Christians only, Mark 16:18 how do you interpret it?

[Theodore A. Jones]

Melki,
Most of these things were written for the first century Christians who had the powerful Gifts of the Holy Spirit that allow them to do the things mentioned.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit was for the start of the Christian Congregation, these miraculous acts would cause attention to be given to the message, of the GOOD NEWS. After Christianity was firmly estabolished the powerful gifts ceased, about the end of the first century.
We are ALL required to preach about God and Jesus any time that we get the opportunity, 2Tim 2:1,2, 4:2-5, 1Cor 13:8. It seems that the Holy Spirit could ONLY be passed to others by the Apostles, Acts 8:14,17-23.
These other things were carried out and recorded in Acts of the Apostles, except for the part about poisons, which just meant that they would be protected until the Christian congregation was well estabolished, Acts 2:1-18, 19:11-17, 28:1-6.
According to the Bible we all must become doers of the word, and not hearers only, James 1:22, Rom 2:13, so it seems that it is the things that we do that are important to God, not what we do not do, Matt 7:12, Rom 13:8-10.
Interesting to me is that the word that means belief in Greek, meant active belief. Consider how this is explained at James 2:14-26. Even though works cannot save a person, his works manifests to God his desires and feelings, and these are a basis for God to justify that person by Grace of God.

The reason the gifts of the Holy Spirit 'ceased' was not because of the establishment of the Christian congregation, but was because of the leaven (error) that was introduced to supplant or counter the Way the crucifixion of Jesus Christ has perfected for escaping God's wrath. This has resulted in only a very few finding the gate into God's kingdom. I think the gifts would again become apparent if the error were exposed for what it is.

 

[Theodore A. Jones]

Didn't the gospel get spread to all the world of THAT time? It appears that this was (if taken literal) a specific time frame event of THAT time. If taken spiritually then these are actions done inside a person (washing away sins/baptism, healing of defects/serpents, taking in of unholy things/ drinking poison etc..) For me this is a process and not a one time event. Take note of ALL the requirements the scriptures speak of to be "saved".

There are not 'requirements' to become saved, instead there is a unilateral requirement for each individual to obey to become saved.
"For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous." Rom. 2:13 And he is not referencing the OT written code of law.