Are true Christians today identified by the ability to do healing?

Question

John 13:35: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.” (This is what Jesus said. If we really believe him, we look for love, not miraculous healing, as evidence of true Christianity.)

Acts 1:8: “You will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me . . . to the most distant part of the earth.” (Just before leaving his apostles to return to heaven, Jesus told them that this, not healing, was the vital work they were to do. See also Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20.)

Answer 1

Matthew 7:21-23
21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

22 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?'

23 Then I will declare to them solemnly, 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.'

Answer 2

Christianity has many different sects and denominations. My particular belief is that healing is for today. In addition to the verses you quoted, the Bible also says "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." Since Jesus has not and will not change, I have to believe that He still performs miracles to this day. If I didn't believe that, then I would be calling God a liar for putting it in the Bible. There are alot, the majority actually, that do not believe in healing and miracles. That is their choice. I prefer to choose healing over sickness.

Answer 3

The Bible tells us that "a tree is known by the fruit it bears". You know an apple tree is an apple tree because it has apples on it. Likewise with an orange tree, peach tree and so on...

The Bible also tells us that the Fruit of the Spirit is: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Notice though, the text says FRUIT of the spirit... not fruits... so the description given encompasses one single fruit... much like an apple as a peel, a stem, the core and of course the yummy part that I can never remember what it's called.

So, a TRUE Christian will be easy to recognize if you know what Fruit to look for.

Answer 4

People have to understand that healing is the evidence of God's love working through an individual. Jesus came in a bodily form and healed people out of love and compassion. Likewise, anyone who is born of God will display that same compassion and exhibit the love of God working through them to heal. John 14:12 says, "Verily,verily I say unto you, whosoever believeth on me the works that I do shall he do also. And greater works than these shall he do because I go unto the Father". Notice Jesus did not just say the Apostle would do these miracles, but whosoever believeth. In addition, the bible says that "faith worketh by love". So, if believers are praying for people and they are being healed, it is because love is present.

Answer 5

If you're gonna quote the Man... quote the Man!
Mark 16:14-18
14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. 15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
Mark 16:20 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)

Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
NIV at IBS International Bible Society NIV at Zondervan Zondervan

20Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

Acts 4:30
Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
Acts 4:29-31

Acts6:8Now Stephen, a man full of God's grace and power, did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people.

Acts 8:6
When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said.

The Bible proves itself.

Answer 6

You are a true christian if you accept the Lord Jesus Christ as your one and only Savior.
BUT.... Healings CAN be done, It is God's power that does it. But I would question anyone's saying that THEY can heal you.
It's God's decision on when and how much healing gets done.
God is VERY strict when it comes to healing.... Humility is one of the first requirements.
So be wary of anyone practicing Healings with an attitude if Inhumility. (Inhumility??? UnHumbleness?? You know what I mean)

Answer 7

No. While "these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall aly hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 16: 17 & 18, there is one prerequisite that must accompany, as you will see below.

I will show you another verse that shows that while healing is certainly a part of a believer's life, it is NOT the litmus test for salvation -- BUT FIRST I want to address something your first answerer is telling you that is simply not true.

Your first answerer states that healing (and implies that other signs and wonders also) were only for the past when people needed miracles to believe. I'd say that just as many DO NOT BELIEVE TODAY as did not believe in that day. The notion that signs, wonders, miracles, healings, devil-casting, and speaking in tongues are, as this man would say, "passed away with the apostles." This fallacious argument is based on a scripture which reads: "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." I Corinthians 13:8

The trouble with this argument is that the scriptures immediately following are ignored: For we know in part,and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. Verses 9 & 10

That which is perfect is not yet come, so the prophecies, tongues and knowledge shall not yet pass away, until that time. And knowledge has certainly not vanished away, rather it has increased. Knowledge is listed with prophecies and tongues in the same sentence referring to the same time frame.

Now back to your question: Jesus said, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." Matthew 7: 21 - 24

In summary, signs and wonders and healings alone cannot and do not save, nor do theynecessarily indicate a true Christian. Doing the will of our Father in heaven does so. See also Matthew 25 : 31 - 46 In these passages, when Christ speaks of the "least of these my brethren" he is speaking of Israel and the Jewish people (His chosen people), and adopted brethren, Gentile believers.

Answer 8

God heals even today and several people have the gift of healing even today. But here is what is misunderstood. Not one person is able to do the healing. That is God doing the healing. It has absolutely zero to do with a person's effort. The gift of healing is simply being willing to let God work through a person when God shows them that this is necessary. God gives different gifts to different people as he chooses and he looks for someone who is willing to serve Him in this capacity.

Answer 9

Healing is a manifestation of faith in Jesus Christ. It can come about by two or more methods. One type may come as an answer to prayer - a healing literally by faith. Another type may come by the laying on of hands of those who have received the authority of God, or Priesthood, to administer healing blessings. See James 5:14: "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord." In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, worthy men who have received the Priesthood of the Son of God (differentiated by the names Melchizedek Priesthood and Aaronic Priesthood), can give blessings of healing, comfort, and peace in accordance with the Lord's will. Yes, they are also called elders, and yes, they do use a special kind of oil. As far as missionary work goes, with regards to the scriptures you have cited, I believe that it is so important that we as Church members say it is one of the three main missions of the Church.

Answer 10

Testing peoples qualifications is devilish. I understand what you're saying, and you may be right. But don't judge people like that. I know it would be simpler, if Christians were obvious. But I think you'll find some pretty strong words in the Bible against marking people. Many are called, but few are chosen. Does that make any sense?

Answer 11

The way Vatican fraudulently tried to create miraculous healing by Mother Teresa after her death ,. I doubt any of the Christian miracles ever happened at all!

If they can lie now, why would not they have done it before. Especially after studying St Xaviour's carrier in Goa.