“Therefore, it is important that we stick more firmly to the truths heard, so as never to deviate from them [?] Having been originally announced by the Lord, then it was confirmed to us by those who heard it; to give God is a witness with them, through signs, wonders, and various miracles, and through the distribution of the Holy Ghost, according to his will?(Hebrews 2. 1-4)
I hear the question all the time: “Sproul, do you think miracles happen today?”If you want a simple answer, the answer is no. Today you go to the pastoral offices and see a sign that says, “It has a miracle”. . ” But do you have a miracle? If miracles are to be expected, are they to be expected?There’s nothing miraculous about them. If they are common, they have no certifiable weight, it is by their extraordinary nature that they have the power of signs.
- Now.
- Of course.
- When people ask me if I believe in miracles.
- They ask one question and I answer another.
- If they want to say.
- “Do you think God still works in the world in a supernatural way?”Of course I do.
- ” Do you think God responds to prayers?Do you think God heals people in response to prayer?Yes of course.
- All miracles are supernatural.
- But not all supernatural acts are miracles.
- Theologians are very specific in making distinctions.
- And when I say that today I do not believe in miracles.
- I do not believe in a specific kind of miracle.
- In the restrictive sense where a miracle is defined as a work that takes place in the observable outside world; an extraordinary work in the outer world observable against the laws of nature by the immediate power of God; a work that only God can do.
- How to resurrect the dead.
- How to restore a member who has been cut with just talk.
- How to walk on water.
- How to turn water into wine.
Even some of the wonderful signs of the New Testament would not be called miracles according to this specific definition. So why are we working with this very specific definition?For the following reason: if someone can perform miracles, if a person who is not an Agent of Divine Revelation can perform a miracle, then obviously a miracle cannot certify an agent of revelation. Let me repeat: if someone who is not an agent of revelation can perform a miracle, then a miracle cannot authenticate or certify a true agent of revelation. This would mean that the New Testament’s affirmation of having the authority of God Himself (since God certified Christ and the Apostles by miracles) would be a false affirmation and a false argument.
What is at stake here, then, is the authority, authenticity, and truthfulness of the Bible itself, so we have this specific definition, and that is why we do not trust miracles, because we do not trust to find apostles to walk. Consequently, miracles like those of the New Testament ceased in the Apostolic Age.
Now God is still alive; Keep working. He always responds to prayers in an incredible way. I have seen wonderful answers to prayers, I have seen people cured of terminal illnesses, I have simply never seen anyone resurrected from the cemetery, or an arm that has been uprooted again, or a preacher walking on water, or water turned into wine. In any case, the Lord Jesus has performed such miracles not only in the broadest sense, but also in the strict sense. The miracles of the New Testament are very important to us, because they are the test of the God of Jesus and the Apostles, under whose authority we submit.
By: R. C. Sproul. © 2013 Ligonier. Original Ministries: Does R. C. Sproul Believe in Miracles ?.
Translation: Alan Cristie Comment: Vin-cius Musselman Pimentel © 2014 Faithful Ministério All rights reserved. Website: MinisterioFiel. com. br Original: Does R. C. Sproul believe in miracles ?.
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