of the most influential theologians in history. Early in his ministry, Augustine held a cessationist view. However, after witnessing first-hand many miracles wrought at the hands of Christians, he began to document all he was observing. Over a two-year period, he compiled a list of more than 70 well-attested miracles … including the healing of blindness, breast cancer, pout, paralysis, hernias, and other conditions and diseases. Augustine also recounted miracles in which demons were cast out, and the dead were raised. He even documented cases where farm animals were cured! Toward the end of his life, he wrote a retraction of his earlier cessationist beliefs, and went on to devote much of his personal time to the ministry of healing. Yet, one of the tragedies of the false doctrine of Cessationism is that, to this day … even though Augustine renounced his beliefs … many cessationists still quote Augustine to support their false beliefs!
Examples of documented miracles literally FILL the pages of church history. Here are just a few:
Justin Martyr (2nd Century) … “Many of our Christians have healed and do heal, driving possessing spirits out of men, though they could not be cured by all the other exorcists, or by those who used incantations and drugs.”
Theophilus of Antioch (2nd Century) … “Physical healing is evidence that the power of the resurrection is already working in us. Death is being put to flight.”
Irenaeus (2nd Century) … “Those who are His disciples do, in His name, perform [miracles] so as to promote the welfare of men, according to the gift which each one has received.”
Theodotus (late 2nd Century) confirmed that the signs of the Spirit, healings and prophecies, were still being performed is his day.
Origin (3rd Century) … “Christians expel evil spirits and perform many cures and foresee certain events.”
Novatian (3rd Century) … “The Holy Spirit places prophets in the church, instructs teachers, directs tongues, gives power and healing, does wonderful works … and orders whatever gifts there are to make the Lord’s church perfected and complete.”
Tertullian (3rd Century) lists a wide range of diseases he has cured. He also describes a number of times when Roman officials who, in times of persecution, dismissed charges against Christians because a friend of relative had been healed by a Christian.
In his book Healing and Christianity, Morton Kelsey writes … “The prevailing acceptance of healing as a norm in the Christian church appears from many sources. In the very early Shepherd of Hermas, we find a fascinating reference to those who did NOT undertake to relieve illness and distress in the Christian way. He, therefore, who knows the calamity of such a man, and does not free him from it, commits a great sin, and is guilty of his blood.”
Kelsey concludes … “Healing was a part of a total framework in which Christians were educated; a reality of religious experience in which they participated. For if they were to follow the teachings of Christ, it is hard to see how they could do otherwise.”
Simply put, the documented evidence is overwhelming that one of, if not THE most prominant characteristics of the lifestyle of early Christians was that they carried supernatural abilities that could not be explained by men.
Supernatural people, set apart in a natural world ... and it drew the lost to faith in Jesus Christ!
No Comments