Page 319 - Bible Writers Theology Original

Ecclesiology • The Church ♦ 303 disciples to do the same. Both Peter and Paul exercised gifts ofhealing. (See
Acts 3:1-11; 5:15,16; 9:32-35; 14:9-10; Romans 15:19; Acts 8:7.)
Healing is a gift of God given to some members of the bodyofQirist, to enable them to act as chemnels of His love £ind compassion to others (I
Corinthians12:30). HealingisindeedapartoftheChurch'slife. Itiswrit ten in Matthew 8:16-17, "... that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sickness." James 5:14 speaks of the healing power of God in answer to believing prayer, and the anointing with oil by the church leadership. However, healing is not universal and remains a sovereign act of God. (See Exodus 15:26,23:25-27; Matthew 10:1; I Corinthians 12:9; Philippians2'25-27;
I Timothy 2: 3-8; II Timothy 4:20; Mark 6:13).
3 Miracles
WhenGod intervenesto breakthelawsofnaturethatHehassetinorder, itiscalleda miracle. MiracleswerecommonintheOldTestament,inthelife of Jesus, and in the acts of the Apostles. Paul recognized, "For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God" (Romans 15:18-19, Ads 222; 8:13;19:11,12;Galatians3:5). MiraclesarepartoftheChurchtoday(Hebrews24).
E Holiness and Christian Discipline
Another essential mark of spiritual excellence in Church life is holiness. Godly living and the proclamation of the gospel cannot be divorced (I Thessalonians4:1;IPeter2:11-12;3:15-16;5:3). TheBiblesays,"Forthegrace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously,
and godly, in this present world" (Titus 2:11-12). The Scripture commands. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see
the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14).
Peter bases his exhortation to holiness on the Christian calling and the cost of redemption: "But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written. Be yeholy; for I am holy. AndifyecallontheFather,whowithoutrespectofpersonsJudgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear; Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible
things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradi tion from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (I Peter 1:15-19; cf. 2:9-10; Ephesians 5:25-27). HolinesscannotbeviewedasanoptionalfeatureofChristianliv ing.