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To prove that miracles no longer occur. Text: John
20:30-31.
Introduction.
II. Definition of "miracle":
"Events in the external world wrought by the immediate power
of God and intended as a sign or attestation" (Westminster Dictionary of the
Bible).
III. Non-Miraculous Christianity is no Christianity at all.
A. Many try to prove that miracles never occurred.
B. To try to prove this is to try to prove the impossible.
C. Without the miraculous, Christianity is a vain religion.
1. The Bible could not have been inspired (2
Tim 3:16).
2. Jesus must have been a liar because he claimed to do miracles.
3. Without the miracle of the resurrection, we have no hope of eternal life
(1
Cor 15:17).
IV. We must make it clear that we do believe in
miracles.
V. However, a recent survey has indicated that
91% of the people in the United States still
believe that miracles still occur today.
A. This is a problem.
B. It goes against everything that the Scriptures teach.
VI. The belief that miracles still occur really comes about from ignorance.
A. People don't understand the purpose of miracles.
B. They don't understand the nature of miracles.
C. They don't understand that miracles were never meant to be extend beyond the
time it took to reveal the word of God.
VII. For this reason, let us look at:
A. The purpose of miracles.
B. The nature of miracles.
C. The duration of miracles.
Body.
I. The Purpose of Miracles.
A. Miracles were involved in
the giving and confirmation of the word (Heb
2:3-4; Mark
16:20). How else were the hearers to know that the speaker was telling
the truth.
1. The Patriarchal age began
with miracles and continued naturally.
2. The Mosaic Age began
miraculously (Ex
7) and continued naturally.
3. The Christian age began
miraculously (Acts
2; Luke
24:49) and continued naturally.
B. Miracles were used to
confirm that Jesus was the Christ.
C. Miracles were used to show
that the messenger had God's approval.
1. Like Moses before
Pharaoh (Ex
4:1-9).
D. Miracles were used to the
messenger truth that was unknown to him.
E. Miracles were never used
for personal benefit.
1. Paul did not heal
Timothy (1
Tim 5:23).
2. Paul did not heal
Trophimus (2
Tim 4:20).
3. He did not heal them
because it would not have served to confirm his message.
II. The Nature of Miracles.
A. Who could perform
miracles?
1. Jesus could perform
miracles (Luke
4:36).2. The
Apostles could perform miracles (2
Cor 12:12).3.
Those whom the Apostles laid hands on could perform miracles (Acts
8:17-18; 19:6).
B. Classifications of
Miracles.
2. Power
over disease (Acts
3:1-10).4. Power
over death (John
11).
C. Characteristics of
Miracles.
1. They always exhibit the
character of God and teach truths about God.2.
They had a religious purpose.
a. They were not
contradictory to God's word.b.
They always glorified God and not man (Acts
3:8).c. Miracles
supported the truth and not error (Heb
2:3-4).
3. They were performed in
public places and in the presence of unbelievers.4.
They were performed without sensationalism (no "healing
services").5.
Miracles never made the miracle worker rich.6.
These miracles were never successfully refuted by enemies (Acts
4:16).7. They were
never silly or absurd.8.
There was never any doubt that a miracle had been performed.9.
People did not come to see miracles but to hear the gospel.10.
The results were immediate and complete.11.
If a failure occurred when trying to do a miracle, it was the
miracle-worker's fault and not the one on whom the miracle was being done.
III. The Duration of Miracles.
A. The Old Testament predicts
the cessation of miracles (Zech
13:2).B. The New
Testament predicts the cessation of miracles (1
Cor 13:8f).C. There is no
longer a purpose for miracles today; the word has been confirmed.D.
How long did miracles last? When the Apostles died and all of those whom
they had laid hands on died.
Conclusion.
1. The serious student
of the Bible who studies with an honest heart must come to the conclusion that
miracles no longer occur today.2.
This is not because God is not capable of performing miracles but because he
chooses not to.3. The Purpose
of Miracle shows us that they are no longer taking place.
A. The purpose was to confirm
the word.B. It has been
confirmed.
4. The Nature of Miracles shows
that miracles have ceased.5.
The Duration of Miracle as taught in the Bible shows that they have ceased.
-- Ralph Price - February 2000 --
The bulk of this material is from Bobby Liddell's
summer class on Parables and Miracles
at the Memphis School of Preaching.
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