Can Believers Perform Miracles Today?

Can believers perform miracles today? Well, first, we need to define what we mean by "miracles." In the Bible, miracles are supernatural acts, things that cannot be explained by natural laws or human abilities. They're signs, wonders, demonstrations of God's power. And they're often used to authenticate a message or a messenger.

Now, there's no question that miracles did happen in the Bible. Jesus performed miracles. The apostles performed miracles. Even in the Old Testament, you've got prophets like Elijah and Elisha performing miracles. So, the question isn't whether miracles are possible; the question is whether they are normative for believers today.

And this is where "rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15) comes in. That means recognizing that different parts of the Bible were written to different audiences, with different purposes, and under different administrations (or "dispensations"). And when you do that, you start to see a pattern.

The "sign gifts", miracles, healings, tongues, prophecy, these were primarily associated with the Gospel of the Kingdom, the message that Jesus and the twelve apostles preached to Israel. They were signs to Israel, confirming that Jesus was the Messiah, the one who would bring about the earthly kingdom.

But then you have Paul. Paul received a different Gospel, the "Gospel of the Uncircumcision" (Galatians 2:7), a "secret" (or "mystery") that had not been revealed before (Romans 16:25; Ephesians 3:3-6; Colossians 1:26-27). This Gospel was primarily for the Gentiles, and it focused on the unconditional grace of God, the universal reconciliation of all humanity, and the heavenly calling of the body of Christ.

And here's the thing: Paul doesn't emphasize the "sign gifts" in the same way that the other apostles do. He does mention them, particularly in 1 Corinthians 12-14, but he's primarily addressing the misuse and abuse of those gifts in the Corinthian church. He's not encouraging their continuation. In fact, he says that these gifts will cease:

"Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away." (1 Corinthians 13:8-10)

What is the "perfect" that Paul is talking about? It's not the completion of the New Testament canon, as some people claim. It's the full revelation of God's plan, the "mystery" that was revealed to Paul. It's the completion of God's purpose, the consummation of all things. And when that happens, the "partial" gifts will no longer be necessary.

Furthermore, we have clear, historical evidence that even Paul's ability to perform miracles diminished over time. In his earlier epistles, he speaks of performing "signs and wonders" (Romans 15:19; 2 Corinthians 12:12). But in his later epistles, he's unable to heal his companions (Philippians 2:25-27; 1 Timothy 5:23; 2 Timothy 4:20). This suggests that the "sign gifts" were temporary, even within Paul's own ministry.

So, can believers perform miracles today? Well, I'm not going to say it's absolutely impossible. God is sovereign, and He can do whatever He wants. But I am going to say that it's not the norm, it's not something we should expect, and it's not something we should seek after.

The body of Christ has a different calling, a different focus. We're not about signs and wonders; we're about proclaiming the Gospel, the "good news" of God's unconditional grace and universal reconciliation. We're about living out our new identity in Christ, walking by the Spirit, and revealing God's wisdom to the "principalities and powers in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 3:10).

And frankly, I think the modern charismatic movement, with its "speaking in tongues," "prophetic words," and "miraculous healings," is a distraction from the true Gospel. It's a focus on external experiences, rather than on internal transformation. It's a seeking after signs, rather than a seeking after truth.

So, no, I don't believe that believers, as members of the body of Christ, are called to perform miracles today. We're called to proclaim the Gospel, to live out our faith, and to trust in God's sovereign power to work all things together for good. And that, ultimately, is far more important than any miraculous sign or wonder.

Unrelated note: I've had this article as a draft in my folder for a while now, and I'm not sure why I never posted it since it only needed a few minor revisions.