Proclaiming the gospel, then and now

[John Zain]

.
.
.
please see post #2
.
.
.

 

[John Zain]

In the NT period, how was evangelizing done?
The gospel was preached by word of mouth.
And it seems this was usually (always?) accompanied by signs and wonders.

“And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them,
and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.” (Mark 16:20)

“… (the gospel message) was confirmed to us by those who heard Him (Jesus),
God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles,
and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will” (Hebrews 2:3-4)

The new believers joined churches where they received more word-of-mouth training.

Today, how is evangelizing done?
The gospel is preached by word of mouth.
Pentecostals/Charismatics, here and abroad, do their best to preach the gospel with signs and wonders.

In these meetings, people don’t become believers by reading gospel tracts or NTs.
They respond to the spoken word and the confirming signs, as in NT times.
The new believers join churches where they receive more word-of-mouth training,
and also written materials, which help them grow.

Today, when evangelists preach the gospel …
how does them having the completed canon of Scripture change anything?
The preaching and the saving is all done verbally.

Why should evangelists no longer desire the benefit of confirming signs and wonders?

Why would the Lord want to change His tried-and-true method of evangelizing?

Those of you who are cessaniansts, please explain this to me.

 

[Agape]

“… (the gospel message) was confirmed to us by those who heard Him (Jesus),
God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles,
and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will†(Hebrews 1:3-4)

That's not what Hebrews 1:3-4 says. Maybe you meant Hebrews 2:3-4?

 

[smaller]

Luke 11:29
And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.

The 'first miracle' is repentance. But seldom seen that way.

Luke 15:7
I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Luke 15:10
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

Sign seeking can be a dangerous activity and that will lead to all kinds of nonsense. One may not have perceived any 'signs' at a Billy Graham proclamation of the Gospel, but there were signs abundant right there to see.

There are signs that are seen, but the best signs are the ones unseen.

Jesus said that his followers would do 'greater things' than even He did. It's pretty hard to top raising the dead and casting out devils.

So, what avenue might one look to in these matters?

Phil. 2:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

2 Timothy 1:10
But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:


s

 

[John Zain]

Sign seeking can be a dangerous activity and that will lead to all kinds of nonsense.
One may not have perceived any 'signs' at a Billy Graham proclamation of the Gospel,
but there were signs abundant right there to see.

Jesus said that his followers would do 'greater things' than even He did.
It's pretty hard to top raising the dead and casting out devils.

Ahhhhh, Praise God, we have a live one here, folks!

We're not talking about "sign seeking", we're talking about expecting
God's signs to validate the gospel message ... as He did especially in NT times.

I thought everyone knew that Jesus was talking about greater in number, etc.

 

[smaller]

Ahhhhh, Praise God, we have a live one here, folks!

We're not talking about "sign seeking", we're talking about expecting
God's signs to validate the gospel message ... as He did especially in NT times.

I thought everyone knew that Jesus was talking about greater in number, etc.

I've had my fill of sign seekers who can not even see themselves and what they do.

Here is a SIGN for you. What kinds of signs do you think will be seen by church members who constantly strive to burn each others alive forever?

There is your SIGN.

enjoy it!

s

 

[wayseer]

In the NT period, how was evangelizing done?
The gospel was preached by word of mouth.
And it seems this was usually (always?) accompanied by signs and wonders.

I would suggest that for the 'majority' of the time the preaching of the word was NOT accompanied by signs and wonders. As it has been pointed out - it is a lazy and indolent generation that continually seeks a sign.

Besides, all the supposed 'signs and wonders' that accompanied present day so-call evangelist preaching iss bogus - more to do with the power of 'suggestion'. Today we have qualified medical specialists operating is regulated institutions called hospitals.

The 'sign' I look for is the turning away from sin towards God - and despite the televangelists and computer technology I see little change other then casual lip service to the wonder of God. Most churches are safe haven for the middle class coffee guzzling set who are more concerned with how their respective superannuation company is performing and disregarding the continuing burden they are putting on their kids and grandkids who will have to pay - eventually.

If the present so-called generation of mature Christians is indicative of the teachings of Jesus but cannot see the suffering they are placing on the following generations then I wonder what Christianity can possibly actually offer.

What are you 'expecting'?

 

[joep222]

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

 

[John Zain]

John 20:
30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples,
which are not written in this book;
31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

 

[BornAgain]

John 20:
30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples,
which are not written in this book;
31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

These "signs" were continually before the disciples during the Lord's public ministry and their evidential value was great. These "signs" included miraculous acts but were not limited to them; the term that Jesus said and did supportive of his divine mission and claims to deity.

The books of the gospel were not intended as duplicates. Each supplements the other. Many incidents in the life of the Lord are mentioned by one writer and omitted by another. Here, we learn that there were many matters occurring which were reported by none of the gospel writers. Only events were recorded as were necessary to achieve the purpose set out.

Faith, apart from obedience, is worthless James 2:20-26. Only as it leads to full acceptance of the Lord's will does it avail Gal 5:6 and John makes it clear that it is not at the point of faith that life comes but through it as one goes on to loving obedience to the Lord's commands Acts 10:34-35, John 1:11-12, 1 John 2:4, 1 John 5:3, Mark 16:16 Acts 2:38.

This life is "in His name is reached only through the means which He authorized. So here, near the end of the book John indicates the purpose by which he wrote: (1) to prove that Jesus is indeed the Christ and (2) to prompt those thus believing to seek the life eternal through him who alone can provide it.