Short context: In Matthew 12, the Pharisees had already seen Jesus heal the sick, cast out devils, and perform many miracles — yet they still asked Him for a sign. Not because they believed, but because they refused to believe unless He proved Himself on their terms. Jesus responded by saying, “An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign.”
This establishes a biblical principle: Signs are a byproduct of faith, not the foundation of faith.
Mark 16 says signs shall follow believers — it never says believers should follow signs.
There is a big difference between:
A generation that requires signs to believe, and
Believers whose faith produces signs.
One demands proof before obedience.
The other obeys God, and He confirms His word.
The danger today is that many people judge whether a church is “real” or “has the Holy Spirit” based only on signs and wonders. But the Bible says the true evidence of the Spirit is fruit:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…” (Galatians 5:22–23, KJV)
Signs can be counterfeited.
Fruit cannot.
So the real question is not:
“Are there signs and wonders?”
But:
“Is there fruit? Is there obedience? Is there holiness? Is there sound doctrine? Is Christ being obeyed?”
Because according to Scripture, signs may follow believers — but fruit identifies them.
