Does God work miracles today? with Mark Snoeberger

Summary

In this episode of Theologically Driven, Dr. Snowberger discusses cessationism and continuationism, exploring the ongoing debate about whether miracles occur today. He explains the distinction between miraculous and ordinary gifts, arguing that miracles in the Bible served as signs to authenticate God’s message through apostles, a role no longer in existence today. While God still works spiritually through regeneration, Dr. Snowberger argues that physical, undeniable miracles are no longer expected in the current age, as the purpose of miracles was fulfilled with the completion of Scripture.

Takeaways

• 😀 Cessationism vs Continuationism: The debate centers on whether miraculous gifts, like healing and prophecy, continue today or ceased after the apostolic era.
• 😀 Miracles in the Bible were primarily signs to authenticate the apostles and their message, validating their authority as spokesmen for God.
• 😀 Cessationists argue that since apostles are no longer present, the miraculous gifts that affirmed their authority, such as prophecy and healing, have ceased.
• 😀 The distinction between ordinary gifts and miraculous gifts is that miracles involve direct supernatural interventions by God, whereas ordinary gifts operate through natural means.
• 😀 Miracles serve a different purpose in Scripture, particularly as visible, undeniable signs to authenticate the divine message, contrasting with today's private, invisible healings.
• 😀 Some pushback against cessationism comes from the belief that while miraculous gifts may have ceased, God still performs miracles, especially in the spiritual realm (e.g., regeneration).
• 😀 The phrase 'you can't put God in a box' is often used to suggest that God's actions, including miracles, are not limited by human definitions, but systematic theology seeks to understand the boundaries God sets for Himself.
• 😀 Cessationists argue that God’s revealed purposes and the completion of the Scripture have removed the need for miraculous signs today.
• 😀 Paul’s example of leaving companions sick and the fact that he couldn’t heal on demand suggests that miracles in the New Testament were not performed arbitrarily, but for specific divine purposes.
• 😀 Miracles that occur today, such as spontaneous healing, are often considered invisible miracles and are harder to verify, unlike the visible, public miracles described in the Bible.

Q & A

What is the primary debate between cessationism and continuationism in the context of miraculous gifts?

The debate centers around whether miraculous gifts, such as healing and speaking in tongues, continue to be in operation today. Cessationism argues that these gifts ceased after the apostolic age, while continuationism maintains that they are still available to Christians today.

What is a 'hyper-cessationist' and how does it relate to the broader cessationism debate?

A 'hyper-cessationist' is a term used to describe someone who believes that not only the miraculous gifts but also all supernatural works (such as God's intervention in the world today) have ceased. This is a more extreme view compared to traditional cessationism, which allows for God's providential actions but denies miraculous gifts.

How does Dr. Snowberger define the difference between a miracle and providence?

Dr. Snowberger explains that a miracle is a direct, supernatural intervention by God into the natural world, whereas providence refers to God's use of natural means and ordinary processes to achieve His purposes.

Can you provide an example of a miraculous gift versus an ordinary gift in the context of church ministry?

An example of a miraculous gift would be prophecy, where God directly speaks through a person without their conscious effort or use of ordinary means. In contrast, a preacher preparing and delivering a sermon using study, resources, and knowledge is using ordinary gifts, relying on natural means for communication.

What does Dr. Snowberger say about the purpose of sign gifts in the New Testament?

Dr. Snowberger points out that sign gifts, such as healing and miracles, were used primarily to authenticate the apostles' authority and message, confirming that they were genuine spokespeople of God during the establishment of the church.

Why does Dr. Snowberger argue that miracles are no longer necessary today?

He argues that miracles were necessary in the apostolic age to authenticate the gospel message, but now that the canon of Scripture is complete and the church is established, these miracles are no longer required to confirm truth.

What does 1 Corinthians 13:9-10 imply about the cessation of miraculous gifts?

In 1 Corinthians 13:9-10, Paul indicates that the partial knowledge and gifts will cease when 'the perfect' comes. Some argue that 'the perfect' refers to the completion of the Bible, while others interpret it as the second coming of Christ. This has led to debate on when and why miraculous gifts ceased.

How does Dr. Snowberger distinguish between spiritual and natural miracles?

Dr. Snowberger makes a distinction by suggesting that spiritual miracles, like regeneration (the act of God bringing someone from spiritual death to life), are ongoing, whereas natural miracles, involving supernatural changes in the physical world, are no longer occurring in the same way they did in the apostolic age.

Why does Dr. Snowberger believe that the contemporary practice of praying for miracles is not aligned with biblical miracles?

He argues that contemporary prayers for healing or other miracles often do not result in the dramatic, undeniable signs seen in the New Testament. Miracles in the Bible were meant to be visible and public, not private or difficult to verify, as often seen in modern examples.

Should Christians pray for healing today, and if so, how should they approach it?

Yes, Christians should pray for healing, as James 5 affirms that the prayer of the righteous can heal the sick. However, Dr. Snowberger cautions against expecting miracles. Instead, prayer should be seen as part of God's providence, working in conjunction with natural means like medical treatment.