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C
Of course you wouldn't like Finney. Finney viewed Calvinism as dead religious belief system and took it upon himself to dismember Calvinism one point at a time. While Finney did believe in Imputed Righteousness and that the fact that man could nothing to save himself, he approached them in a manner that someone who is heavily versed in Calvinism wouldn't be able to understand.
Contrary to popular belief, Finney never once taught a works based gospel. You will never understand Finney until you read the majority of his work. You can not take a paragraph or two and even begin to understand where he's coming from.
Contrary to popular belief, Finney never once taught a works based gospel. You will never understand Finney until you read the majority of his work. You can not take a paragraph or two and even begin to understand where he's coming from.
you haven't looked at his heresies have you?
nope.
because you teach and believe in the unbiblical second baptism, the NAR (or new revelation/new prophets) and you love finney's unorthodox roll-his-own-theology.
big surprise.
why come back as someone else?
why not just stick to your guns and stand by your beliefs?
went a little overboard on the jezebel thing?
i couldnt care less about calvin....he's a buzz name for all the works self-righteous perfectionists.
throw him under the semi or train. i don't care.
it doesn't make your doctrines pure.
they stink.
nope.
because you teach and believe in the unbiblical second baptism, the NAR (or new revelation/new prophets) and you love finney's unorthodox roll-his-own-theology.
big surprise.
why come back as someone else?
why not just stick to your guns and stand by your beliefs?
went a little overboard on the jezebel thing?
i couldnt care less about calvin....he's a buzz name for all the works self-righteous perfectionists.
throw him under the semi or train. i don't care.
it doesn't make your doctrines pure.
they stink.
little surprise for you buddy.
read 'em.
the guy was a fruitcake who DESTROYED MISSIONS in the area for a generation.
but who cares about accurate church history.
I WANT MY GIFT OF PROPHECY AND I'LL DO ANYTHING TO HAVE IT (even if it is fake and i know it).
i thought i already debunked your stuff.
oh well...maybe a new name will help.
read 'em.
the guy was a fruitcake who DESTROYED MISSIONS in the area for a generation.
but who cares about accurate church history.
I WANT MY GIFT OF PROPHECY AND I'LL DO ANYTHING TO HAVE IT (even if it is fake and i know it).
i thought i already debunked your stuff.
oh well...maybe a new name will help.
The Sinless Perfection Test – Are YOU Perfect???
9 07 2008
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” -1 John 1:8
This is a test for all the sinless ‘Christians’ who claim to be on par with the same sinlessness of Jesus Christ Himself, in present practice in this life while still in the body of flesh, particulalry those who deny that 1 John 1:8 applies to the Christian. That we may not be deceived or mistaken as to the nature and definition of sin, let us define exactly what sin is. According to Scripture, there are at least five basic definitions of sin. Here are the scriptures that define this for us:
TAKE THE TEST HERE:
john wesley Entire Sanctification and Holiness
9 07 2008
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” -1 John 1:8
This is a test for all the sinless ‘Christians’ who claim to be on par with the same sinlessness of Jesus Christ Himself, in present practice in this life while still in the body of flesh, particulalry those who deny that 1 John 1:8 applies to the Christian. That we may not be deceived or mistaken as to the nature and definition of sin, let us define exactly what sin is. According to Scripture, there are at least five basic definitions of sin. Here are the scriptures that define this for us:
TAKE THE TEST HERE:
john wesley Entire Sanctification and Holiness
C
#1. The intent of this thread is not to push Finney. Despite what you might think, I'm not even a Finneyan.
#2. While I do believe in prophecy, I do not believe in prophecy beyond a localized level. It's not my fault that you fell for a bunch of hyper spiritual nonsense and now that you feel guilty, you're on a crusade to eliminate it all.
#3. Debunked my stuff? I don't come on here to try to teach anyone anything or push my views. I simply offer a Continuationist perspective when When someone asks a question.
As I stated, I'm not here to debate you. Despite what you and others might believe, this website does not revolve around you. However, if you feel that you must be the center of attention, why don't you start your own ministry website and take your harem of Ahabs with you. Who knows, maybe you''l become the next Joyce Myers.
#2. While I do believe in prophecy, I do not believe in prophecy beyond a localized level. It's not my fault that you fell for a bunch of hyper spiritual nonsense and now that you feel guilty, you're on a crusade to eliminate it all.
#3. Debunked my stuff? I don't come on here to try to teach anyone anything or push my views. I simply offer a Continuationist perspective when When someone asks a question.
As I stated, I'm not here to debate you. Despite what you and others might believe, this website does not revolve around you. However, if you feel that you must be the center of attention, why don't you start your own ministry website and take your harem of Ahabs with you. Who knows, maybe you''l become the next Joyce Myers.
#1. The intent of this thread is not to push Finney. Despite what you might think, I'm not even a Finneyan.
#2. While I do believe in prophecy, I do not believe in prophecy beyond a localized level. It's not my fault that you fell for a bunch of hyper spiritual nonsense and now that you feel guilty, you're on a crusade to eliminate it all.
#3. Debunked my stuff? I don't come on here to try to teach anyone anything or push my views. I simply offer a Continuationist perspective when When someone asks a question.
As I stated, I'm not here to debate you. Despite what you and others might believe, this website does not revolve around you. However, if you feel that you must be the center of attention, why don't you start your own ministry website and take your harem of Ahabs with you. Who knows, maybe you''l become the next Joyce Myers.
#2. While I do believe in prophecy, I do not believe in prophecy beyond a localized level. It's not my fault that you fell for a bunch of hyper spiritual nonsense and now that you feel guilty, you're on a crusade to eliminate it all.
#3. Debunked my stuff? I don't come on here to try to teach anyone anything or push my views. I simply offer a Continuationist perspective when When someone asks a question.
As I stated, I'm not here to debate you. Despite what you and others might believe, this website does not revolve around you. However, if you feel that you must be the center of attention, why don't you start your own ministry website and take your harem of Ahabs with you. Who knows, maybe you''l become the next Joyce Myers.
dont feel guilty
no crusade
continusationism is false
the NAR is antichrist.
ahabs.
well, let's go get your previous posts. why waste time?
#1. The intent of this thread is not to push Finney. Despite what you might think, I'm not even a Finneyan.
#2. While I do believe in prophecy, I do not believe in prophecy beyond a localized level. It's not my fault that you fell for a bunch of hyper spiritual nonsense and now that you feel guilty, you're on a crusade to eliminate it all.
#3. Debunked my stuff? I don't come on here to try to teach anyone anything or push my views. I simply offer a Continuationist perspective when When someone asks a question.
As I stated, I'm not here to debate you. Despite what you and others might believe, this website does not revolve around you. However, if you feel that you must be the center of attention, why don't you start your own ministry website and take your harem of Ahabs with you. Who knows, maybe you''l become the next Joyce Myers.
#2. While I do believe in prophecy, I do not believe in prophecy beyond a localized level. It's not my fault that you fell for a bunch of hyper spiritual nonsense and now that you feel guilty, you're on a crusade to eliminate it all.
#3. Debunked my stuff? I don't come on here to try to teach anyone anything or push my views. I simply offer a Continuationist perspective when When someone asks a question.
As I stated, I'm not here to debate you. Despite what you and others might believe, this website does not revolve around you. However, if you feel that you must be the center of attention, why don't you start your own ministry website and take your harem of Ahabs with you. Who knows, maybe you''l become the next Joyce Myers.
can you be honest?
IS THIS YOU?
http://christianchat.com/bible-discussion-forum/27586-identifying-spirit-jezebel.html
Well ill watch the thread and take part. But i havnt been as yet able to take on the label
of either side. Not that im unstable in my position. But that i had never before been confronted
with the issue(till i joined cc). And to randomly throw around bible verses make me a bit nervous.
Its a fact that we all have graces, and giftings, and positions in the body. All of these are spiritual
in nature. And this is absolutely true and biblically based.
Have things changed since Pentecost? Yes that is biblical. But in form only, not in substance.
While the bible gives me discernment (Heb.5:11-14)etc. And i see false spirituals and false
gifts. I still have more work to do to make some finer distinctions, although im not sure if there
will be a name for me when im through. And i dont find labels really can do more than mislead
people in what you believe.
So untill ive finished my homework ill just have to be a nocamp guy. And concern myself with
the scriptures, and their intent. Being extreme is in the human nature. But not good for ya.
Best wishes with the thread.
of either side. Not that im unstable in my position. But that i had never before been confronted
with the issue(till i joined cc). And to randomly throw around bible verses make me a bit nervous.
Its a fact that we all have graces, and giftings, and positions in the body. All of these are spiritual
in nature. And this is absolutely true and biblically based.
Have things changed since Pentecost? Yes that is biblical. But in form only, not in substance.
While the bible gives me discernment (Heb.5:11-14)etc. And i see false spirituals and false
gifts. I still have more work to do to make some finer distinctions, although im not sure if there
will be a name for me when im through. And i dont find labels really can do more than mislead
people in what you believe.
So untill ive finished my homework ill just have to be a nocamp guy. And concern myself with
the scriptures, and their intent. Being extreme is in the human nature. But not good for ya.
Best wishes with the thread.
C
Never once have I advocated Christian Perfection and for you to insist as such is a complete lie.
I believe in living a life of consecration unto the Lord so that the desires of the flesh and our own selfish agendas do not get in the way of God's purposes for our lives.
I believe that the bible teaches that sin has consequences (in this life and the next) and that sin clouds our ability to minister effectively.
That has always been my personal stance.
You are the one sowing strife but putting words in peoples mouths and making wold accusations in order to make yourself and your beliefs appear to more pious.
Why must insist treating anyone who disagrees with you like dirt?
Have you ever considered seeing a doctor for your behavioral issues?
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Well I guess the only way around this is through it lets use only the words of Jesus nothing more nothing less. Lets not use other mens opinions (after all we are all Protestants who are arguing over this anyway) The Catholics very much recognize miracles as do the EOC.
I like using what I call the Jesus model when deducing theological arguments and I base my whole theories foundation on strictly THE WORDS OF CHRIST
Show me even ONE statement by Jesus ("Them there's the red words yup!") that contravenes continuationist belief structure JUST ONE!
Before you say" Are you comparing yourself or any other person to Jesus? just WHOA THERE EASY!
Just as Jesus imparted some of the spirit on the disciples so does the Holy Spirit with all men until his second coming!
Like I said if Jesus is the model then BE ALL YOU CAN BE He came for our salvation and is the way,the truth, and the light. He is our teacher so we should aspire to be like him whether we attain that level (which assuredly none will) is irrelevant.
Jesus spoke much about having faith and one of my favourites sentences he ever spoke was this;
Matthew 17:20
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Jesus told us all we need is faith the gifts have never ceased just our ability to use them directly caused by LACK OF FAITH nothing more!
Selah
I like using what I call the Jesus model when deducing theological arguments and I base my whole theories foundation on strictly THE WORDS OF CHRIST
Show me even ONE statement by Jesus ("Them there's the red words yup!") that contravenes continuationist belief structure JUST ONE!
Before you say" Are you comparing yourself or any other person to Jesus? just WHOA THERE EASY!
Just as Jesus imparted some of the spirit on the disciples so does the Holy Spirit with all men until his second coming!
Like I said if Jesus is the model then BE ALL YOU CAN BE He came for our salvation and is the way,the truth, and the light. He is our teacher so we should aspire to be like him whether we attain that level (which assuredly none will) is irrelevant.
Jesus spoke much about having faith and one of my favourites sentences he ever spoke was this;
Matthew 17:20
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Jesus told us all we need is faith the gifts have never ceased just our ability to use them directly caused by LACK OF FAITH nothing more!
Selah
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U
Do people get sick and die due to a lack of faith ? Can we have anything we want ...... if only we have the faith ? Is our faith meant to give us hope for an extra few years on this planet ...... or is it for the assurance in the hope and the promise of eternity in His glorious presence ? I would truly like to see somebody, anybody ...... use their faith "properly". Lots of sick people waiting in hospitals to be healed. We witness best by our actions regardless of the good intent of our words.
C
The manifestation of spiritual gifts in Church history
Part 1
The pronouncements of some anti-Pentecostal evangelicals on the subject of Divine healing and the gifts of the Holy Spirit has been totally dishonest. They dogmatically assert that the gifts of the Spirit were confined to apostolic times, in spite of massive historical evidence to the contrary. Both the Scriptures and Church history totally deny this dogma. Peter declared, and many Scriptures teach, that the gifts of the Holy Spirit will be in operation right up to the day when Christ comes to set up His kingdom. Acts.2v16-39. There is not one hint in the Scriptures that the “charismata” were only the temporary equipment of the early Church. This settles the matter for the Christian who believes in the authority and inspiration of the Scriptures. God’s promise to give His “charismata” to every thirsty Christian has been fulfilled throughout Church history.
J. Sidlow Baxter, on pages 56 to 59, of his fine book, “Divine Healing Of The Body,” proves, on all counts, that Warfield's statement that miracles ceased with the apostles is completely wrong. Baxter, quite rightly, gives credit to B.B. Warfield's scholarship in other areas of theology, but notes that in both the text and notes of his book, “Counterfeit Miracles,” Warfield does not once use any Scriptures to support his contention that Divine healing, and the other Christian miracles ceased with the death of the Apostles. Baxter writes: “We cannot but ask Why? - and the answer is patent, namely, that there is NO Scripture which can be cited either stating it or implying it.” End of quote. Warfield's departure from his normal practice of extensive Scripture proof, speaks volumes, and proves the totally untenable and invalid nature of his position.
Baxter then proves that the statement that the miraculous gifts were confined to the apostolic age, actually denies the facts and evidence of Church history, and makes liars of many of God's “mighty men of valour.” Any attempt to reject and discredit the testimonies to miracles by godly Church fathers, who suffered great persecution and even martyrdom for Christ, must automatically be discredited and rejected. Christians, who died for the truth, would certainly not lie about their experience of miracles. Warfield himself admits that these witnesses to miracles, were the outstanding Christian scholars, leaders, and theologians of their day. Warfield extols the greatness of Jerome, Gregory of Nyssa, Athanasius, Chrysostom, Ambrose and Augustine; and then rejects their testimony to miracles in the name of Jesus, as utterly mistaken. This shows a mind, which on this issue, is holding down the truth, and is closed to the facts; and is dominated by bigotry and prejudice. Great Christians like Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Chrysostom, Gregory of Nyssa, and many more of the later ages of the Church, give an eyewitness account of miracles, and their testimonies cannot be dismissed. We have a right to challenge the integrity and historical honesty of the unbelieving critics, who challenge the miraculous facts that these godly Church fathers relate.
Bengel gives the reason why spiritual gifts were absent in his day in the following short note. “The reason why many miracles are not now wrought is not so much because faith is established, as that unbelief reigns.” One fears that it is the reign of unbelief in the hearts of theologians that causes them to state, against all the evidence to the contrary, that spiritual gifts were confined to the apostolic age. It is a striking fact of Church History, that when faith, holiness and prayer have been renewed, God has restored His gifts to His Church.
In a 79 page treatise, John Wesley totally refutes Dr. Middleton's statement that the supernatural powers of the Church had ceased with the apostolic age, it is one of the best defences of spiritual gifts that has been written. I shall now quote some witnesses from Church history that show spiritual gifts have been manifested through Church History in periods of revival.
JUSTIN MARTYR. A.D. 100 to 165.
Justin made so many quotations from the Gospels, that it has been said that it would be possible to reproduce almost the whole of the first three Gospels from his writings; he also gives a very definite testimony to the Gospel of John. Justin was commanded to sacrifice to the Roman gods, and when he refused, he was scourged and beheaded. Marcus Aurelius, who reigned A.D. 161 to 180, was the Emperor who ordered Justin's execution; he was a philosophical moralist, who supported the Stoics; like many today, he claimed to be a moral person, but he had a deep hatred of Christianity, and many Christians suffered martyrdom because of him. He also orchestrated a vicious intellectual attack against Christianity, but the Church triumphed over it all. Justin's first apology to Emperor Antoninus Pius was favourably received; his second to Marcus Aurelius brought almost immediate death.
In his first apology to Emperor Antonius Pius, Justin stated: “That the empire of spirits has been destroyed by Jesus you may even now convince yourselves by what is passing before your own eyes; for many of our people, of us Christians, have healed and still continue to heal in every part of the world, and even in your city (Rome) numbers possessed by evil spirits (are healed) such as could not be healed by other exorcists, simply by adjuring them in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate. There are prophetic gifts among us even until now. You may see with us both women and men having gifts from the Spirit of God.”
EUSEBIUS. The famous Church historian of Caesarea. A.D. 260 to 340.
Eusebius writes in Book 3 of his Church History, of evangelists who were living during the early years of the second century.
“Of those that flourished in these times, Quadratus is said to have been distinguished for his prophetical gifts. There are many others, also, noted in these times, who held rank in the apostolic succession.... The Holy Spirit also wrought many wonders as yet through them, so that as soon as the gospel was heard, men in crowds voluntarily and eagerly embraced the true faith with their whole minds.”
IRENAEUS, The overseer of the Church at Lyons in France. A.D. 115? 125? to 202.
Irenaeus spent his early life in the neighbourhood of Smyrna, when he was at Smyrna, he came into contact with Polycarp, and became one of his pupils. Jerome tells us that like Polycarp, Irenaeus suffered martyrdom. Irenaeus writes in his “Against Heresies,” Book 3. c3. 4.: “Polycarp was not only instructed by apostles and conversed with many who had seen Christ, but was also by apostles in Asia appointed bishop of the Church in Smyrna; whom I also saw in my early youth, for he tarried on earth a long time, and when a very old man, gloriously and most nobly suffered martyrdom.”
Eusebius puts the date of the martyrdom of Polycarp at A.D. 166, others at A.D. 156. We know that when Polycarp was asked to revile Christ by proconsul Quadratus, Polycarp replied, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any wrong: how then can I revile my King and my Saviour?” Polycarp's presence was so infused with God that it awed his persecutors, but they were determined to kill him. This remarkable Christian was then burnt at the stake, and finally dispatched with a sword, because the fire had not killed him. This would, taking the date of Eusebius of Polycarp's death as A.D. 166, put the conversion of Polycarp at about A.D. 80; the earlier date would put it at about A.D. 70. Polycarp was obviously converted as a child, and had about 20 to 30 years contact with the apostle John.
Polycarp was instructed by apostles, including the apostle John, so Irenaeus could hardly have had a better tutor and example than Polycarp in his formative years; and that Polycarp trained him well in the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is proved by his writings. After his early years in Asia, Irenaeus then went to Lyons in France, first becoming a presbyter, and then the leading elder and overseer, when he succeeded Pothinus, who was martyred in the later persecutions under Marcus Aurelius in about A.D. 177. More peaceful times followed, and in about A.D. 180, Irenaeus wrote his five books “Against Heresies,” or as Eusebius calls them, “A Refutation and Overthrow of False Doctrine.” In his writings Irenaeus defends the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He writes in book 2: “Even among the brethren frequently in a case of necessity, when the whole church united in much fasting and prayer, the spirit has returned to the ex-animated body, and the man was granted to the prayers of the saints.”
And after some other observations he writes: “But if they say that our Lord also did these things only in appearance, we shall refer them back to the prophetic declarations, and shall show from them that all these things were strictly foretold, and were done by Him and that He alone is the Son of God. Wherefore, also, those who were truly His disciples, receiving grace from Him, in His name performed these things for the benefit of the rest of men, as everyone received the free gift from Him. Some, indeed, most certainly and truly cast out demons, so that frequently those persons themselves were cleansed from wicked spirits, believed and were received into the Church. Others have the knowledge of things to come, as also visions 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 continued with us for many years. And why should we say more? It is impossible to tell the number of gifts which the Church throughout the world received from God, and the deeds performed in the name of Jesus Christ that was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and this to every day for the benefit of the heathen, without deceiving any, or exacting their money. For as she has received freely from God, she also ministers. Nor does she perform anything by means of angelic invocations or by incantations, or by any other wicked, curious art; but directing her prayers to the Lord who made all things, in a pure, sincere and straightforward spirit, and calling upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, she has been accustomed to work miracles for the advantage of mankind, and not to lead them into error. ---- The name of our Lord Jesus Christ EVEN NOW confers benefits, and cures thoroughly and effectually ALL who ANYWHERE believe on Him.”
In book 5 Irenaeus writes:” In like manner do we also hear many brethren in the Church who possess prophetic gifts, who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages, and bring to light for the general benefit the hidden things of men and declare the mysteries of God, whom also the apostles term spiritual.” End of quote.
Part 1
The pronouncements of some anti-Pentecostal evangelicals on the subject of Divine healing and the gifts of the Holy Spirit has been totally dishonest. They dogmatically assert that the gifts of the Spirit were confined to apostolic times, in spite of massive historical evidence to the contrary. Both the Scriptures and Church history totally deny this dogma. Peter declared, and many Scriptures teach, that the gifts of the Holy Spirit will be in operation right up to the day when Christ comes to set up His kingdom. Acts.2v16-39. There is not one hint in the Scriptures that the “charismata” were only the temporary equipment of the early Church. This settles the matter for the Christian who believes in the authority and inspiration of the Scriptures. God’s promise to give His “charismata” to every thirsty Christian has been fulfilled throughout Church history.
J. Sidlow Baxter, on pages 56 to 59, of his fine book, “Divine Healing Of The Body,” proves, on all counts, that Warfield's statement that miracles ceased with the apostles is completely wrong. Baxter, quite rightly, gives credit to B.B. Warfield's scholarship in other areas of theology, but notes that in both the text and notes of his book, “Counterfeit Miracles,” Warfield does not once use any Scriptures to support his contention that Divine healing, and the other Christian miracles ceased with the death of the Apostles. Baxter writes: “We cannot but ask Why? - and the answer is patent, namely, that there is NO Scripture which can be cited either stating it or implying it.” End of quote. Warfield's departure from his normal practice of extensive Scripture proof, speaks volumes, and proves the totally untenable and invalid nature of his position.
Baxter then proves that the statement that the miraculous gifts were confined to the apostolic age, actually denies the facts and evidence of Church history, and makes liars of many of God's “mighty men of valour.” Any attempt to reject and discredit the testimonies to miracles by godly Church fathers, who suffered great persecution and even martyrdom for Christ, must automatically be discredited and rejected. Christians, who died for the truth, would certainly not lie about their experience of miracles. Warfield himself admits that these witnesses to miracles, were the outstanding Christian scholars, leaders, and theologians of their day. Warfield extols the greatness of Jerome, Gregory of Nyssa, Athanasius, Chrysostom, Ambrose and Augustine; and then rejects their testimony to miracles in the name of Jesus, as utterly mistaken. This shows a mind, which on this issue, is holding down the truth, and is closed to the facts; and is dominated by bigotry and prejudice. Great Christians like Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Chrysostom, Gregory of Nyssa, and many more of the later ages of the Church, give an eyewitness account of miracles, and their testimonies cannot be dismissed. We have a right to challenge the integrity and historical honesty of the unbelieving critics, who challenge the miraculous facts that these godly Church fathers relate.
Bengel gives the reason why spiritual gifts were absent in his day in the following short note. “The reason why many miracles are not now wrought is not so much because faith is established, as that unbelief reigns.” One fears that it is the reign of unbelief in the hearts of theologians that causes them to state, against all the evidence to the contrary, that spiritual gifts were confined to the apostolic age. It is a striking fact of Church History, that when faith, holiness and prayer have been renewed, God has restored His gifts to His Church.
In a 79 page treatise, John Wesley totally refutes Dr. Middleton's statement that the supernatural powers of the Church had ceased with the apostolic age, it is one of the best defences of spiritual gifts that has been written. I shall now quote some witnesses from Church history that show spiritual gifts have been manifested through Church History in periods of revival.
JUSTIN MARTYR. A.D. 100 to 165.
Justin made so many quotations from the Gospels, that it has been said that it would be possible to reproduce almost the whole of the first three Gospels from his writings; he also gives a very definite testimony to the Gospel of John. Justin was commanded to sacrifice to the Roman gods, and when he refused, he was scourged and beheaded. Marcus Aurelius, who reigned A.D. 161 to 180, was the Emperor who ordered Justin's execution; he was a philosophical moralist, who supported the Stoics; like many today, he claimed to be a moral person, but he had a deep hatred of Christianity, and many Christians suffered martyrdom because of him. He also orchestrated a vicious intellectual attack against Christianity, but the Church triumphed over it all. Justin's first apology to Emperor Antoninus Pius was favourably received; his second to Marcus Aurelius brought almost immediate death.
In his first apology to Emperor Antonius Pius, Justin stated: “That the empire of spirits has been destroyed by Jesus you may even now convince yourselves by what is passing before your own eyes; for many of our people, of us Christians, have healed and still continue to heal in every part of the world, and even in your city (Rome) numbers possessed by evil spirits (are healed) such as could not be healed by other exorcists, simply by adjuring them in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate. There are prophetic gifts among us even until now. You may see with us both women and men having gifts from the Spirit of God.”
EUSEBIUS. The famous Church historian of Caesarea. A.D. 260 to 340.
Eusebius writes in Book 3 of his Church History, of evangelists who were living during the early years of the second century.
“Of those that flourished in these times, Quadratus is said to have been distinguished for his prophetical gifts. There are many others, also, noted in these times, who held rank in the apostolic succession.... The Holy Spirit also wrought many wonders as yet through them, so that as soon as the gospel was heard, men in crowds voluntarily and eagerly embraced the true faith with their whole minds.”
IRENAEUS, The overseer of the Church at Lyons in France. A.D. 115? 125? to 202.
Irenaeus spent his early life in the neighbourhood of Smyrna, when he was at Smyrna, he came into contact with Polycarp, and became one of his pupils. Jerome tells us that like Polycarp, Irenaeus suffered martyrdom. Irenaeus writes in his “Against Heresies,” Book 3. c3. 4.: “Polycarp was not only instructed by apostles and conversed with many who had seen Christ, but was also by apostles in Asia appointed bishop of the Church in Smyrna; whom I also saw in my early youth, for he tarried on earth a long time, and when a very old man, gloriously and most nobly suffered martyrdom.”
Eusebius puts the date of the martyrdom of Polycarp at A.D. 166, others at A.D. 156. We know that when Polycarp was asked to revile Christ by proconsul Quadratus, Polycarp replied, “Eighty and six years have I served Him, and He never did me any wrong: how then can I revile my King and my Saviour?” Polycarp's presence was so infused with God that it awed his persecutors, but they were determined to kill him. This remarkable Christian was then burnt at the stake, and finally dispatched with a sword, because the fire had not killed him. This would, taking the date of Eusebius of Polycarp's death as A.D. 166, put the conversion of Polycarp at about A.D. 80; the earlier date would put it at about A.D. 70. Polycarp was obviously converted as a child, and had about 20 to 30 years contact with the apostle John.
Polycarp was instructed by apostles, including the apostle John, so Irenaeus could hardly have had a better tutor and example than Polycarp in his formative years; and that Polycarp trained him well in the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is proved by his writings. After his early years in Asia, Irenaeus then went to Lyons in France, first becoming a presbyter, and then the leading elder and overseer, when he succeeded Pothinus, who was martyred in the later persecutions under Marcus Aurelius in about A.D. 177. More peaceful times followed, and in about A.D. 180, Irenaeus wrote his five books “Against Heresies,” or as Eusebius calls them, “A Refutation and Overthrow of False Doctrine.” In his writings Irenaeus defends the gifts of the Holy Spirit. He writes in book 2: “Even among the brethren frequently in a case of necessity, when the whole church united in much fasting and prayer, the spirit has returned to the ex-animated body, and the man was granted to the prayers of the saints.”
And after some other observations he writes: “But if they say that our Lord also did these things only in appearance, we shall refer them back to the prophetic declarations, and shall show from them that all these things were strictly foretold, and were done by Him and that He alone is the Son of God. Wherefore, also, those who were truly His disciples, receiving grace from Him, in His name performed these things for the benefit of the rest of men, as everyone received the free gift from Him. Some, indeed, most certainly and truly cast out demons, so that frequently those persons themselves were cleansed from wicked spirits, believed and were received into the Church. Others have the knowledge of things to come, as also visions 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 continued with us for many years. And why should we say more? It is impossible to tell the number of gifts which the Church throughout the world received from God, and the deeds performed in the name of Jesus Christ that was crucified under Pontius Pilate, and this to every day for the benefit of the heathen, without deceiving any, or exacting their money. For as she has received freely from God, she also ministers. Nor does she perform anything by means of angelic invocations or by incantations, or by any other wicked, curious art; but directing her prayers to the Lord who made all things, in a pure, sincere and straightforward spirit, and calling upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, she has been accustomed to work miracles for the advantage of mankind, and not to lead them into error. ---- The name of our Lord Jesus Christ EVEN NOW confers benefits, and cures thoroughly and effectually ALL who ANYWHERE believe on Him.”
In book 5 Irenaeus writes:” In like manner do we also hear many brethren in the Church who possess prophetic gifts, who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages, and bring to light for the general benefit the hidden things of men and declare the mysteries of God, whom also the apostles term spiritual.” End of quote.
C
The manifestation of spiritual gifts in Church history
Part 2
TERTULLIAN. Of Carthage in North Africa. About A.D. 160 to 220.
Tertullian was educated as a Lawyer, and was a very earnest advocate for the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Tertullian wrote a large number of works, and made many quotations from the New Testament. He was a Montanist, that is, a follower of Montanus, A.D. 171, who “began to teach the necessity of new inspiration to quicken the decaying life of the Church.” Montanus taught fasting, self-control, and purity of life after baptism. Tertullian opposed Marcion the Gnostic heretic and wrote five books refuting his heresies. Tertullian wrote his great work against Marcion in A.D. 207; and in it he invites Marcion to produce evidence of the gifts of the Holy Spirit being manifested among his followers as they were among Tertullian's Christians. “Let him exhibit prophets such have spoken, not by human sense, but with the Spirit God, such as have predicted things to come, and have made manifest the secrets of the heart; let him produce a psalm, a vision, a prayer, only let it be by the Spirit in an ecstasy, that is in a rapture, whenever an interpretation of tongues has occurred to him.”
Tertullian said that in the name of Jesus miracles had occurred throughout the Roman Empire, and had produced many converts in spite of the persecutions. He said in his time, about 200 A.D., that the Christians in a single province were more numerous than the Roman army. Some estimate that this means there were at least nine million Christians in the Roman Empire. Some historians say this estimate by Tertullian is conservative, they calculate that Christians comprised as many as one in six, or even one in five, of the population.
ORIGEN. A.D. 185 to 254.
In defending Christianity from the attacks of Celsus, an arch opponent of Christianity; Origen tells how he had seen with his own eyes the healing of grievous diseases and the insane by invocation of the name of God and Jesus, he states in, “Against Celsus.” 3.24. “And some give evidence of having received, through their faith, a marvellous power, by the cures which they perform, invoking no other name over those who need their help than that of the God of all things, and of Jesus, along with mention of his history. For we too HAVE SEEN many persons freed by these means, from grievous calamities and from distractions of mind and from madness and from countless other ills which could not be cured either by men or devils.”
ANTHONY. Of the Thebaid in Egypt. A.D. 251 to 356.
Anthony has been called the father of monasticism, he went from Alexandria into the Thebaid in Egypt, and organised a community from scattered companies of recluses. They called the community Coenobia, from “koinos bios,” “a life in common;” and as a result were called Coenobites. They bound themselves by a vow of poverty, chastity, and manual labour for the common good. This was in sharp contrast to the wealth that Anthony gave up for this life of prayer. Anthony became well known for his healing ministry, and also experienced bilocation. After nearly killing himself with too much fasting and prayer in his early life, Anthony lived to the great age of 105.
Anthony was born in A.D. 251 and died at the age of 105 in A.D. 356. He was a comparatively illiterate man, who rose to a great heights of spiritual wisdom and power, which was sustained by long periods of solitary communion with God. Anthony's spirituality made him of far more use to God than the highly educated churchmen of his day. In his earlier years, Anthony led such a rigorous ascetic life that his health was badly impaired and he almost died. He later realised that God requires a relationship of love more than anything else, however, he still kept up a disciplined life. Anthony was frequently used by God to heal the sick, but he always pointed people from himself to God, and said it was the work of God alone. Anthony inspired the rise of other monastic settlements; the largest being formed by Pachomius at Tabennae, an island on the Nile; when Athanasius visited it, 3,000 monks singing hymns and litanies greeted him.
The monasteries were centres of learning and scholarship, and some valuable work was done in them. Jerome spent many years in a cell at Bethlehem preparing for the translation of the Latin Vulgate; and Athanasius wrote his works against the Arians while hiding with Anthony and his monks in their monastery in the Thebaid desert. Many Christian leaders received their training in the monasteries. Unfortunately the monks often suffered mental breakdowns, partly through the heat, but mostly through loneliness; for though they lived in community, their ascetic lives and the solitude of their cells brought about morbid fears, hallucinations, and in some cases mental derangement and lunacy. The concentration upon their own spiritual improvement tended to produce the evils of spiritual pride and self-righteousness. Concern and care for other people's spiritual welfare is the way to true humility and spiritual growth.
The Historian Neander, wrote of Anthony: “He could easily have acquired the fame of being a worker of miracles, since many, particularly of those who were thought to be possessed of evil spirits, were indebted to his prayers and to the impression of tranquillity and peace which went forth from him.... But he pointed those who applied to him for help, or had been indebted to him for it, away from himself to God and Christ.... They were to know that the power of healing belonged neither to him nor to any other man, but was the work of God alone, who wrought it when and for whom He pleased.”
CHRYSOSTOM, THE GOLDEN MOUTHED. A.D. 345 to 407.
Chrysostom was famed for his eloquence and spirituality, he was the greatest of the Antiochian school, and the finest orator of the Eastern Church, and a notable expositor; about 640 of his homilies are still extant. Chrysostom is by general consent the greatest of the bishops of Constantinople. His father Secundus was a general in the imperial army, who had considerable wealth, but he died while Chrysostom was an infant. Chrysostom's young widowed mother, Anthusa, trained him in Christian things. Chrysostom was placed under the tuition of the pagan orator Libanus, in his training for the legal profession; however, the corruption of the legal profession and the profligacy of the city disgusted him, so he returned home and turned to Christian things. John still carried on with his secular career, however, after a three-year probation he was received into the Church. A fellow student called Basil tried to get John to enter a monastery, but his mother persuaded him not to do so; however, when she died he entered a monastery and stayed there for six years. In A.D. 381, John was ordained a deacon, and in A.D. 386, he became a presbyter at Antioch. When Nectarius the patriarch of Constantinople died, Chrysostom was ordained in his place. John led a simple abstemious life, and Church revenues were spent on charity, not luxury.
The Empress Eudoxia and worldly-minded clergy violently opposed Chrysostom. The charged him with being a follower of Origen, and he was banished from office; but was quickly recalled as an earthquake made Eudoxia fear. John soon offended the Empress again and he was banished to Cucusus, a village in the Tauros, on the borders of Cilicia and Armenia. John's great work continued, though isolated his fame spread far and wide, by letters and the planning of missions. Gibbon says, “Every tongue repeated the praises of his genius and virtue, and the respectful attention of the Christian world was fixed on a desert spot in the mountains of Tauros.” John's opponents were again moved with jealousy and anger, they got John banished to the wild and desolate region of Pityrus in Pontus. The journey killed John; he died at Comana, some distance short of his goal, on Sept. 14th. A.D. 407. Thirty years later Chrysostom's bones were brought to Constantinople in honour. Emperor Theodosius the younger, publicly asked God to forgive the sin of his parents, Theodosius and Eudoxia.
In his “Libra Contra Gentiles” Chrysostom states that the greater works promised by Jesus in Jn.14v12., were fulfilled in the Acts of the Apostles, and then goes on to record that even the opponents of the Church recognised the miracles happening in his time. Chrysostom writes: “But if anyone should assert that those were mere smoke and a fictitious wonder unworthy of credit, let us view those of the present day, which are calculated both to stop and to put to shame the blaspheming mouth, and to check the unbridled tongue. For throughout our whole inhabitable world there is not a country or nation or a city where these wonders are not commonly spoken of, which, if figments, would never have occasioned so much admiration. And you yourselves indeed could testify to this. For we have no need to receive confirmations from others of what we assert, seeing that you yourselves, our opponents, supply us therewith.” End of quote.
It is sad that some Christian scholars have less historical integrity and faith than these heathen opponents of the Church.
LACTANTIUS. Of Nicomedia. Approx. A.D. 307 Apologies.
He wrote “Divine Institutions,” which attacked paganism and defended Christianity, probably in Diocletian’s reign. He was called in his old age to educate Crispus, the son of Constantine, and he dedicated several books to the Emperor. Lactantius wrote an unusual and remarkable work on the “Deaths of Persecutors,” which gave proofs for Christianity by showing the Divine judgements which fell on the enemies of Christianity from Tiberius onwards. So just as Herod was executed by God through the prayer of the Christians, judgement gifts took place during Church history too. Acts.12v1-23. N.B. v1,5,23.
AUGUSTINE. A.D. 354 to 430.
Emperor Constantine's “Edict of Toleration,” in A.D. 313, made the persecuted Christian Church an official religion of the Roman Empire. So hostility and violent persecution were suddenly replaced by worldly acclaim, wealth and influence. The Church, which had kept a great deal of its glow through the centuries of vicious persecution and suffering, began to backslide in the time of seductive prosperity and worldly acceptance. Three centuries of vicious persecution had forced the Church to pray in order to survive; when this pressure to pray was removed, the prayer life of the Church ebbed away.
The simple structure and close fellowship based on homes, that had caused the Church to survive almost three hundred years of persecution, was replaced by financially demanding buildings and organisational structures; which carried little of the fire and love, which had been the norm in the home fellowships, during the centuries of persecution. The minds of Christians became diverted from Christ, the Head of the Church, to the institutional structure of the Church, and the constraint to conform became part of the civil law. Augustine started the Church down the road that ended with the horrors of the inquisition, he taught that Christians could be beaten and whipped to force them to stay in the religious organisation. The emphasis had passed from looking for a kingdom in heaven, to making a structure and kingdom in the style of men, which had influence on earth. There was a gradual replacement of New Testament power and truth and evangelical doctrines, with ecclesiastical structures and kingdom building. Scriptural conformity began more and more to be replaced by man-made traditions, and lacking the guidance of both a spiritual glow and the Scriptures, Christians became gullible and superstitious. Once a religious system and kingdom have been built, it becomes self-propagating, even when God has little to do with it.
In about A.D. 390, Augustine wrote the following in his treatise, “On The True Religion,” “For when the Catholic Church had been diffused and established through the whole world, those miracles were no longer permitted to continue in our time, lest the mind should always seek visible things, and the human race should be chilled by the customariness of the very things whose novelty had inflamed them.”
This was written about four or five years after Augustine's conversion, and it could be that the young convert accepted and quoted the views of some of the spiritual leaders around him. However, shortly before his death in A.D. 430, Augustine admitted that he had not told the truth, and in His work, “Retractions;” 1.13.7.; he retracted what he had written in, “On The True Religion,” and stated that even when he wrote it, he had known of a blind man being healed in Milan, and other miracles. What integrity! It was a good thing that he repented and decided to tell the truth. Some 37 years after writing, “On The True Religion,” Augustine wrote at length, in about A.D. 427, about miracles taking place in his day; he states in, “The City of God,” Book 22, chapter 8: “Even now miracles are wrought in the name of Christ ... but they are not so brilliant and conspicuous as to cause them to be published with such glory as accompanied the former miracles.”
In other words miracles were still happening, but not in the abundance, or in the power of the early Church. Augustine goes on to tell of a miracle at Carthage; he relates how Innocentius, an ex-advocate of the deputy prefect was healed, in answer to fervent prayer, of an inflamed fistula; Augustine states it completely disappeared, “in my presence and under my own eyes.” Augustine then tells how a woman, who had an inoperable cancer of the breast, was told in a dream by the Lord to ask the first woman who came out of the baptistry at Easter to make the sign of Christ upon the cancer; the woman did as the Lord instructed her and was immediately healed. Augustine gives two cases of healing at baptism. He tells of a Doctor who was instantly and permanently healed of gout at baptism; and that “an old comedian of Curubis was cured at baptism, not only of paralysis but also of hernia.” Augustine continues recounting miracles and then states: “What am I to do? I am so pressed by the promise of finishing this work that I cannot record all the miracles I know; and doubtless several of our adherents, when they read what I have narrated, will regret that I have omitted so many which they, as well as I, certainly know.”
This shows that even at the start of the spiritual decline in Augustine's day, miracles were still taking place. Healings by means of relics that Augustine and others relate, do have a question mark over them. However, the healing of two blind people through the bones of the martyrs, was witnessed by too many people to be rejected as false, and we should remember that Elisha’s bones raised a man from the dead; showing us that this kind of miracle, can and does take place. 2Kings.13v20,21. It is also difficult to rule out people being healed through water, when John's Gospel records that the first person who stepped into the pool of Bethesda, after an angel troubled the water, was healed of whatever disease they had. Jn.5v1-7. N.B. v4. Let us not limit the Holy One of Israel. Ps.78v41. However, healing by such means as Elisha's bones and the pool of Bethesda are the rare exception and not the rule, and are certainly not God's ideal method of working, but rather an indication of a state of unbelief. A person full of the Holy Spirit is God's best means of manifesting healing and the other gifts of the Spirit. Backsliding from God replaces personal faith, truth and Scripture patterns with superstition.
We will not consider here how Augustine corrupted Paul's theology, and the disastrous effects of his new theology on the doctrine and faith of the Church. We will just state, that Satan found it easy to corrupt Augustine's theology because of the bias to evil produced by his former licentious life, and his involvement and fascination with various false doctrines before he became a Christian; and also by his desire to obtain and retain influence and power for his church structure and himself.
Part 2
TERTULLIAN. Of Carthage in North Africa. About A.D. 160 to 220.
Tertullian was educated as a Lawyer, and was a very earnest advocate for the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Tertullian wrote a large number of works, and made many quotations from the New Testament. He was a Montanist, that is, a follower of Montanus, A.D. 171, who “began to teach the necessity of new inspiration to quicken the decaying life of the Church.” Montanus taught fasting, self-control, and purity of life after baptism. Tertullian opposed Marcion the Gnostic heretic and wrote five books refuting his heresies. Tertullian wrote his great work against Marcion in A.D. 207; and in it he invites Marcion to produce evidence of the gifts of the Holy Spirit being manifested among his followers as they were among Tertullian's Christians. “Let him exhibit prophets such have spoken, not by human sense, but with the Spirit God, such as have predicted things to come, and have made manifest the secrets of the heart; let him produce a psalm, a vision, a prayer, only let it be by the Spirit in an ecstasy, that is in a rapture, whenever an interpretation of tongues has occurred to him.”
Tertullian said that in the name of Jesus miracles had occurred throughout the Roman Empire, and had produced many converts in spite of the persecutions. He said in his time, about 200 A.D., that the Christians in a single province were more numerous than the Roman army. Some estimate that this means there were at least nine million Christians in the Roman Empire. Some historians say this estimate by Tertullian is conservative, they calculate that Christians comprised as many as one in six, or even one in five, of the population.
ORIGEN. A.D. 185 to 254.
In defending Christianity from the attacks of Celsus, an arch opponent of Christianity; Origen tells how he had seen with his own eyes the healing of grievous diseases and the insane by invocation of the name of God and Jesus, he states in, “Against Celsus.” 3.24. “And some give evidence of having received, through their faith, a marvellous power, by the cures which they perform, invoking no other name over those who need their help than that of the God of all things, and of Jesus, along with mention of his history. For we too HAVE SEEN many persons freed by these means, from grievous calamities and from distractions of mind and from madness and from countless other ills which could not be cured either by men or devils.”
ANTHONY. Of the Thebaid in Egypt. A.D. 251 to 356.
Anthony has been called the father of monasticism, he went from Alexandria into the Thebaid in Egypt, and organised a community from scattered companies of recluses. They called the community Coenobia, from “koinos bios,” “a life in common;” and as a result were called Coenobites. They bound themselves by a vow of poverty, chastity, and manual labour for the common good. This was in sharp contrast to the wealth that Anthony gave up for this life of prayer. Anthony became well known for his healing ministry, and also experienced bilocation. After nearly killing himself with too much fasting and prayer in his early life, Anthony lived to the great age of 105.
Anthony was born in A.D. 251 and died at the age of 105 in A.D. 356. He was a comparatively illiterate man, who rose to a great heights of spiritual wisdom and power, which was sustained by long periods of solitary communion with God. Anthony's spirituality made him of far more use to God than the highly educated churchmen of his day. In his earlier years, Anthony led such a rigorous ascetic life that his health was badly impaired and he almost died. He later realised that God requires a relationship of love more than anything else, however, he still kept up a disciplined life. Anthony was frequently used by God to heal the sick, but he always pointed people from himself to God, and said it was the work of God alone. Anthony inspired the rise of other monastic settlements; the largest being formed by Pachomius at Tabennae, an island on the Nile; when Athanasius visited it, 3,000 monks singing hymns and litanies greeted him.
The monasteries were centres of learning and scholarship, and some valuable work was done in them. Jerome spent many years in a cell at Bethlehem preparing for the translation of the Latin Vulgate; and Athanasius wrote his works against the Arians while hiding with Anthony and his monks in their monastery in the Thebaid desert. Many Christian leaders received their training in the monasteries. Unfortunately the monks often suffered mental breakdowns, partly through the heat, but mostly through loneliness; for though they lived in community, their ascetic lives and the solitude of their cells brought about morbid fears, hallucinations, and in some cases mental derangement and lunacy. The concentration upon their own spiritual improvement tended to produce the evils of spiritual pride and self-righteousness. Concern and care for other people's spiritual welfare is the way to true humility and spiritual growth.
The Historian Neander, wrote of Anthony: “He could easily have acquired the fame of being a worker of miracles, since many, particularly of those who were thought to be possessed of evil spirits, were indebted to his prayers and to the impression of tranquillity and peace which went forth from him.... But he pointed those who applied to him for help, or had been indebted to him for it, away from himself to God and Christ.... They were to know that the power of healing belonged neither to him nor to any other man, but was the work of God alone, who wrought it when and for whom He pleased.”
CHRYSOSTOM, THE GOLDEN MOUTHED. A.D. 345 to 407.
Chrysostom was famed for his eloquence and spirituality, he was the greatest of the Antiochian school, and the finest orator of the Eastern Church, and a notable expositor; about 640 of his homilies are still extant. Chrysostom is by general consent the greatest of the bishops of Constantinople. His father Secundus was a general in the imperial army, who had considerable wealth, but he died while Chrysostom was an infant. Chrysostom's young widowed mother, Anthusa, trained him in Christian things. Chrysostom was placed under the tuition of the pagan orator Libanus, in his training for the legal profession; however, the corruption of the legal profession and the profligacy of the city disgusted him, so he returned home and turned to Christian things. John still carried on with his secular career, however, after a three-year probation he was received into the Church. A fellow student called Basil tried to get John to enter a monastery, but his mother persuaded him not to do so; however, when she died he entered a monastery and stayed there for six years. In A.D. 381, John was ordained a deacon, and in A.D. 386, he became a presbyter at Antioch. When Nectarius the patriarch of Constantinople died, Chrysostom was ordained in his place. John led a simple abstemious life, and Church revenues were spent on charity, not luxury.
The Empress Eudoxia and worldly-minded clergy violently opposed Chrysostom. The charged him with being a follower of Origen, and he was banished from office; but was quickly recalled as an earthquake made Eudoxia fear. John soon offended the Empress again and he was banished to Cucusus, a village in the Tauros, on the borders of Cilicia and Armenia. John's great work continued, though isolated his fame spread far and wide, by letters and the planning of missions. Gibbon says, “Every tongue repeated the praises of his genius and virtue, and the respectful attention of the Christian world was fixed on a desert spot in the mountains of Tauros.” John's opponents were again moved with jealousy and anger, they got John banished to the wild and desolate region of Pityrus in Pontus. The journey killed John; he died at Comana, some distance short of his goal, on Sept. 14th. A.D. 407. Thirty years later Chrysostom's bones were brought to Constantinople in honour. Emperor Theodosius the younger, publicly asked God to forgive the sin of his parents, Theodosius and Eudoxia.
In his “Libra Contra Gentiles” Chrysostom states that the greater works promised by Jesus in Jn.14v12., were fulfilled in the Acts of the Apostles, and then goes on to record that even the opponents of the Church recognised the miracles happening in his time. Chrysostom writes: “But if anyone should assert that those were mere smoke and a fictitious wonder unworthy of credit, let us view those of the present day, which are calculated both to stop and to put to shame the blaspheming mouth, and to check the unbridled tongue. For throughout our whole inhabitable world there is not a country or nation or a city where these wonders are not commonly spoken of, which, if figments, would never have occasioned so much admiration. And you yourselves indeed could testify to this. For we have no need to receive confirmations from others of what we assert, seeing that you yourselves, our opponents, supply us therewith.” End of quote.
It is sad that some Christian scholars have less historical integrity and faith than these heathen opponents of the Church.
LACTANTIUS. Of Nicomedia. Approx. A.D. 307 Apologies.
He wrote “Divine Institutions,” which attacked paganism and defended Christianity, probably in Diocletian’s reign. He was called in his old age to educate Crispus, the son of Constantine, and he dedicated several books to the Emperor. Lactantius wrote an unusual and remarkable work on the “Deaths of Persecutors,” which gave proofs for Christianity by showing the Divine judgements which fell on the enemies of Christianity from Tiberius onwards. So just as Herod was executed by God through the prayer of the Christians, judgement gifts took place during Church history too. Acts.12v1-23. N.B. v1,5,23.
AUGUSTINE. A.D. 354 to 430.
Emperor Constantine's “Edict of Toleration,” in A.D. 313, made the persecuted Christian Church an official religion of the Roman Empire. So hostility and violent persecution were suddenly replaced by worldly acclaim, wealth and influence. The Church, which had kept a great deal of its glow through the centuries of vicious persecution and suffering, began to backslide in the time of seductive prosperity and worldly acceptance. Three centuries of vicious persecution had forced the Church to pray in order to survive; when this pressure to pray was removed, the prayer life of the Church ebbed away.
The simple structure and close fellowship based on homes, that had caused the Church to survive almost three hundred years of persecution, was replaced by financially demanding buildings and organisational structures; which carried little of the fire and love, which had been the norm in the home fellowships, during the centuries of persecution. The minds of Christians became diverted from Christ, the Head of the Church, to the institutional structure of the Church, and the constraint to conform became part of the civil law. Augustine started the Church down the road that ended with the horrors of the inquisition, he taught that Christians could be beaten and whipped to force them to stay in the religious organisation. The emphasis had passed from looking for a kingdom in heaven, to making a structure and kingdom in the style of men, which had influence on earth. There was a gradual replacement of New Testament power and truth and evangelical doctrines, with ecclesiastical structures and kingdom building. Scriptural conformity began more and more to be replaced by man-made traditions, and lacking the guidance of both a spiritual glow and the Scriptures, Christians became gullible and superstitious. Once a religious system and kingdom have been built, it becomes self-propagating, even when God has little to do with it.
In about A.D. 390, Augustine wrote the following in his treatise, “On The True Religion,” “For when the Catholic Church had been diffused and established through the whole world, those miracles were no longer permitted to continue in our time, lest the mind should always seek visible things, and the human race should be chilled by the customariness of the very things whose novelty had inflamed them.”
This was written about four or five years after Augustine's conversion, and it could be that the young convert accepted and quoted the views of some of the spiritual leaders around him. However, shortly before his death in A.D. 430, Augustine admitted that he had not told the truth, and in His work, “Retractions;” 1.13.7.; he retracted what he had written in, “On The True Religion,” and stated that even when he wrote it, he had known of a blind man being healed in Milan, and other miracles. What integrity! It was a good thing that he repented and decided to tell the truth. Some 37 years after writing, “On The True Religion,” Augustine wrote at length, in about A.D. 427, about miracles taking place in his day; he states in, “The City of God,” Book 22, chapter 8: “Even now miracles are wrought in the name of Christ ... but they are not so brilliant and conspicuous as to cause them to be published with such glory as accompanied the former miracles.”
In other words miracles were still happening, but not in the abundance, or in the power of the early Church. Augustine goes on to tell of a miracle at Carthage; he relates how Innocentius, an ex-advocate of the deputy prefect was healed, in answer to fervent prayer, of an inflamed fistula; Augustine states it completely disappeared, “in my presence and under my own eyes.” Augustine then tells how a woman, who had an inoperable cancer of the breast, was told in a dream by the Lord to ask the first woman who came out of the baptistry at Easter to make the sign of Christ upon the cancer; the woman did as the Lord instructed her and was immediately healed. Augustine gives two cases of healing at baptism. He tells of a Doctor who was instantly and permanently healed of gout at baptism; and that “an old comedian of Curubis was cured at baptism, not only of paralysis but also of hernia.” Augustine continues recounting miracles and then states: “What am I to do? I am so pressed by the promise of finishing this work that I cannot record all the miracles I know; and doubtless several of our adherents, when they read what I have narrated, will regret that I have omitted so many which they, as well as I, certainly know.”
This shows that even at the start of the spiritual decline in Augustine's day, miracles were still taking place. Healings by means of relics that Augustine and others relate, do have a question mark over them. However, the healing of two blind people through the bones of the martyrs, was witnessed by too many people to be rejected as false, and we should remember that Elisha’s bones raised a man from the dead; showing us that this kind of miracle, can and does take place. 2Kings.13v20,21. It is also difficult to rule out people being healed through water, when John's Gospel records that the first person who stepped into the pool of Bethesda, after an angel troubled the water, was healed of whatever disease they had. Jn.5v1-7. N.B. v4. Let us not limit the Holy One of Israel. Ps.78v41. However, healing by such means as Elisha's bones and the pool of Bethesda are the rare exception and not the rule, and are certainly not God's ideal method of working, but rather an indication of a state of unbelief. A person full of the Holy Spirit is God's best means of manifesting healing and the other gifts of the Spirit. Backsliding from God replaces personal faith, truth and Scripture patterns with superstition.
We will not consider here how Augustine corrupted Paul's theology, and the disastrous effects of his new theology on the doctrine and faith of the Church. We will just state, that Satan found it easy to corrupt Augustine's theology because of the bias to evil produced by his former licentious life, and his involvement and fascination with various false doctrines before he became a Christian; and also by his desire to obtain and retain influence and power for his church structure and himself.
C
The manifestation of spiritual gifts in Church history
Part 3
A. J. GORDON.
Gordon states in his book on healing, that the early Church Fathers testified that miracles continued long after the apostolic age. He writes “The weight of these and like testimonies is so generally acknowledged by Church Historians that it seems little less than hardihood for scholars to go on repeating the well-worn saying, 'The age of miracles ended with the Apostles.'“
THE ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA.
States that speaking in tongues, “recurs in Christian revivals of every age, e.g. among the mendicant friars of the thirteenth century, among the Jansenists, the early Quakers, the converts of Wesley and Whitfield, the persecuted Protestants of the Cevennes, the Irvingites, and the revivalists of Wales and America.”
PHILIP SCHAFF. Historian
Schaff proves in his “History of the Christian Church,” Vol. 1 page 237 of the 1882 edition, that the phenomenon of speaking with tongues reappeared between the years 1419 to 1882 during times of religious revival: “Among the Camisards and the prophets of the Cevennes in France, among the early Quakers and Methodists, the Readers (the followers of Lasare) in Sweden in 1841 to 1843, in the Irish revivals of 1859, and especially in the “Catholic Apostolic Church,” commonly called Irvingites, from 1831 to 1833, and even to this day.” Schaff says of Vincent Ferrar, who died in 1419; “Spondamus and many others say, this saint was honoured with the gift of tongues.” Schaff tells us that Francis Xavier, who died in 1552, “Is said to have made himself understood by the Hindus without knowing their language.”
SOUER. The German Historian.
Souer writes on page 406 of the 3rd volume of his “History of the Christian Church,” that Martin Luther experienced the gifts of the Holy Spirit: “Dr. Martin Luther was a prophet, evangelist, speaker in tongues and interpreter, in one person, endowed with all the gifts of the Holy Spirit.”
DR. HORACE BUSHNELL. In his "Nature and the Supernatural," writes on page 324:
“Descending now to the times we call modern, the times, for example, subsequent to the reformation, nothing is easier, exactly contrary impression, than to show that the same kind of prodigies are current here, in the last three, as in the first three centuries of the Church. Whoever has read that classic “The Scots Worthies,” has followed a stream of prophecies, and healings, and visible judgements, and specific answers to prayer, and discernment of spirits, corresponding at all points with the gifts and wonders of the apostolic age.”
THE REV. R. BOYD, D.D..
D.L. Moody said, “I believe Pentecost was but a specimen day.” The Rev. R. Boyd, writes in, “Trials and Triumphs of Faith;” how his close friend, D.L. Moody, had spiritual gifts in his meetings.
“When I (a Y.M.C.A. member) got to the rooms of the “Young Men's Christian Association” (Victoria Hall, London), I found the meetings 'on fire.' The young men were speaking with tongues, prophesying. What on earth did it mean? Only that Moody had been addressing them that afternoon! What manner of man is this? thought I, but still I did not give him my hand....Many of the clergy were so opposed to the movement that they turned their backs upon our poor, innocent “Young Men's Christian Association” for the part we took in the work; but afterwards when the flood-gates of Divine grace were opened, Sunderland, (near London), was taken by storm. I cannot describe Moody's great meeting: I can only say that the people of Sunderland warmly supported the movement, in spite of their local spiritual advisers.”
GENERAL WILLIAM BOOTH. Said of the miraculous gifts of the early Church:
“There is not a word in the Bible which proves that we may not have them at the present time.”
MRS BAXTER. Of "Christian Herald" fame.
Mrs Baxter experienced some outstanding operations of the gifts of the Holy Spirit; she writes:
“We can never be judges as to whether any of the gifts of the Blessed Spirit can or cannot be dispensed with in His working. There are some who think and say that the Holy Spirit's workings in the way of physical healing, or in the gift of tongues, is not needed in our day: and that His working in wisdom and knowledge alone is necessary. Let God be the judge: He hath set the members every one in the body as it hath pleased Him, and it is the workman who must judge what tools His work requires; the Head must judge with what member He can carry out His purposes.” Christian Herald, May 12th. 1910.
Around 1885 God enabled Mrs. Baxter to preach for 35 minutes in German, a language she was almost unfamiliar with, she said, “After that He led me to speak almost every day, and often twice a day to hundreds of people, although when I went into a shop I could not make myself understood, nor could I understand the people.”
We thank God for the inspiration of God's saints in Church History who have manifested God's power and love through His mighty gifts. We could go on and give many other instances of the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in Church History. Church History records that Pachomius, Thomas Walsh, John Welch, Charles Finney, Evan Roberts, and multitudes of others have known the blessing and inspiration of the gift of tongues, and other manifestations of the wonderful gifts of the Holy Spirit.
THE MULTITUDES OF MODERN DAY MIRACLES.
The number of miracles which has taken place in modern days is absolutely remarkable. The raising from the dead of people who have been certified dead by doctors has occurred in the ministries of Wigglesworth, Branham and others. There is the remarkable case of Dorothy Kerin, who our Lord brought back from death; she had been a hopeless bed-fast invalid for five years and had then died, but at Christ's touch, Dorothy instantly became a healthy girl, and two stones heavier overnight; this is a fact that cannot be denied. The equally remarkable healing of Agnes Hancock of Parkinson's disease, and her increase of almost four stone in weight in about ten minutes is also beyond dispute and confirmed by medical evidence.
The Betty Baxter story is equally glorious, a dreadful cripple with multiple serious sicknesses, bowed over in a C shape with lumps all down her spine, was completely healed personally by Jesus in less than half a minute. Glory to God! God is not “The Great Has Been,” He is still “The Great I Am,” who still works signs, wonders and miracles.
CONCLUSION.
The following facts are abundantly clear.
1. Spiritual gifts were manifested by most Christians in the early Church and not just by apostles, and independently of the apostles, as in the churches at Rome and Colosse, neither of which was founded by an apostle.
2. Spiritual gifts and the baptism in the Spirit were communicated to others by Christians who were not apostles, as in Acts.9v10-19., when Ananias laid hands on Paul.
3. Those who have honestly examined Church History have found incontrovertible evidence to show that spiritual gifts and healings have continued throughout Church History, and have been manifested very powerfully in times of revival, when the Church has prayed diligently and expected God to fulfil His Word. Time would fail us to tell of the miracles that took place in answer to prayer in the experiences of Luther, the Waldenses, Moravians, Huguenots, Covenanters, Quakers, Baptists, Methodists, Anglicans, Pentecostals, and many others. People who would die, and did die, rather than lie; the shed blood of the martyrs, witnesses to the truth of their testimonies. There is an abundance of proof for those who have ears to hear, those who fail to hear have closed their ears to God. Mt.13v10-17. N.B. v15.
The Baptism And Gifts Of The Holy Spirit
Part 3
A. J. GORDON.
Gordon states in his book on healing, that the early Church Fathers testified that miracles continued long after the apostolic age. He writes “The weight of these and like testimonies is so generally acknowledged by Church Historians that it seems little less than hardihood for scholars to go on repeating the well-worn saying, 'The age of miracles ended with the Apostles.'“
THE ENCYCLOPAEDIA BRITANNICA.
States that speaking in tongues, “recurs in Christian revivals of every age, e.g. among the mendicant friars of the thirteenth century, among the Jansenists, the early Quakers, the converts of Wesley and Whitfield, the persecuted Protestants of the Cevennes, the Irvingites, and the revivalists of Wales and America.”
PHILIP SCHAFF. Historian
Schaff proves in his “History of the Christian Church,” Vol. 1 page 237 of the 1882 edition, that the phenomenon of speaking with tongues reappeared between the years 1419 to 1882 during times of religious revival: “Among the Camisards and the prophets of the Cevennes in France, among the early Quakers and Methodists, the Readers (the followers of Lasare) in Sweden in 1841 to 1843, in the Irish revivals of 1859, and especially in the “Catholic Apostolic Church,” commonly called Irvingites, from 1831 to 1833, and even to this day.” Schaff says of Vincent Ferrar, who died in 1419; “Spondamus and many others say, this saint was honoured with the gift of tongues.” Schaff tells us that Francis Xavier, who died in 1552, “Is said to have made himself understood by the Hindus without knowing their language.”
SOUER. The German Historian.
Souer writes on page 406 of the 3rd volume of his “History of the Christian Church,” that Martin Luther experienced the gifts of the Holy Spirit: “Dr. Martin Luther was a prophet, evangelist, speaker in tongues and interpreter, in one person, endowed with all the gifts of the Holy Spirit.”
DR. HORACE BUSHNELL. In his "Nature and the Supernatural," writes on page 324:
“Descending now to the times we call modern, the times, for example, subsequent to the reformation, nothing is easier, exactly contrary impression, than to show that the same kind of prodigies are current here, in the last three, as in the first three centuries of the Church. Whoever has read that classic “The Scots Worthies,” has followed a stream of prophecies, and healings, and visible judgements, and specific answers to prayer, and discernment of spirits, corresponding at all points with the gifts and wonders of the apostolic age.”
THE REV. R. BOYD, D.D..
D.L. Moody said, “I believe Pentecost was but a specimen day.” The Rev. R. Boyd, writes in, “Trials and Triumphs of Faith;” how his close friend, D.L. Moody, had spiritual gifts in his meetings.
“When I (a Y.M.C.A. member) got to the rooms of the “Young Men's Christian Association” (Victoria Hall, London), I found the meetings 'on fire.' The young men were speaking with tongues, prophesying. What on earth did it mean? Only that Moody had been addressing them that afternoon! What manner of man is this? thought I, but still I did not give him my hand....Many of the clergy were so opposed to the movement that they turned their backs upon our poor, innocent “Young Men's Christian Association” for the part we took in the work; but afterwards when the flood-gates of Divine grace were opened, Sunderland, (near London), was taken by storm. I cannot describe Moody's great meeting: I can only say that the people of Sunderland warmly supported the movement, in spite of their local spiritual advisers.”
GENERAL WILLIAM BOOTH. Said of the miraculous gifts of the early Church:
“There is not a word in the Bible which proves that we may not have them at the present time.”
MRS BAXTER. Of "Christian Herald" fame.
Mrs Baxter experienced some outstanding operations of the gifts of the Holy Spirit; she writes:
“We can never be judges as to whether any of the gifts of the Blessed Spirit can or cannot be dispensed with in His working. There are some who think and say that the Holy Spirit's workings in the way of physical healing, or in the gift of tongues, is not needed in our day: and that His working in wisdom and knowledge alone is necessary. Let God be the judge: He hath set the members every one in the body as it hath pleased Him, and it is the workman who must judge what tools His work requires; the Head must judge with what member He can carry out His purposes.” Christian Herald, May 12th. 1910.
Around 1885 God enabled Mrs. Baxter to preach for 35 minutes in German, a language she was almost unfamiliar with, she said, “After that He led me to speak almost every day, and often twice a day to hundreds of people, although when I went into a shop I could not make myself understood, nor could I understand the people.”
We thank God for the inspiration of God's saints in Church History who have manifested God's power and love through His mighty gifts. We could go on and give many other instances of the manifestation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in Church History. Church History records that Pachomius, Thomas Walsh, John Welch, Charles Finney, Evan Roberts, and multitudes of others have known the blessing and inspiration of the gift of tongues, and other manifestations of the wonderful gifts of the Holy Spirit.
THE MULTITUDES OF MODERN DAY MIRACLES.
The number of miracles which has taken place in modern days is absolutely remarkable. The raising from the dead of people who have been certified dead by doctors has occurred in the ministries of Wigglesworth, Branham and others. There is the remarkable case of Dorothy Kerin, who our Lord brought back from death; she had been a hopeless bed-fast invalid for five years and had then died, but at Christ's touch, Dorothy instantly became a healthy girl, and two stones heavier overnight; this is a fact that cannot be denied. The equally remarkable healing of Agnes Hancock of Parkinson's disease, and her increase of almost four stone in weight in about ten minutes is also beyond dispute and confirmed by medical evidence.
The Betty Baxter story is equally glorious, a dreadful cripple with multiple serious sicknesses, bowed over in a C shape with lumps all down her spine, was completely healed personally by Jesus in less than half a minute. Glory to God! God is not “The Great Has Been,” He is still “The Great I Am,” who still works signs, wonders and miracles.
CONCLUSION.
The following facts are abundantly clear.
1. Spiritual gifts were manifested by most Christians in the early Church and not just by apostles, and independently of the apostles, as in the churches at Rome and Colosse, neither of which was founded by an apostle.
2. Spiritual gifts and the baptism in the Spirit were communicated to others by Christians who were not apostles, as in Acts.9v10-19., when Ananias laid hands on Paul.
3. Those who have honestly examined Church History have found incontrovertible evidence to show that spiritual gifts and healings have continued throughout Church History, and have been manifested very powerfully in times of revival, when the Church has prayed diligently and expected God to fulfil His Word. Time would fail us to tell of the miracles that took place in answer to prayer in the experiences of Luther, the Waldenses, Moravians, Huguenots, Covenanters, Quakers, Baptists, Methodists, Anglicans, Pentecostals, and many others. People who would die, and did die, rather than lie; the shed blood of the martyrs, witnesses to the truth of their testimonies. There is an abundance of proof for those who have ears to hear, those who fail to hear have closed their ears to God. Mt.13v10-17. N.B. v15.
The Baptism And Gifts Of The Holy Spirit