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TheBibleTRUTH -> RE: Question About Healing (7/13/2008 6:43:35 PM)
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The problem with this is that the verse they used to try and prove that miracles no longer happen does not mean that at all. I'll quote an excerpt from your first article; "Paul wrote when the "perfect" comes, the "in part" will be done away (1 Cor. 13:8-12). In this passage, the "perfect" is contrasted to the "in part." The "in part" is named as tongues, knowledge and prophesy — all having to do with revelation. The "perfect" or the mature, then must be the completed revelation of God. When God completed His revelation to man, the "in part" would "fail," "cease," and "vanish away." To drive this home, Paul used three illustrations of growing to maturity — the child becoming a man, from a mirror to "face to face," and partly known to fully known. Now here is the point: Since we have the complete revelation of God, then we no longer need the "in part," that is, the miracles used to confirm the word. " The context of these verses does not imply any sort of miracles being the "in part". There is also no substantiation for, "...all having to do with revelation. The "perfect" or the mature, then must be the completed revelation of God. When God completed His revelation to man, the 'in part' would 'fail,' 'cease,' and 'vanish away.'" What this is, is just an interpretation of someone trying to figure out what it meant but not really understanding it completely. Don't worry, I know what it means and I will show you. ------------- I want to start out by mentioning the context of chapters 12,13, and 14 in I Corinthians. These are the three chapters outlining the manifestations of the your spirit. Talking about the manifestation of tongues, prophecy, tongues with interpretation, healing, miracles, believing, discernment of spirits, word of knowledge, and word of wisdom. Chapter 12 introduces and describes these to us so that we wouldn't be ignorant of them. Chapter 13 is talking about love. Because everything you do must be in love, if you try to work these manifestations without love you are doing it incorrectly. So just keep in mind that these three chapters are all about the manifestations of the spirit while I introduce more ideas. Now I want to specifically focus on some verses surrounding the one he used to try and substantiate his claim that miracles no longer happen. I Corinthians 13:9-12 9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10) But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11) When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12) For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. In order to make sense of what these 4 verses mean you have to focus on verse 12 first. I Corinthians 13:12 12) For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. What helps you to notice what the context of these verses are is the "face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as I am known." What this is talking about is knowing God face to face and once we get to heaven he will know even as he knows us. The two times the word "know" is used in verse 12, it's the Greek word, "genosko." That word means to know by experience. Like if you have painted all your life you genosko how to paint, etc. The word "known" in verse 12 is the Greek word "epigenosko" which means fully and precisely having all experiential knowledge. This epigenosko is used here to refer to God's knowledge of us right now. Luke 12:6-7 6) Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? 7) But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows. God is capable of knowing every single one of us on a personal level to an extent that is not even fathomable from any point of our human mind. To know billions and billions of people to the point where every hair on their head is numbered is something that we cannot do. Only our great God can pull it off. Ephesians 3:20 20) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Is pretty obvious that God's abilities are much greater and higher than ours. There is also a verse that says God has made foolish the wisdom of the World. Paul talks about how he will know even as he is known. What that has to mean is that once he gets to heaven and he gets his new spiritual body he will be able to fully and precisely experientially know God like God knows him. So the context of these verse must be about when we get to heaven. I also want to focus on the "face to face" part. Because that's the greatest benefit of getting to heaven, to see our loving father, and creator face to face. Psalm 17:14-15 14) From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes. 15) As for me, I will behold thy (God's) face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. Matthew 5:8 8) Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. John 1:18a 18a) No man hath seen God at any time; I John 4:12 12) No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfect in us. This "face to face" must be refer to seeing God face to face in heaven. And when you put this together with the last part of verse 12 that says, "but then I shall know even as I am known." And you can see the two words "but" separate the time between the "in part" and how when we get to heaven we will know even as we are known. So this verse is talking about how now we know "in part" and later once we get to heaven we will epigenosko (fully and precisely experientially know) God like God knows us. Whew! That was a lot of stuff. Now lets tie this into some of the other verses of the 4 I mentioned. It starts to get a little confusing here so make sure you read and pay attention to what I am saying. This isn't something that gets talked about or taught often. Remember to always go to God and ask him to teach you and show you the truth. I Corinthians 13:9 states that now we know in part and prophesy in part. Now if you remember that the context of the three chapters, I Corinthians 12,13, and 14, is about the manifestations of the spirit. And when you tie this verse 9 into talking about the manifestations you will see that the nine manifestations of the spirit are what we know in part. In order to begin I have to go to a few verses in Ephesians. Ephesians 1:13-14 13) In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14) Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. This word earnest in verse 14 can be translated as "token." So the holy spirit is a token of our inheritance in heaven. Once we inherit our perfection and are with God in heaven for eternity, we no longer need the manifestations of the spirit. So right now we know in part with the token of our inheritance. But eventually we will be perfect in heaven and no longer need them. Verse 10 also supports this: I Corinthians 13:10 10) But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. Now we both know that there is nothing perfect is on Earth. This cannot mean the completed revelation of God because of the context of the verses and what I've already explained. But I will show you that "that which is perfect is come" is talking about our new spiritual bodies once we get to heaven. Philippians 3:20-21 20) For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21) Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. Once we get to heaven we will have our new, perfect, glorious body. We will no longer need the nine manifestations of the spirit and we will fully and precisely experientially know God like he knows us. Verse 11 states how once we get to heaven we will be able to put away the nine manifestations (childish things compared to God's power for us in heaven). ----- That's it... that's what that section of scripture means. It really doesn't have anything to do with how miracles no longer happen. Teaching that principle based on those scriptures is erroneous and inaccurate. Miracles indeed still do happen. The problem is that most people do not believe that they do so they don't come to pass. You have to claim your sonship rights and stand on God's promises and expect them to happen. Once you do atleast one miracle a day is not uncommon. I know this is long and probably confusing, but it's the truth. Go to God and ask him to clarify for you and to help you understand. It's not me teaching this to you, but God. God Bless
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