How do Cessationists expect people to believe without seeing miracles today?

Question

Classical Cessationism asserts that the "sign gifts" such as prophecy, healing and speaking in tongues ceased with the apostles and the finishing of the canon of Scripture. They only served as launching pads for the spreading of the Gospel; as affirmations of God's revelation.

If those people who lived around Christ's time witnessed miracles, and thus believed in God after seeing miracles, how is it that we who are living in the present age are expected to believe in God if we don't see any miracles?

In the present day, why is it that we have to believe the humans, normal people who don't perform miracles, that preach the Gospel, that what they say is true? Isn't it "unfair" that we humans today have to believe on what other people preach without seeing any miracles, but people in Christ's time got to see miracles and thus it was easier to believe in God?

Answer 1

A cessationist belief is best understood by finding out why miracles and wonders were performed:

We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him. God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Hebrews 2:1-4, NIV)

Here we have the order. Salvation was first announced (i.e. the gospel), then God performed miracles to confirm and testify his approval of this new doctrine that was preached. More directly God's testimony did not only affirming the truth of what Christ and the Apostles preached, but was a heavenly vindication and seal of approval on their very persons and ministry as infallible guides on establishing the remaining canon of scriptures. Once these scriptures were completed, they became the final authority in all matters of church practice and Christian living. In fact the only reason why we believe miracles to have occurred is because the scriptures say so.

Now in the context of Hebrews the author is showing the differences and similarities between the Old Covenant and New Covenant. Although Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever, we find God never continuously performed miracles anywhere in the Bible, but only on occasions as he chose. Especially in the founding of each covenant, did he show many wondrous signs.

Looking back at what God did it seems reasonable. Miracles do not cause people to believe in God (eg. Pharaoh) but they do allow for mammoth shifts in Salvation history, taking people 'by storm' as it were. It should not be surprising then to see that God used:

some divine work to be established amongst men, by virtue of a new and never-before-heard-of revelation of God’s will, or a restoration of the same, when collapsed and corrupted by the sin of men. ... This we may see in Moses and (after Jesus Christ, anointed with the oil of gladness above his fellows to preach the gospel) the apostles. But this may pass, for nothing in such a way shall ever again take place, God having ultimately revealed his mind concerning his worship and our salvation, a curse being denounced to man or angel that shall pretend to revelation for the altering or changing one jot or tittle of the gospel. (John Owen's Works, Vol 13.31)

The facts that the Jews wickedly expected miraculous signs (Matth 16:4, 1 Cor 1:22) as though without which it might be considered 'unfair of God' to expect obedience to his word without them, may have partly been due to the history of miracles that God performed in establishing the Old Covenant. The parable of the rich man in hell talking to Abraham was one way in which Jesus tried to expose foolish human thinking that miracles were needed for faith:

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead. ’” (Luke 16:31, NIV)

A wicked expectation of miracles, is due to a want of belief in the power of scripture and the Holy Spirit's ability to convict men of sin and bring them into salvation thereby. Clearly this lack of faith and desire for miracles in carnally minded and to be loathed if any fear of God should properly quicken a man's soul from death.

This begs the question, if miracles do not cause faith, but only God's word does when believed, why do miracles 'confirm' God's word then? To answer we need too look at Moses or Christ and see the effects they had. When considering how difficult it would be for a person without God's power to arrest the attention of a large body of people and introduce to them a whole new practice of worship and doctrine, we can see the miracles helped just that. Even Pharaoh had to stop and give attention to Moses and question his own beliefs and decisions. Also in the life of Christ, his popularity helped spread his fame. Miracles simply overwhelm human opposition so that even those who hate God and who would never believe, they are yet arrested even if for a moment to allow God's changing of the course of history and establishing of his kingdom as he sees fit. They never were no ever have been God's regular mode of operation.

This leads us to the last question. Will God ever perform miracles again, not to bring in a new teaching as various cults demonically attempt and sometimes do, but to reform the church, if ever crushed under a mountain of sin? He did after Moses so why not after Christ? The again the prophets kept prophesying of Christ but after the book of revelations there is no more prophecy in terms of additional scripture. Still what about a possible future time? Although historical cessation views, such as the views of Luther and Calvin did not absolutely believe this could 'never occur', most have simply stated the facts that it has 'not occurred’. In fact the reformation, when one would have expected it, if it were to happen, did not include any miraculous signs. Having said this however it is recognized that the antichrist in the last days would pretend to perform miraculous wonders, so what is important for believers is to test anyone who claims to have extra ordinary miraculous gifts. If God ever does see fit to bring about a ‘restoration ministry’ that including miraculous signs (and we have no basis for assuming he must) both the miracles would be undeniable and the teaching fully biblical and believed throughout history. This has not occurred since the times of the Apostles as a matter of common sense and observation. After all, nobody ever denied Christ's miracles they were easy to believe. That is why they were provided. They did not deny his miracles, they denied him.

Do not believe me unless I do the works of my Father. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” (John 10:37-38, NIV)

Cessationism is more of a practical awareness of the cessation of extra ordinary miraculous gifts, rather than a doctrine that they should have ceased. If they did not cease it would be obvious to all of us. I think it is equally obvious that some gifts such as discernment, knowledge and wisdom never did cease as various men, endued by the Holy Ghost have continued to proclaim the gospel throughout the centuries with wisdom and power surpassing all human abilities. Finally almost every person in history has come to faith in Christ without ever witnessing a miracle, so why would we ever think miracles were required?

Answer 2

On cessationism:

Cessationism is not a denomination but a doctrine that many denominations adhere to. Generally, the cessationist disallows the addition to biblical cannon, so must therefore say that prophecy and such have ceased because they would add to it. So, naturally, the cessationist is a strict sola scriptura adherent, meaning, roughly, the only authority for righteous living is the Bible (typical 66 book protestant version, usually). With that in mind I will try to stick to the principles of a strict cessationist and answer the question as if I were one. This means I will only use the bible to answer the question.

An issue with the logic in your question (not just cessationists would say this):

You make it sound like it is easier to believe simply because you see a miracle. That may be true for some, but the Bible does say in a few places that seeing and not believing is more common. The Jewish leaders and their followers and the Romans during Christ's time didn't believe, yet they must have seen some miracles. And they continued to persecute the disciples for years after, but there were still miracles being done. Even in the future, Revelation states that when the wicked are raised and see the glory of God from the new Jerusalem they do not repent and be saved, but rather congregate to over-through the city! Right in the face of God! Thus, seeing miracles (or anything supernatural) and becoming a believer are not necessarily related.

So now to answer your question (if seeing a miracle is important to you), how can you believe today if miracles cannot provide proof? This is an issue of faith, which can be defined as believing in what you have reason to believe in. You might say that you would have stronger faith if you could see a miracle but that is not Biblical. Most notably is the parable where the wicked rich man and poor Lazarus both die and see each other in Hades and paradise, respectively. After pleading for mercy and not getting any the rich man asks to send someone back and tell his brothers about that terrible place so that they can be spared. Abraham tells him that they have the law and the prophets (meaning the books not people). If that is not enough then nothing will be, even the return of a dead man. This is from Luke 16.

Ok, now what might give someone reason to believe? Study, prayer and meditation, and fellowship with other believers is a good start. As the parable says the law and the prophets should be enough; if you read, study, and learn them, then do your best to follow them your faith should be strengthened.

Answer 3

Seeing Miracles Does Not Result in Belief

There is an invalid assumption in the question, specifically that the viewing of miracles makes it easier to believe in God. If this were so, then all of the people who saw firsthand the miracles that Jesus performed would have believed in Him. That, however, was not the case at all. In reality, many of those who saw the miracles responded by hating Him, attributing His miracles to demonic powers, falsely accusing Him of blasphemy, and calling for His death.

The Apostle Thomas at first refused to believe in the resurrection of Jesus without seeing Him for himself. However, he was not commended for that demand. Rather, those who believe without seeing were commended. So, indeed, believing without seeing is most certainly possible, and even the preferred method.

Also, when Jesus told the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man asked that Lazarus be risen from the dead to go back to the rich man's family and warn them. However, the rich man was informed that even if someone were to rise from the dead, people would still not believe.

Many Believed Without Seeing Miracles

Even in the first century, immediately after the resurrection of Jesus, thousands upon thousands of people became believers without seeing any miracles. It is true that there were still some miracles being performed, but not for every individual to see.

The question, then, is what it was that caused so many people to believe if they saw no miracles. The answer is that they saw the transformed lives of the apostles. Even the religious leaders of the day took note when Peter and John, who were unschooled, ordinary men, stood before them with an astonishing courage and proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus and salvation in His name. (Acts 4:13)

Foxe's Book of Martyrs records how many people believed when they saw the faith of others in the face of persecution and death for their belief in Jesus. They faced death so peacefully and they so steadfastly refused to denounce their faith that others could only conclude that what these people believed had obviously had supernaturally transformed them.

Others were persuaded based on the evidence of the fulfilled prophecies. Stephen reasoned with people, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was, in fact, the Christ.

The Work of the Spirit

An important thing to note is that belief does not come from merely physical evidence. The Spirit of God testifies to the hearts of men of the truth of the Gospel. Christians understand that mankind is not purely physical, but also spiritual--that is, we have a spirit as well as a body (and a soul as well). God testifies to our spirits directly.

The Complete Picture

So, people believed in Jesus in the first century based on 1) the transformed lives of others who were Christians, 2) the evidence of the fulfilled prophecies, 3) the witness of God directly to their spirits.

Some also saw miracles, of course, but that again did not automatically result in faith.

Today, people believe in Jesus for the same reasons. Some today do see miracles, but those are often seen by those who are already Christians.

The issue really is not an issue of having enough evidence to believe. I would contend that there is enough evidence to convince someone, beyond a reasonable doubt, that there is a God and that Jesus is the Son of God who became a man, died, and rose from the dead. It is not an issue of evidence, then, but of choice. As the saying goes, "A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still."

Answer 4

How do Cessationists expect people to believe without seeing miracles today?

This is the simple answer.Mark 4 the hole chapter. The sower sows the word. Here is the word these Gifts are give to you. They are your to use if you believe they are, if not, you have stomp them under you feet. The gifts have not gone away you have stopped believing in them. Your field are growing with unbelief. Who's will are you doing if you don't believe? God trust's his word to work, Jesus knows God's word works and he gave it to you, satan knows God's word works and he steals it from you. Sow the word, you speak it out you mouth get your fields growing God's word so the gifts will come out. That is a harvest of God's will. They are signs for the unbeliever. Who is a unbeliever those who don't believe in the signs. Were not talking about salvation were talking about the GIFTS of the spirit. Run stop signs how long will it be, before your is in a wreck? Is your life a wreck because of your unbelief? If it is attack use the word to stop it but if you don't believe it works, God have mercy on you.

Answer 5

All though I attend a reformed baptist church I don't believe that the gifts (healing and tongues) have ceased at all. There are still healings in the world. The apostles clearly teach that those who are of the church and are sick are to go to the elders of the church and they will pray for you and anoint your head with oil and God will forgive you.

Now I understand the teaching of cessationism because of the counterfeit signs of today that have entered into the world so I can see why someone may react in this way...there is so much deception in the charismatic scene that, I believe, that the cessationism is a reaction against this...but we have to be careful to not throw out the other words of the bible.

Paul clearly teaches of the gifts in 1 corinthians 12 and he also clearly teaches that gifts of tongues and healings will only end at the second coming of Christ (see 1 cor 13). Those who are adamant about cessationism will insist that 1 corinthians 13 is talking about the end of the gifts but the context clearly states at the second coming of Christ...The Holy Spirit guides you here if you honestly read this text with an open heart.

Lets take an honest look into this - These are gifts and gifts are given. And these gifts are spiritual gifts given by a spiritual head - in this case the Holy Spirit who is the third head of the trinity - God. So if a church does not have particular gifts then why does it not have them? Lets look.

1. Do we ask for them?

The bible clearly teaches that we should ask God. John 15:7 - If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask and it shall be given. That is a teaching of Jesus Christ the night before His crucifixion. Paul also says at the end of 1cor12 to desire the gifts (but to seek love above all). When you do ask are you fulfilling the condition given in john 15:7 (remain in me and my words remain in you). If not then you may receive gifts but not those of the Holy Spirit!

1. Another reason we may not have other gifts is that God may not see that we need them. We give something that is not required.

2. And finally, more importantly carrying on from John 15:7 - here is a problem with many western churches if not all I have seen today. We do not remain in the word of God...we believe tradition over the word of God - this is a MASSIVE problem of today. For example - we have removed head coverings (people say it isn't important but Paul teaches it alongside the breaking of bread and the drinking of the cup). Many men and women teach that this was just cultural to which I ask is it cultural then to break the bread and drink the cup? We allow women pastors to have authority of the men in clear defiance of the apostles doctrine.

We place a lack of importance on what we teach today as the minor commands of the apostles doctrine...Baptism is not seen as so important anymore, the breaking of bread only happens say 12 times a year instead of when we meet together. The fear of God is not taught as "the fear of God" but only the reverence and awe of God. This goes on and on and on...can we clearly say (without no problem or conviction from the Holy Spirit) that this is remaining in Christ and that His word is remaining in us??? No we cannot...so why should the church be honored with these gifts...Do we lose our salvation because of this - No we don't because our salvation is outside of anything we can do...but...the Lord chastises those he loves...why should He give us the gifts when we clearly ignore so much of His teachings? If your son or daughter did continually wrong...you would still love them and provide those things they needed to live but you wouldn't be so open to reward them with extra gifts for disobedience...so why should we expect any different from our Holy Father in Heaven? This, in my opinion and I also think I have the Holy Spirit, is the reason for the lack of the moving of the Holy Spirit in power in todays churches.

Now let me draw this to a conclusion. Just because the roaring lion of the devil circles the bride and the bride may seem powerless to the outside world...it doesn't mean that the Lord Jesus Christ will leave it like this...Zion will roar and He is zealous for His bride...so we must be as the bride in these last days.

Honor all men, love the brothers and sisters in Christ, seek to cover sin against us and instead love those who hate, bless them who curse us and pray that the Lord will forgive them. Do good works, question nothing if it is for the benefit of a man and not his harm. Praise the Lord always. Ask for his forgiveness, always.

and finally (finally) - It is not miracles that save you - it is the blood of Jesus Christ...What does this mean? Jesus Christ is called "the fulfillment of the Law" for He alone fulfills the requirements of the Law...lets look at this.

God says that all sin must be atoned for by blood. The priests of God would offer atonement for sin upon the alter through a blood sacrifice - required by the Law of God.

READ leviticus 17:11. It is repeated in the mouth of two and more witnesses in Hebrews 9:22.

So all sin must be atoned for. But the blood of goats and bulls could never once and for all cover all sin (hebrews 10:4). So the sin offering offered in the law was a foreshadowing of "THE SIN OFFERING" for sin. When the angel of death came over egypt God told the people to take a perfect lamb without blemish and to sacrifice him and roast him on fire...his blood was to be put above your door and then the lamb was to be eaten after roasting with fire. This lamb is the foreshadowing of Christ.

1. The lamb was innocent and perfect without blemish. Christ sinned against no man and walked perfect before God.
2. The lamb was slain for the sin of the people. Christ was offered upon the cross for our sin.
3. The lamb was roasted with fire and eaten. Jesus Christ instituted the true meaning of the passover feast - The bread broken is His body broken for us. The wine drank represents His blood of the new covernent - which is everlasting life for the life is in the blood (leviticus 17:11 again) and eternal life is in the blood of Christ.
4. This was the final act of the angel of death that moved through Egypt before the people left Egypt. God saved them from the angel of death which came before they left. The judgement of God was passed over them who had the blood. When we trust in Christ to forgive our sins then we apply the blood.
5. God brought them out: Christ died for us and he will bring us out of Spiritual Egypt...this current world...we are pilgrims (strangers in a strange land) - this is not our world but we look to the new heaven and the new earth promised by Christ Jesus (Revelation 21:1-5)

So then - seeing miracles cannot save you but trusting in the blood of Christ is what saves you...How do I apply the blood of Christ and trust in Him?

1. Believe you are a sinner...if you don't believe that you are a sinner before a Holy God then you will not see a need for a Saviour.
2. Believe that the only one who can save you from your sin is Jesus Christ for HE is the fulfillment of the law (a perfect lamb is the only one who can be offered for sin). We have all broken the law - we have lied, stolen and cheated at times in our lives because sin is in us...but he that has no sin became a sin offering for us and took the curse...dieing for our sins (1cor15:3-4)

Now if you believe with all your heart that you are a sinner needing forgiveness and that Christ died for your sins then you will evidence this with a life change...the first thing you must do...is confess Christ.

1. You will get baptised (this doesn't save you but it confirms that you have turned to Christ and it is an act of faith that you believe that Christ is your Saviour. James teaches in the book of James that (I will show you my faith through my works)...notice that he doesn't say (I will show you my salvation through my works...he evidences his faith through his works)...The first work of outward faith in Christ is baptism.

2. Now you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and He will begin to sanctify you. This means that He (not you) will convict you of sin and you will begin to confess your sins to brothers and sisters and you will begin to repent of all sin. This is the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. This will product good fruit in your life and the bad fruit will be removed. You become a tree of life and not a dead tree with no root...A tree planted by living waters cannot die (Psalm 1)...it can only bring forth fruit and healing.

Jesus Christ clearly taught that you know them by their fruit. No fruit then the tree is bad and uprooted...good fruit...(a new heart that has truly turned to the Lord) will be seen (you works of faith will evidence your new heart that has been given to you by the Lord...REMEMBER THIS...you cannot do good work to get into heaven but the Holy Spirit will produce fruit in you evidencing that you have turned to Christ...Those who are trying to live good lives without turning to Christ are still lost...because their sins have not been washed in the blood of the lamb - Christ Jesus.

That is it in short...Turn to God from you sin and believe in Jesus Christ

John 3:16-18 God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. The Son came into the world not to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved. All those who believe in the son have eternal life but those who reject the son are already condemned because they have not believed in the only begotten Son of the Father.

That is the word of God - Jesus Christ - who is the word of God who was with the Father at the beginning - John 1: In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God...So when God spoke into existence all of the words it was Jesus who moved forth and created through the eternal Spirit. The trinity...three in one and one in three. one God in three persons.

Anyone who tells you that Jesus is not God is a false prophet and anyone who is teaching about a Jesus that is not God (like Islam who believe He was just a prophet) is teaching a different Jesus...Jesus is fully God and fully man because man cannot save himself only God can save man...Look at the names given to Jesus by the angel.

"You shall call His name JESUS because He shall save His people from their sins" Immanuel - meaning "God with us"

When Thomas saw Jesus Christ after he was resurrected he said "My Lord and My God"

This is how you know a false spirit in this world - they deny that Jesus is the Christ - fully God and fully man. JWs, Christadelphins, Islam...buddists...etc...etc all talk about a different Christ but a true church will say - Jesus is God and man, and they will believe in the trinity of God. If anyone denys that Christ came as a man (God walked in the flesh) then that is antichrist and you are to turn away from them...You see if Christ didn't walk as a man then you could never have a perfect lamb for a sacrifice to redeem us...it means that Christ never died and that the gospel would not be true...that is why the devil does not want you to believe that Jesus is "The Christ - fully God and fully man" - Christ is the ladder between this world and Heaven...without Him we cannot enter heaven...we could never even attain heaven...only He bridges the gap (and that gulf is vast and we can never attain to it). But the gospel is true - Christ died for our sins and on the third day He rose from the dead and if He rose from the dead through the power of the Holy Spirit then He will resurrect us when he comes again - do you believe this? Because if you do then you will be saved...that is the gospel -

Romans 10:9 That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.

Not through works unless any man should boast (Ephesians 2:9) but by the power of God through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ Who redeems us.

If you don't apply the blood of Christ to your life...then you are calling God a liar...and if the first time you get to know Christ is at the Judgment seat then words cannot describe this condition...but that day is not today...confess Christ now and turn to Him.

And know this - trust in the word of God...The bible was written by God through the Spirit which worked through God fearing men to pen it down for us to read until the end of time.

God bless you and I pray that this convicts you of your sin...turn to Christ Jesus and be saved...stop looking for miracles...only an unbelieving adulterous generation seeks miracles...Take a good look at the earth you live in...look into the eyes of your children (who are fearfully and wonderfully made by God) and say to yourself...what more miracles do I need to know that there is a Holy God who loves me and sent His son to die for me so that my sins can be washed and I can be redeemed...turn to Him and He will save you.

God bless you.

Answer 6

I gave a rounded answer to the question asked. It isn't sign gifts that bring people to God but the gospel of Christ - Eternal life is a free gift to those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ that he is risen from the dead...that needed to be explained since it is clear that the question asked came from someone who hadn't had a clear teaching of the gospel. Seeing is not believing but faith in the risen Christ is believing. I had to "preach" this since I know of no other way - I do this every Saturday when I stand on the streets and preach forgiveness through Christ Jesus. Its not informing or being persuasive but speaking the truth of the word of God - God saves through the gospel. Paul the apostle preached Christ crucified because Christ Jesus taught him directly in that way (since Christ chose him). People want to see miracles instead of believing in the word of God...If God says it, preserves it, and raises up preaches to preach it then we need to believe it - He said it - so it is true.

If people reject that, then as Jesus taught, if they rejected moses word and then they reject my word then what else is there but condemnation to follow for them. The question asked is coming from someone who is condemned (John 3:18) because they do not believe that Jesus Christ is The Son of God, (why else would they ask such a question). This person needs to know that God loves those who come to Christ but those who reject Him have only the wrath of God abiding on them. People don't like to be offended but neither did they like to listen to the prophets in moses day. It always ended in rejection and hatred towards the prophets when the world rejected their word and if they reject the words of Christ then the Wrath of God abides on them (John 3:36 - The words of Christ)

So to the one who asked this question:

God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life. God sent not His son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved. Whoever believes on the Son of God is not condemned but those that do not believe are condemned already because they have not believed on The Name of the only Begotten Son of God

Do you believe these words from John 3:16-18? If No then you can be sure that the wrath of God abides upon you and that if you were to die today you are lost forever! Contemplate this when you next ask questions of unbelief. The people of God perished in the wilderness because of their unbelief and so will today's people if they reject the salvation through Christ Jesus offered to you freely. Does this word offend you - hopefully it will cut you to the heart and make you repent and believe the Gospel. If only anger is kindled in you because I have given the truth from the word of God it is because you are perishing even as you stand because the wrath of God abides upon you and the culmination of that wrath is eternal damnation to all who reject Christ - so repent and believe the Gospel of Christ - it is THE ONLY WAY you can enter heaven.

And Narnian, if you want to remove this message then do so...but know that what I have said is the truth that needed to be said as a complete answer to a question of unbelief

God bless you all