Understanding the New Testament Gospel Differences (Part 8)

Understanding the New Testament Gospel Differences (Part 8 --- Accompanying signs)

We continue with the comparison of the gospel of God and the gospel of Christ by looking at key elements that distinguish them from each other. I recommend to start at the beginning of this comparison to gain the necessary context of this series of posts.

The Kingdom gospel and the gospel of God had accompanying signs

The earthly ministry of Jesus was validated by a myriad of signs (or miracles) that He performed. These signs, according to prophecy, were to validate His ministry and prove to the Jews that He was their Messiah. To confirm this, John ends his gospel with a remarkable statement;

John 21:24-25 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true. 25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Other writers of scripture further affirms that signs were a means of validation on the ministry of Jesus (and the apostles) who followed Him,

Hebrews 2:3-4 How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 4 God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?

Acts 2:22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

2 Corinthians 12:11-12 I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing. 12 Truly the signs of an apostle were wrought among you in all patience, in signs, and wonders, and mighty deeds.

The reason for men of God to do signs and miracles was to prove their calling as apostles and prophets. The Jews, since the exodus with Moses, were accustomed to signs. As a matter of fact, God made a covenant with Israel to perform signs and wonders for their sake,

Exodus 34:10 And he said, Behold, I make a covenant: before all thy people I will do marvels, such as have not been done in all the earth, nor in any nation: and all the people among which thou art shall see the work of the Lord: for it is a terrible thing that I will do with thee.

Also, both Jesus and Paul said the following,

John 4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

1 Corinthians 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

...and Pharisees demanded it from the men of God,

Matthew 12:38 Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. 

(For further examples, see: Matthew 16:1-4, Mark 8:11-12, Luke 11:29, Luke 23:8, John 6:30)

With the above understanding, we can now understand that signs were also connected to the Kingdom gospel and the gospel of God. To validate their message, the messenger had to prove that the news they were sharing was ordained by God. Jesus told those He sent out with the good news,

Luke 10:1-20 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come. ... 9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. ... 17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. ... 19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

In the commission that Jesus gave to His disciples, it was necessary to add the condition of signs, so that the Jewish recipients could not question their message,

Mark 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

So, we have to now ask the question, "What happened to ALL THESE SIGNS today?" If signs were so commonplace in the gospels and Acts, why do we not see signs to prove the gospel message today?

The simple answer is that the dispensation of grace operates differently. We are a body of faith today and are to walk by faith and not by sight (visible proofs, 2 Corinthians 5:7). Paul also points out that all other sign gifts would diminish into nothing when the written Word of God was completed,

1 Corinthians 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. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

As the transition in the book of Acts progressed, we see a diminishing in Paul's capacity to heal. Where God did great signs and miracles by the hand of Paul during his missionary journeys, we see this diminish progressively with scriptures that confirm how Paul left Trophimus in Miletus when he was sick (2 Timothy 4:20), and also Epaphroditus who was sick to the point of death (Philippians 2:27). Timothy was also encouraged to use wine for his stomach ailments (1 Timothy 5:23). As the mystery doctrine became more known and documented, so signs and miracles became less important.

Signs do not play a major role in the Body of Christ. It is not required for believing the gospel message and God does not move in miracles and wonders to validate the message today. This is the nature of the grace dispensation and gospel. It is interesting to note that when the Kingdom period reactivates under the Jewish program, when the Tribulation starts after the rapture of the Body of Christ, signs and miracles will again be the order of the day. As a matter of fact, signs and miracles will be so commonplace that many will be led astray from the truth by it.

The gospel of the Kingdom and the gospel of God was validated by signs and miracles, but the gospel of Christ (the gospel of the grace of God) was a message that needed to be believed from the heart and not from the physical eyes.