(Author's Note: The information that follows is not original with me in its content or arrangement. It has passed among the preaching Willis boys for a number of years. I have no idea who the original author was. However, it is good information and usable in this form. In 1984 1 used it in a one-night public exchange with a Holiness preacher, and he would not so much as give it consideration. I hope it will help some of you who read this.)

We hear the testimony and the claims of miraculous healings on a regular basis. We need some information which will help us to distinguish between truth and error regarding this matter. We shall set forth the significant characteristics of the miracles which we read about in the New Testament. With this information, and by comparing modem claims, we can easily see that the so-called healings of today are phony. Following is what we learn about New Testament miracles.

1. The healings occurred instantaneously (Matt. 8:3,15; 9:27-30).

2. Faith was not always required in the one being healed (Jn. 5:13).

3. All kinds of healings were done (Matt. 4:24; 8:16; 9:35).

4. Not just headaches and sinus trouble (Matt. 15:30; Lk. 17:11-19).

5. The healings were open for public scrutiny-that is why they were so effective (Matt. 12:9,13-14; Acts 3:16; 4:21; 9:35).

6. The person healed was completely healed or made whole; he did not need to wear glasses after a cataract was removed (Matt. 12:13; Acts 3:16; 4:9).

7. The healing was acknowledged even by the enemies of truth (Matt. 12:13-14; Acts 2:22; 4:16).

8. They were always God-glorifying -- not man glorifying (Acts 3:9).

9. They supported truth and not error (Heb. 2:34).

10. The healings were not used to establish and maintain a denomination.

11. Those who were healed were not always present (Matt. 8:5-13).

12. Sometimes people were healed because of the faith of other people (Matt. 8:8,10,13).

13. Jesus and the apostles did not claim that God would heal everybody and then go about with a disease themselves.

14. In New Testament healings, there was no preliminary investigation to "weed out" hard cases.

15. They did not try to heal and fail, blaming their failure on the sick. If a failure occurred, it was due to the faithlessness of the healer (Matt. 17:20).

16. They did not say it was impossible to perform a miracle because unbelievers were present (Mk. 3:2).

17. No social healing services were conducted.

18. An emotion-charged atmosphere was not required for success healing.

When you find it necessary to deal with the modem claims regarding miracles, take this information and see if the modern claims meet these requirements. If not, you can be assured that the Devil is at work again and you know what to do with the works of the Devil.

Guardian of Truth XXIX: 12, p. 362
June 20, 1985