Miracles, A Study of The very first chapter of the Bible tells us of God’s power to create. In the creation, from the very beginning, the laws of nature were established. Everything would produce after its own kind. The laws of physics were put in place. As we read through the Bible, we see God’s power in various ways. He flooded the world during the days of Noah, Genesis 6ff. He caused a drought that lasted three years, during the time of Elijah, the prophet, 1 Kings 17. While these events were by the hand of God and were extraordinary, they were in harmony with the laws of nature. The world has seen floods and droughts since the days of Noah and Elijah. We also see the power of God in the miracles of the Bible. God formed Adam from the dust of the ground and Eve from Adam’s rib, Genesis 2. He parted the Red Sea so Israel could pass through on dry ground, Exodus 14. In the New Testament, Jesus turned water into wine, John 2; He raised the dead on several occasions, He calmed the Sea of Galilee in Mark 4. The blind were made to see and the crippled could walk. Some read through the Bible and try to explain away the miracles. Jesus feeding of the 5,000 was not a miracle because He fed the people with a few loaves of bread and some fish, but because He taught every one to share their bread and fish. Such turns the Bible upon its head. Either the miracles happened or they did not. If they happened then it was by the hand of God, if they did not happen then the Bible is flawed. It is not our role to explain how a miracle happened, but to understand why they happened. What is a miracle? A miracle is more than something that does not normally happen or something that is rare. A person surviving a plane crash might be described as a miracle and it may be rare, but does it really qualify as a miracle? In order to be a miracle, it must contradict the very laws of nature and physics that God put in place. The only way the miracle could be performed is if the source of the miracle has the power to contradict the laws of nature. In some passages we read of "signs, wonders, and various miracles." In looking up the three terms one finds the same basic definition. W.C. Moseley in his commentary on Hebrews 2.4 says, "A ‘sign’ was that which attested to the truth of that which was spoken. ‘Wonders’ were also those things that were out of the ordinary course of things. A miracle was that which does not conform to natural law." Paul in speaking of his ministry in Romans 15 says, "For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient — in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God" (verses 18-19a). The only one that has the ability to go beyond the laws of nature is God. What was or is the purpose of miracles? God parted the Red Sea in order to save Israel and destroy Egypt, Exodus 14. He gave Israel manna to feed them and brought water from a rock to quench their thirst. We can say some of the miracles were to spare or save those God were watching after. In the New Testament, we read of Jesus performing miracles in order to prove that He was indeed the Son of God. Mark 2 a man that was unable to walk was brought to Jesus. At first Jesus forgave the man of his sins, verse 5. The scribes were thinking that Jesus had just committed blasphemy for only God can forgive sins, verse 6-7. In order to prove that Jesus had the ability to forgive sins and was also deity, He healed the man so he could pick up his bed and walk. Therefore the miracle was to confirm Jesus’ claim of being able to forgive sins. There were occasions when Jesus performed a miracle out of compassion for the people. "14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick" (Matthew 14). However, it should be noted that even then the miracles confirmed Jesus as the Son of God. In sending out the twelve disciples in what we normally call the limited commission. Jesus gave them the ability to cast our unclean spirits, heal all kinds of diseases, and heal the sick, Matthew 10.1. Those miracles would confirm these men as being messengers of God. Only through the power of God could they perform such miracles. Later on, Jesus gave the Apostles the "Great Commission." 15 And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover." (Mark 16). Some ancient manuscripts do not contain all of Mark 16. However, we see the Apostles doing the very thing mentioned in Mark 16 in the Book of Acts. "And through the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people" (Acts 5.12). "And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women, so that they brought the sick out into the streets and laid them on beds and couches, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might fall on some of them" (Acts 5.14-15). The miracles were to confirm the word of God, Hebrews 2.3-4. While people might have been impressed with the miracle, it was the word of God that converted them. Who could perform miracles? Reading through the book of Acts we see the Apostles performing miracles and having the ability to give "spiritual gifts" to others. "Then they (Peter and John were sent to Samaria, D.T.) laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit. And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money" (Acts 8.17-18). Only the apostles had the ability to impart spiritual gifts to others. Paul in writing to the saints at Rome mentioned his desire to come and "impart to you some spiritual gift" chapter 1.11. We can not find one passage that even implies or hints of those receiving some spiritual gift being able to give that gift to another. It is obvious that most Christians did not have the ability to perform miracles. Have miracles ceased or are they performed today? Keep in mind the definition of "miracle." It is more than something unusual or amazing. One can speak of the "miracle of child birth" but children are born every day according to the laws of nature. A virgin having a child is a miracle. A woman having a child after being with a man is not. According to 1 Corinthians 13 there would come a time when spiritual gifts would end. "But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away" (verse 8). This is a case where the part; (prophecies, tongues, and knowledge) is used to represent all miraculous gifts. When would the time come for miracles to end? "When that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away" (1 Corinthians 13.10). The "that which is in part" refers to the miracles. Often the question arises as to what "that which is perfect" refers. Does it refer to Christ, the word of God, or something else? While it is true, Jesus is perfect, having never sinned, He is not a "that" but a person. The passage does not say, when He which is perfect comes, but that which is perfect. The only other thing I can find in the Bible that is referred to as being perfect is the Law of Christ. James 1.25 refers to the Law of Christ as the perfect law of liberty. Has the perfect law of Christ been revealed to us today and confirmed by miracles? Jude instructed the disciples to contend for the faith which was once and for all delivered to the saints, verse 3. Peter wrote that "His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness" (2 Peter 1.3). If one accepts the idea that "the faith" in Jude and "all things that pertain to life and godliness" in 2 Peter refers to the word of God, he must accept that God had given us the complete law of Christ in the first century. Therefore, that which is perfect came in the days of apostles and that which is in part, miracles, ceased at that time. No one can "perform miracles" today. Does this limit the power of God today? Some contend that God can still perform miracles today. The question is not whether God can, but whether God does. God can create man out of dirt today, but He does not. God can work His will through the laws He has put in place. He can heal the sick through the ability of the body to heal itself. Those that argue God performs miracles today are arguing against what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13. I also contend that God is not limited by miracles, but has the ability to do His will through the laws of nature. — Dennis Tucker
Posted on: Wed, 26 Jun 2013 09:18:13 +0000
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