“fail” “Cease” “Vanish Away” - 1 Cor. 13:8

What Is A Miracle ? “act of God superseding or suspending a natural law” Sign an event that is contrary to the usual course of nature Luke 23:8 “hoped to have seen some miracle” Power might, strength, force = power of performing miracles A miracle is an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs!

Examples of A Miracle Creation - Genesis 1&2 Rod made a serpent - Ex. 4:3 Ex. 7:10 Water from Rock - Ex. 17:6 Lame man cured - Acts 3:7 Tabitha raised from dead - Acts 9:36-43 Miracles of Jesus - 37 John 2 - water to wine Matt. 8 - stilling the storm Matt feeding the 5,000

Purpose of Miracles To reveal the truth John 16:7 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.” John 14:26 “But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.” John 16:13 “guide you into all truth”

Revealed the truth Inspiration of God = 2 Tim. 3:16 Truth has been delivered once for all time “Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write unto you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints.” Jude 3 asv

Purpose of Miracles To Confirm the truth Mark 16:17-20 v. 20 “And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.” To Establish the Deity of Christ John 10:25 “they bear witness of me” To Produce Faith John 11:45 “Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.”

Duration of Miracles Temporary or Permanent ? 1 Cor. 13:8 “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” Fail = render idle, to do away with, abolish Cease = to leave off Vanish away = be done away

Duration of Miracles 1 Corinthians 13:9-10 “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.” “But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.” Part = “partially” they knew a part of God’s revelation Perfect = “finished” “Complete” - Mature, full grown The Complete revelation of God’s will

Duration of Miracles Eph. 4:11-14 “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”

Human race - created Adam and Eve = Reproduce Gospel age started with Miracles Completion of written word Miracles no longer needed Scaffolding is only temporary - finished - removed When the New Testament was completed then the miracles were removed !

Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga Sunday Evening April 21, 2013