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Miracles

Wayne Galloway
08/25/24 - Sunday Evening Worship

Miracles

Acts 17:22-32

 

Introduction:

 

1.  G. H. Clark in his article on “Miracles” in Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible said,  

“There are at least three reasons for studying the subject of miracles.  First, one may wish to judge the claims of Roman Catholicism to continue apostolic power to perform miracles, and also the accounts of faith healers.  The recent growth of the charismatic movement needs appraisal as well.  Second, the so-called scientific view of the world declares that miracles are and always have been impossible.  To meet this objection the believer must work out a theory of natural law, a philosophy of science, or in some way relate miracles to ordinary events without impairing the unity of his world-view.  Third, a Christian thinker has a divinely imposed obligation to know what the Bible teaches, for ‘All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching’ (2 Tim. 3:16).  Since miracles are a part of Scripture, they too must be understood.  Does the Bible define miracle?  Does it state the purpose of miracles?  What is the Biblical doctrine of miracles?’”

2.  Our objective in this study is not to be as exhaustive as Clark in his article.  But I would like to focus some attention on what a miracle is and see what the Bible says about the purpose of miracles.

3.  It is obvious from our reading of Acts 17 that calling on someone to believe in the miracle of resurrection is like trying to get them to jump across the Grand Canyon in one giant leap.  For one whose world-view only includes natural occurrences miracles are ruled out from the beginning.

4.  And even for Christian thinkers it must be realized that calling on someone to believe in miracles is incredible.

5.  So, how do we define a miracle?  And what is the purpose of miracles?

 

Discussion:

 

I.  What constitutes a miracle?

 

   A.  Both the O.T. and the N.T. describe a plethora of events that are beyond the 

        realm of natural occurrence.  (I am assuming that you know something of some of 

        these events.)

        1.  In the O.T. there is the creation itself.  The ten plagues of Exodus.  (The 

             Egyptian magicians were seemingly able to reproduce some of these.)  The 

            crossing of the Red Sea.  The falling of the walls of Jericho.  The resurrection 

            of dead people.  Daniel’s three friends were not burned by the furnace.  Jonah 

            was swallowed by a great fish.

       2.  The N.T. describes similar occurrences.  The virgin birth.  Turning water to 

            wine.  The healing of sick people.  The casting out of demons.   The feeding of 

            4,000 and 5,000.  The lame walk.  The dead are raised.

       3.  Some use the word miracle in a very broad sense.  They may speak of the 

            “miracle of childbirth” or their escape from an automobile accident as “a 

             miracle.”

   B.  The N.T. uses a variety of words to describe what we think of as miracles.  It 

         speaks of signs (semeion,4592), wonders (téras, 5059), and miracles (dúnamis, 

         1411) (cf. Jn. 20:30; Acts 14:3; 15:12; 2 Cor. 12:12).

   C.  The miracles of the Bible are supernatural events.  They are events that are 

         beyond natural occurrences.  While Scripture speaks of false prophets 

         performing wonders (2 Thess. 2:9; Ex. 7:22; etc.) these are discredited as false or 

         lying wonders designed to deceive.  True miracles involve God’s supernatural 

         intervention that goes beyond mere natural occurrences.  So, it is not merely an 

         astonishing event like childbirth, as amazing as it is.  By this definition childbirth 

         is not a miracle, but a natural occurrence.  A virgin birth?  That’s a miracle.

 

II.  Why miracles?  Why would God use something like this?  Does the Bible give an explanation and if so, what is it?  There are some biblical texts that specifically address this.

 

    A.  To produce belief that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God (Jn. 20:30-31).

    B.  Miracles are evidence of God’s activity.  No man can perform signs unless God 

         is with Him (Jn. 3:2).

         1.  This confirms something of our definition of miracles.  Miracles are not within 

              the power of man to perform.  They are only within the power of God to 

              perform.

         2.  As such then they are evidence of God’s activity.

   C.  Miracles validate God’s spokespersons (Heb. 2:3-4) and their message (Acts 

        15:8, 12).

   D.  Miracles are reflective of God’s good will and positive intervention (Matt. 11:3-5).

        1.  In this text the prediction of such becomes evidence of the origin of the 

             message (cf. Isa. 35:5; 61:1ff).

        2.  That the O.T. predicts such intervention by God is striking.  It confirms both 

             His positive intervention and the fact that He is not limited by time.

 

Conclusion:

 

1.  Miracles represent God’s intervention in a supernatural way in the human realm.

2.  By definition, they are beyond nature and natural occurrences.

3.  They are God’s witness of himself as he breaks through into the human realm in an unmistakable way.

4.  They are designed to produce belief that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, validate God’s spokespersons and their message, and confirm God’s good will and positive intervention in our behalf.

5.  Is God intervening in this way today?  In the usual way we think of miracles, I have not seen evidence of it.  However, if my understanding of Col. 2:12 is correct, and I believe it is, God does act to give us new life by raising us from the dead at the time of our baptism.  And that is no act accomplished by the power of men.