What is a miracle? Miracles include visible signs

Hebrews 2:3-4 "how will we escape if we neglect so great asalvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and byvarious miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will."

Introduction and Review
For the past couple of days we have been doing a series of posts that aim to answer the question: what is a miracle?
In studying a few key scriptures we have come up with two thoughts thus far:

1. Miracles are irregular events
2. Miracles are directly done by God

In looking at these two descriptions, we realized that a miracle is any irregular event directly done by God. Today we consider another description that we can add to our overall answer to this question. 

Miracles include a visible sign 

So in understanding that miracles are irregular events directly done by God, how can we tell whether or not a miracle has occurred? Notice again what we read in Exodus 34:10 "....and all the people among whom you live will see the working of the Lord, for it is a fearful thing that I am going to perform with you....". 

Whenever we consider the miraculous in the Bible, we see other words used to describe such events.  For example, Hebrews 2:3-4 states - "how will we escape if we neglect so great asalvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will."  

The reader may had noticed the three underlined words in the text. These three words are the most common ones used in providing both the categories and detailed explanation of miracles. The first, "sign", refers to a visible phenomena the points back to the miracle and ultimately to God Himself. The Apostle John for instance uses this term to describe seven main miracles of Jesus in the Gospel of John. Just a signs in a building point people to finding specific locations and other people, the word "sign" tells us that the particular miracle has the quality of "pointing back" to it's point of origin - God Himself.

Then we see the second underlined in Hebrews 2:4, namely "wonders". This term is used often in contexts where God is directly affecting the physical environment or physical laws that would otherwise operate in a predictable fashion in the course of His Providence. Much like a catalyst works in chemistry, causing two or more elements to react and change, a "wonder" functions in much the same way. Think of "wonders" as God's "billboard" for bearing witness about Himself, His message and His messengers. 

Then the third term, translated "miracles", can just as easily be translated "workings". This term refers to a type of miracle whereby God may use ordinary events or people to do extraordinary things. Physical healing is one of the most common examples of this type of miracle. God can choose to use the body's own immune system to eradicate disease or reanimate dead people to come back to life - just as Jesus did with Lazarus. "Workings" are the most practical-type of miracle that are not so much designed to "shock and awe" as they are to meet a personal and practical need. 

Now with all three of these types of miracles, God includes some type of visible manifestation to vindicate His power and presence and the people whom he has directed to communicate His words. With the inclusion of such visible signs, miracles can be tested and verified. Such a point is worth noting, demonstrating that God's manifestation of such miracles was to demonstrate the truth of what was being said. Though miracles in and of themselves contain no power to convert the human soul, they do work in rendering people without excuse for not believing in God or trusting in Him for their salvation. 

We see then that miracles are possible in this world as part of irregular events that occur in this world.  We have also observed that a miracle, by definition, is an event directly done by God. Both these points show the possibility of miracles and their source. Today's trait included the idea that miracles include some sort of visible accompanying sign that verifies the reality of the One true and living God, the messenger and the message being conveyed. This final point shows that miracles are not just things that are imagined in the mind. Rather a true miracle can be readily identified as a genuine event occuring in history. 

Tomorrow we will consider one last characteristic that will complete our overall answer to the question: what is a miracle?

What is a miracle? An event directly done by God

Exodus 34:10 "Then God said, “Behold, I am going to make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform miracles which have not been produced in all the earth nor among any of the nations; and all the people among whom you live will see the working of the Lord, for it is a fearful thing that I am going to perform with you." 

Introduction and Review
In yesterday's post we began answering the question: what is a miracle? We proposed the first part of the answer: "miracles are by their essence irregular events". In the course of the conversation we proposed the following logical argument:

#1 Irregular events do occur in this world

#2 A Miracle, per our definition, is an irregular event

Therefore miracles can occur in this world

Now this first trait declares the possibility of miracles in this world, however it by itself does not fully answer the question: what is a miracle? Today's post continues on our discussion by proposing a second defining characteristic of miracles: namely that miracles are events directly done by God.

Miracles are directly done by God

God says in the middle of Exodus 34:10 ..."Before all your people I will perform miracles which have not been produced...". The underlined word "produced" is defined in one Hebrew dictionary as always being tied directly to God as the subject doing the "producing", "fashioning" or "creating". Interestingly enough this same Hebrew verb is found in the first verse of the Bible, Genesis 1:1, where we read: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth". Whenever we consider the kind of activity God is doing here in relationship to the created order when it comes to miracles, we can use the word "direct" to explain such activity.

In scripture, God's interraction with His creation can be described under two general headings. The first is what Bible teachers call "providence", meaning God's "indirect" Sovereign influence exercised through events, the wills of men and physical processes. God's Providential activity includes the use of secondary agents such as people to achieve His purposes. Thus God's activity in this world, as it relates to providence, is what we could term "indirect". 

A miracle on the otherhand involves God's "direct" involvement with His creation.  What can be interesting of course is when God performs a miracle through the use of ordinary people and situations. Why is that interesting? Because for those people who have by grace through faith trusted in Jesus for their salvation, a miraculous intervention by God will be recognized as such. However, for the unbeliever, when looking at the same event, they may only see the natural occurrence of the thing and conclude it to be nothing more than an anomaly or coincidence. 

The literature on the subject of miracles often emphasizes that true miracles occur in specific contexts and for specific purposes. When God wrought forth miracles in the Bible, they always occurred, to borrow a term from Dr. William Lane Craig, in "religiously significant contexts". God's direct intervention in the affairs of people and events is a reminder to us that He is The Personal as well as The Powerful God revealed in the Bible. Thus, from our brief survey of scripture, we can define a miracle as an irregular occurrence that is done directly by God. 

I request patience from my readers, being that we are building to an overall answer to the question about miracles. This current series is attempting to equip the Christian reader to deal with the skeptical and cynical age in which we live. Tomorrow we will consider another description that aids in answering the question: what is a miracle?

What is a miracle? Irregular Events that are possible in this world

Exodus 34:10 "Then God said, “Behold, I am going to make a covenant. Before all your people I will perform miracles which have not been produced in all the earth nor among any of the nations; and all the people among whom you live will see the working of the Lord, for it is a fearful thing that I am going to perform with you."

Introduction:

How do we define the word "miracle"? This will be the aim of today's blog as we explore some of the major scriptures that speak on the subject of the miraculous. Below I will put forth some of the key scriptures that mention the miraculous and then propose headings that will aid in arriving at answering the question: What is a miracle? 

Miracles are irregular events

In the opening verse of today's post, God indicates that He is going to "perform miracles that have not been produced in all the earth nor among all the nations." The Hebrew word translated "miracle" is found over 70 times in the Old Testament and is defined by various Hebrew dictionaries as referring to something that is difficult to do, beyond one's ability or treated as a distinguished and separate activity. We could summarize this idea of "miracle" by noting that it is an extremely irregular event. This of course is only one facet of attempting to arrive at a Biblical definition of a miracle. Apologist Dr. Norman Geisler notes in his "Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics", page 472: "In addition to its dimensions, a true miracle has distinguishing marks. The most basic is that a true miracle is an exception to natural law. Natural laws are regular, predictable events, but miracles are special, unpredictable events." Geisler goes on in noting additional attributes of the miraculous that can be helpful in answering our question regarding the definition of a miracle: "a true miracle also produces results; always bring glory to God, bring good to the natural world" and "true miracles never fail." 

An example of how the reality of the miraculous can demonstrate God's existence
Another Christian apologist, Dr. William Lane Craig, refers to miracles as "naturally impossible events", meaning that no natural processes can bring about what is otherwise a miracle. Although I'll be using the phrase: "irregular event", Dr. Craig's idea communicates essentially the same idea as mine. In using Dr. William Lane Craig's discussions on miracles and their place in the course of naturally occurring events, we can propose a sample argument for God's existence. 

Take for example Jesus' resurrection from the dead. Known physical laws and processes describe for us a physical reality in which we should not expect dead men to rise from the dead. Yet Jesus' resurrection from the dead is among the most established events in all of human history. Thus, in noting the historical reality of Jesus' resurrection, we can only conclude that it is a miracle, and that in being a miracle, a non-natural, albeit a "Supernatural" cause is behind Jesus' resurrection- namely God Himself. The logic for this line of thinking may go something like this:

#1 Miracles are non-natural events that are naturally impossible events. Only natural events that are naturally possible can occur if in fact the God of the Bible does not exist

#2 History's task is to recount all events that occur, including naturally possible & naturally impossible events

#3 The Gospel records document Jesus' physical resurrection and have been shown under close scrutiny to be reliable documents

#4 Jesus resurrection was a miraculous event that could be classified as occurring as a result of non-natural causes

#5 Jesus resurrection from the dead is a miracle that did occur in history

Therefore, since non-natural events, as well as natural events do occur in our world, and being that non-natural events (such as Jesus resurrection) has been shown to occur, then it only stands to reason that the God of the Bible exists. 

Some further thoughts on "irregular events" and why miracles can be legitimately considered as part of our world This point about irregularity is important because so many skeptics will say that miracles are impossible, being that in the normal course of human experience, no such event can happen? However, if there are irregular events that can occur in history, which may not be experienced regularly by human beings, then does that rule out the miraculous?  

For instance, when I lived in central Florida, there was one year where the storm paths of three hurricanes in once season crisscrossed over the very neighborhood where we lived. For even one hurricane to make it that far inland into central Florida had not occurred in 40 years. Imagine the less likelihood of three hurricanes and their storm paths all crisscrossing one another in one season? 

Are we saying that this highly irregular pattern of hurricanes constitutes a definite miracle. Hardly. There are obviously other traits that need to be considered before saying something is a definite miracle. Consider the following logical statement:

#1 We see the possibility of irregular events occurring in the world; 

#2 and miracles are by definition irregular events 

Therefore, it can be rightly concluded that miracles can occur in this world. 

Closing thoughts for now
In beginning to answer the question: what is a miracle? We have proposed thus far that miracles by their essence are events that occur irregularly. This point establishes the possibility of miracles. Tomorrow's post will discuss a second trait that can be used in answering the question: what is a miracle?

More tomorrow....

A poem: We need the Bible

2 Timothy 3:15-16 "and that from childhood you have knownthe sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness."

We need the Bible

a poem

When I behold a Bible, aged and worn

With pages folded, marked and torn

I know the person that has read it much

With His Savior he keeps in touch

The binding may be loose, and edges frayed

The pages yellowed with colors that fade

Yet I know that faith has been bound

The vision of Christ is clear and sound

As the pages turned and underlines made

The reader found comfort, light and aid

Some may scoff at the frailty of the book

Its cover is cracked and not pretty to look

Yet God's Word is precious and never grows old

Its contents are power, more precious than gold

To read the Bible is to have it read you

It penetrates the soul with light that is true

I hear the words preached, and my heart melts away

The Spirit has won and gotten His way

The words of that book can overcome strife

The words are power, comfort and life

We need the Bible, for in it we see

Jesus who came for you and me

P2 - T.h.a.n.k you Jesus

1 Timothy 1:12a "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord...."

Introduction:

Can we ever thank Jesus enough for all He has done? Yesterday we considered three reasons to thank Jesus by using the acrostic t.h.a.n.k: 

1. Times of strengthening  
2. Heavenly calling
3. Awesome salvation

Point of Application: We noted yesterday the following main point of application: thanking Jesus will result in a lifestyle of worship. I get this thought from what Paul says in the closing part of this particular portion of 1 Timothy 1:12-17. Notice what he writes in verse 17 - "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God,be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." Today's post will suggest two more reasons to give thanks to Jesus. We will utilize the acrostic t.h.a.n.k in understanding how giving thanks to Jesus results in a life of worship to Him. In thanking Jesus for times of strengthening, heavenly calling and awesome salvation, we can note a fourth area to be thankful for, namely...

Need for the Bible. 1 Timothy 1:15-16
We read the following in 1 Timothy 1:15 "It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all." As Paul wrote these words, he was expressing how by the Spirit he was wrapping his arms around key truths of scripture. Being that the Holy Spirit of God was superintending these words, we could say that the term "a trustworthy statement" illustrates for us the truth of the Bible's infallibility - that is to say, the Bible's ability to lead us into all truth and to never fail (hence the term "trustworthy statement"). 

Now what is it that makes the Bible necessary? It is the only book in the word that can be classified as the very words of God. In 1 Timothy 1:15b and 1:16 we see Paul wrapping two spiritual arms around the heart of the Bible's revelation: namely Christ's achievement of redemption and then the application of salvation at saving faith. In perhaps the clearest verse possible regarding the necessity and divine authority of sacred scripture, 2 Timothy 3:16, we see 2 Timothy 3:15 with this preface: "and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." 

Other biblical writers saw the need to thank the Lord for His word, since they saw the need for it. King Solomon says in 1 Kings 8:56 "Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised; not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant." In terms of thanking the Heavenly Father for the revealed word, no greater example can be found than Jesus Himself in Luke 10:21 "At that very time He rejoiced greatly in the Holy Spirit, and said, “I praise You, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants. Yes, Father, for this way was well-pleasing in Your sight."

We can thank Jesus for our need for the Bible because of salvation (Romans 10:17) and strengthening for the Christian life (1 Timothy 4:16; Hebrews 4:12). More could be said but we shall move onto our final point in today's post concerning giving thanks to Jesus, namely...

King Jesus Himself. 1 Timothy 1:16-17
We began this short blog series with the following main point of application: thanking Jesus will result in a lifestyle of worship. I cannot think of a greater reason to thank Jesus than Jesus Himself. Clearly Paul is reflecting back on the beginnings of his conversion to demonstrate the fact that not only did He witness the living Christ, but he has been experiencing him on a daily basis since his intial salvation encounter. Thanks to the Lord for all he has done is like putting fertilizer on the soil of a potted flower. The more consistently we apply and cultivate the soil of a potted flower, the richer the bloom will be and the more enjoyment will be experienced. Worship is impossible without thanksgiving to God. 

Notice what Paul writes in his explosion of worship in 1 Timothy 1:17 - "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God,be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." After expressing His thanksgiving to the King Jesus Christ, Paul then expresses this sudden burst of worship and praise to the Triune God in general. The Eternal Son, of whom He just gave thanks, shares in undiminished Deity with the Father and Spirit. When we are thankful people, the heart will after a while burst forth in worship to God, much like water building up behind a dam. Thanksgiving after thanksgiving builds up pressure behind the heart until the heart cannot contain it. Worship is in its purest expression the fullest manifestation of thanksgiving to God. Thanksgiving in our Christian life is a faucet that we must turn on throughout the week, moment by moment. The more thanksgiving we express, the greater intensity there will be in our worship. 

Closing thoughts:
We have for the past two days looked at giving thanks to Jesus. Our main point of application has been: thanking Jesus will result in a lifestyle of worship. As we looked at 1 Timothy 1:12-17, we saw the following five areas to thank Jesus for by noting the acrostic t.h.a.n.k:

1. Times of strengthening
2. Heavenly calling
3. Awesome salvation
4. Need for the Bible
5. King Jesus Himself

P1 T.h.a.n.k you Jesus

1 Timothy 1:12a "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord...."

Introduction:

Can we ever thank Jesus enough for all He has done? A few days ago I had blogged on this subject of giving thanks to the Lord. God's Word has this amazing property of yielding further riches after multiple times of study and reflection.  

Point of Application: Thanking Jesus will result in a lifestyle of worship. 

I get this thought from what Paul says in the closing part of this particular portion of 1 Timothy 1:12-17. Notice what he writes in verse 17 - "Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God,be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen." Today's post considers why we must t.h.a.n.k Jesus Christ. We will consider three reasons to thank Jesus today and then two more tomorrow. 

1. Times of strengthening. 1:12a

Paul begins by expressing to Timothy how awesome it was that Jesus Christ Himself was strengthening Him. Some of the false teachers who were confusing the Law and Gospel were "Johnny-Come-Latelys" who only wanted fame and notoriety among men. The well of strength that these false teachers were drawing from was their flesh and magnetic personalities. Paul's ministry on the other hand drew its strength from Jesus and His resurrection power. In Acts 9:22 we read of what took place following Paul's dramatic encounter: "But Saul kept increasing in strength and confounding the Jews who lived at Damascus by proving that this Jesus is the Christ."

It was Jesus Himself who enabled Paul with the gifts and talent to begin serving him in the ministry. 

The strength that Jesus gives is not only for times of ministry, but throughout those seasons of the Christian life when we are at our weakest. After all, it is in those weakest of times that we learn His grace is sufficient. (2 Corinthians 12:9) Only when we have abandoned the mirage of self-sufficiency will we be able to say with the Apostle: "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.' (Philippians 4:13) So let's thank Christ Jesus for times of strengthening and then secondly...

2. Heavenly calling. 1:12b-14
We read in the second part of 1 Timothy 1:12..."because He considered me faithful, putting me into service." It is in 1 Timothy 1:13-14 that Paul expands upon the significant circumstances surrounding His calling to ministry. Before the heavenly call of ministry, Paul's call to salvation came first. The point of these verses is to underscore the fact that out of all the people in the world who were least likely to be the greatest spokeman for Jesus Christ, it was Saul of Tarsus. As Paul relays in 1 Timothy 1:13a "even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor." I love the phrase "even though". Why? Because whatever will come after that "even though" phrase will totally overule whatever Paul had once done prior to his conversion.

You and I dear friend have done a lot of "even though's" in our lifetimes. When God's call of salvation comes to us, we are in an "even though" condition. This "even though" condition in my case would go something like this: "even though I was a sinner, a self-righteous little ten year old boy not worthy to be called by Jesus Christ unto His salvation, yet He found me". We were in the same predicament as all lost sinners. Paul was literally arch-enemy number one to both the early church and to Jesus Christ. 

With that said, the most powerful word in 1 Timothy 1:13 erases Paul's former identity: "yet". When I see the word "yet", that is usually a God word. God alone can take a no body and make them a somebody who can tell everybody about The Somebody who can save anybody. This is Paul's whole point in his fountain of thanksgiving in these verses. We read in 1 Timothy 1:14 "and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus."

The call of God makes nothing into something. 

I thank the Lord who called me unto Himself in 1984 and who called me into His service in 1991. Whatever station of life you are serving, whatever you are doing, give thanks to the Lord for His heavenly calling and times of strengthening. Now notice the third thing to thank Jesus for....

3. Awesome salvation. 1:13b-14a
We read in the latter part of 1 Timothy 1:13 and the beginning part of 1:14 "Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant...". Mercy is God not giving to us what we deserve. What is it that everybody deserves? As a Christian there are three things I deserve: death, hell and the grave. God chose me in His mercy. Because of God, the wrath that I deserved was spared. The Gospel is awesome because of God's choice to show mercy. Wrath being withheld from all who believe is awesome news. But now the Gospel is awesome for another reason - grace. Grace is God giving to us what we don't deserve. Grace cannot be earned, only received. Saul of Tarsus was not looking for Jesus, if anything, he was doing all he could to destroy Christianity. Nonethless on the way to hell, so-to-speak, the King from Heaven met Saul in physical, post-resurrected form and engaged him in grace. Thus we can thank Jesus for awesome salvation, heavenly calling and times of strengthening.

More tomorrow...

25 Riches of the Gospel

Romans 1:16 "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek."

In this chief passage of the Apostle Paul's Epistle (or letter) to the Romans, we behold a statement regarding the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel must be heard or read at least once a day. Why? Because there are so many rich truths and benefits that are contained in it and explained by it. Like a brilliant multifaceted diamond, whenever we turn the Gospel diamond over and over in our minds and hearts, the Holy Spirit can shine His illuminating light upon its facets. As the Spirit of God illuminates the Gospel, we become more convinced of it being what it truly is - the power of God unto salvation. Below I have listed out some of the truths and benefits that are tied to the Good News of Jesus Christ. The reader may note that the headings correspond to each Person of the Trinity, being that the Triune God is the Architect, Achiever and Applier of salvation.  

God the Father's plans for each of His people described in the Gospel

1. Foreknown    Rom 8:29-31; 2 Pt 1:1

2. Predestined   Romans 8:29-30

3. Chosen  Ephesians 1:3-11

4. (incarnation), Son sent  John 3:16

5. (Pentecost) Holy Spirit sent Acts 2

6. Calling Rom 8:29-30; Ephesians 4:1

The Son's purchased achievement of salvation desribed by the Gospel

1. Reconciliation Rom 5; 2 Cor 5:15-21

2. Expiation or taking away of sin 1 John 2:2

3. Propitiation or satisfaction of God's wrath  Hebrews 8-10

4. Forgiveness of sins  Eph 1:7

5. Credited or imputed righteousness earned by His life and purchased by His death  Romans 4:24-25; 2 Cor 5:21

The Spirit's application of salvation described by the Gospel

1. Calling. John 16:8-12

2. Regeneration  1 Peter 1:23; James 1:18

3. Saving Faith. Eph 2:8-9

4. Repentance. 2 Tim 2:24-25

5. Conversion. Acts 3:19

6. Justification. Romans 4

7. Adoption. Romans 8:14-16

8. Sanctification. Romans 6:4-12

9. Preservation of our faith. Jude 24-25

10. Illumination of the scriptures Ps 119:105

11. His permanent indwelling. Eph 1:11-13

12. His filling ministry. Eph 5:18

13. Future glorification of believers. Romans 8:30-31

14. Raising believers at Christ's return

1 Thess 4:13-18

These listings are a sample of the richness of the Gospel. Each could be a blog post on its own. The point is to show the reader how wonderful the Gospel is and why we need to hear it, read it and tell it to ourselves everyday. By doing so, we as Christians will be reminded of who we are and Whose we are. By telling ourselves the Gospel, we will then desire to tell it to others.