Foundational Doctrines: The Mystery of Miracles

There is a great deal of confusion in the religious world and within our fellowship on the subject of miracles. What can we confidently know about the mystery of miracles?

1. Miracles had very specific purposes in the first century. Miracles performed by Jesus and his apostles fulfilled Old Testament prophecy (Matt. 8:16-17). The “signs” that were performed were designed to be the proof that Jesus was the divine Son of God (John 20:30-31). As the apostles went about teaching the message of Jesus, the fact that they were messengers from God was established by the miracles they performed (2 Cor. 12:12). God’s true message could be distinguished from a false message by the confirmation of miracles performed (Mark 16:20; Heb. 2:1-4). The purpose of miracles was to confirm the message of God and his messengers who delivered it. Miracles were not performed to satisfy people’s curiosity (Matt. 12:38ff; 13:58; John 6:30ff; 1 Cor. 1:22). True faith is not produced by witnessing a miracle (Luke 16:30-31; John 12:37ff; Acts 4:16-17); rather faith is developed by absorbing the word of God (Rom. 10:17). Miracles were intended to confirm the word of God. It was (and is) the confirmed word of God, not the miracles themselves, that produced faith.

2. The ability to perform miracles was transmitted by the laying on of the Apostles’ hands. Jesus possessed an unlimited measure of the Holy Spirit that allowed him to perform miracles (John 3:34-35). Jesus sent the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, giving them the ability to perform miracles (Luke 9:1-2; 10:19-20; Acts 1:8). They were given this ability to demonstrate to the hearers that their message was true (Acts 4:29-30; Heb. 2:1-4; John 15:26). These miracles were given “first” (1 Cor. 12:28) so that the foundation of the church would be established by the apostles and prophets (Eph. 2:20). The Apostles had the power to transfer miraculous power to other believers (Acts 8:18; 14:3; 2 Tim. 1:6). Miraculous powers (the miraculous measure of the Holy Spirit) were only obtained by the laying on of an Apostle’s hand (Acts 8:14-24). Others (besides the Apostles) that had miraculous abilities were unable to pass this gift on to others. Philip could perform miracles himself (Acts 8:6), but he was unable to give this ability to others (Acts 8:18-19). With the death of the Apostles and those who had miraculous ability, miracles through human agency rapidly ceased.

3. A time came when the performing of miracles through human hands were no longer necessary and therefore ceased. Once a message is confirmed as true, there is no longer any need for further confirmation. God’s word was revealed in “bits and pieces” through various prophets and inspired teachers (cf. 1 Cor. 14:29-33). Once the complete message of God was revealed and the church was no longer in its infancy (Eph. 4:11-16), there was no longer a need for the confirming purpose of miracles. The “partial” of miracles gave way to the “completeness” of God’s revealed will (1 Cor. 13:8-13).

4. God still does miraculous things today, just not through human hands. Miracles performed by human hands (Acts 14:3; 19:11-12) ceased when God’s complete message was revealed. Yet, God still does incomprehensible, miraculous acts today by his wisdom and power in response to our requests in prayer (Eph. 3:20-21). When we pray, we ask God Himself to directly act in ways that he normally does not act through the natural working of things. We must pray like Elijah asking God for extraordinary things (James 5:17-18). To receive the miraculous power of God, we must pray without doubting (James 1:6-8). We must not “deny the power” of God when we pray by limiting what he will and will not do (2 Tim. 3:5). God’s ways are indescribable and amazing (Rom. 11:33-36)! Do you believe it?