Can believers do greater works than Jesus did?

P

PetriFB

In modern times, among believers, there is an ever increasing number of arguments and teachings, according to which believers would be capable of doing qualitatively greater works than the Lord Jesus did. When we study this in regard to what the Bible in full says and witnesses about this topic, we can see that the disciples of the Lord Jesus are not capable of doing greater works, i.e. greater in power (the Holy Spirit) than what Jesus did. Instead, the word "greater" refers to powerful works that are done through the Holy Spirit and that are greater in number and done by a bigger number of people. Spend time in prayer and compare the present text to what the Bible teaches us.



More info: http://www.kotipetripaavola.com/canbelieversdogreaterworksthanjesusdid.html
 
PetriFB said:
In modern times, among believers, there is an ever increasing number of arguments and teachings, according to which believers would be capable of doing qualitatively greater works than the Lord Jesus did. When we study this in regard to what the Bible in full says and witnesses about this topic, we can see that the disciples of the Lord Jesus are not capable of doing greater works, i.e. greater in power (the Holy Spirit) than what Jesus did. Instead, the word "greater" refers to powerful works that are done through the Holy Spirit and that are greater in number and done by a bigger number of people. Spend time in prayer and compare the present text to what the Bible teaches us.



More info: http://www.kotipetripaavola.com/canbelieversdogreaterworksthanjesusdid.html
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I agree in that the greater works refer to the large number of lost people that were brought to God by the ministry of the apostles. By the apostles was the doctrine of Christ spread far and wide; while Christ confined his ministry chiefly to the precincts of Judea. It is certainly the greatest miracle of Divine grace to convert the lost, wicked heart of man from sin to holiness. This was done in numberless cases by the disciples, who were endued with power from on high, while proclaiming remission of sins through faith in his blood.

The greatest miracle to ever have taken place is the black hearted sinner made white as snow by the shed blood of Christ.
 
Cturtle said:
Amen! And just think this is still taking place in today's world ;)

Blessings
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And in far greater numbers...also remember when Jesus took the five loaves and two fish (meager donations), blessed them and fed 5000? Well now with Tom and Iesha's good will offerings in Church and Mary and Alvin's tithes, etc., we now feed millions daily. Mother Teresa's Sisters of Mercy alone (without a single tax dollar) started about 150 schools and hospitals and fed 1000s...and on and on...and let us not forget how many receive clothing, housing, orphan care and so much more.

Blessed is the name of the Lord...

In His love

Paul
 
PetriFB said:
In modern times, among believers, there is an ever increasing number of arguments and teachings, according to which believers would be capable of doing qualitatively greater works than the Lord Jesus did. When we study this in regard to what the Bible in full says and witnesses about this topic, we can see that the disciples of the Lord Jesus are not capable of doing greater works, i.e. greater in power (the Holy Spirit) than what Jesus did. Instead, the word "greater" refers to powerful works that are done through the Holy Spirit and that are greater in number and done by a bigger number of people. Spend time in prayer and compare the present text to what the Bible teaches us.



More info: http://www.kotipetripaavola.com/canbelieversdogreaterworksthanjesusdid.html
Click to expand...

John 14:12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

How can this be ?

John 16:7
Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

John 16:23-24
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.

24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

Mark 11:22-25
22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

He gave us the Holy Spirit and the name above all names.....Thee Name Of Jesus.

God told us to set the captives free and give sight back to the blind and cast out devils and lay hands on the sick and so forth.

God Through Christ Jesus has not only authorized us to do so but has Equipped us by Christ Jesus and Commanded us to do so.

Seems quite clear to me.
Our only limitations are as follows
Disobedience
Unwillingness
Fear........
Blessings
FCJ
 
I think it refers to quantitative nature of greater things rather than qualitative. Miracles of Jesus were a sign to point to the fact that He is Son of God. It is an amazing comparison to look at miracles of OT and NT. And today miracles to continue to happen through God's provision and for edification of Church body. It does not mean they are going to be qualitatively greater than miracles of Jesus
 
Ravindran said:
I think it refers to quantitative nature of greater things rather than qualitative. Miracles of Jesus were a sign to point to the fact that He is Son of God. It is an amazing comparison to look at miracles of OT and NT. And today miracles to continue to happen through God's provision and for edification of Church body. It does not mean they are going to be qualitatively greater than miracles of Jesus
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Hi Ravindran,
Welcome Back!!

I truly believe Jesus was telling us that not only that we could do the same things as He did but also get simular results.

I believe Jesus was Showing us how we as a born again people should walk daily in our lives. Everything He did He did as a man under the anointing of God and it is this same anointing we Should be walking in today.

Signs and wonders are for the lost or unbeliever for they are simply a display of God's working power through man. Now I am obviously Not talking about things such as we read about in the Revelation of Jesus. ;)

We are All Commanded to lay hands on the sick and set the captives free and cast out demons and so forth. This is what God has given the born again man to do. Yes it is His power working through us but never the less it is our duty to walk out.

If a person thinks that the things recorded that Jesus did are limitations then they really do not understand the nature of God.

In the end it really comes down to being obedient unto His ways and willing to be willing to have a willing heart.

A Sunday Christian is not going to experience much but the believer who gets the message on Sunday and listens to it on Monday and so forth are the ones who will experience more things of God in their lives.

Those who saturate themselves in His word and allow God to place them where He wants and allows God to Use any man He wants to teach you or get something into their thinking are the ones who not only walk from victory to victory but are also the ones who see grater things of God in and through their lives.

Only the individual can limit the things of God in their life.
Blessings
FCJ
 
And it shall come to pass in the last days, God declares, that I will pour out of My Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels] and your young men shall see visions (divinely granted appearances), and your old men shall dream [divinely suggested] dreams. Yes, and on My menservants also and on My maidservants in those days I will pour out of My Spirit, and they shall prophesy [telling forth the divine counsels and predicting future events pertaining especially to God's kingdom]. And I will show wonders in the sky above and signs on the earth beneath, blood and fire and smoking vapor; The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood before the obvious day of the Lord comes–that great and notable and conspicuous and renowned [day]. And it shall be that whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord [invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord–Christ] shall be saved. [Joel 2:28-32.]
Acts 2:17‭-‬21 AMPC
http://bible.com/8/act.2.17-21.AMPC
 
Jesus's miracles were two fold. 1. Help people and 2. as a sign that He is more then just a man.

We can and will do point 1 more. But I believe in His statement in John 14:12 He was referring to point 2.

I fully believe we can walk on water and raise the dead. The issue though is, God's will. God does miracles for strategic reasons. He prefers us to walk by faith in an unseen God. It shows true love. If we ever thought a rich person has a problem getting someone to love him for him, imagine God's dilemma. Most of us just don't grasp this very real issue and will of God. It is the whole reason we are on earth whilst He is in heaven.

I thus hold to a more cessationist view in light of God's will. Not due to limitations of our faith or God's power.
 
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