Topical Bible: Miracles: Guilt of Rejecting the Evidence Afforded By

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The concept of miracles in the Bible serves as a testament to God's power and divine intervention in the world. These supernatural acts are not merely displays of power but are intended to affirm faith, reveal God's nature, and authenticate His messengers. The rejection of the evidence provided by miracles is a recurring theme in Scripture, highlighting the spiritual and moral implications of disbelief.

Biblical Instances of Rejection

Throughout the Bible, there are numerous instances where individuals or groups witnessed miracles yet chose to reject the evidence they provided. This rejection is often portrayed as a grave spiritual failing, leading to severe consequences.

1. Pharaoh's Hardened Heart: In the book of Exodus, Pharaoh witnessed a series of miraculous plagues brought upon Egypt by God through Moses and Aaron. Despite the clear evidence of divine intervention, Pharaoh repeatedly hardened his heart and refused to let the Israelites go (Exodus 7-11). This obstinacy led to the ultimate devastation of Egypt and the loss of Pharaoh's firstborn son.

2. Israel's Unbelief in the Wilderness: After witnessing the miraculous deliverance from Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea, the Israelites continued to doubt God's provision and power. Their lack of faith, despite the miracles they had seen, resulted in their wandering in the wilderness for forty years (Numbers 14:22-23).

3. The Ministry of Jesus: The Gospels recount numerous miracles performed by Jesus, from healing the sick to raising the dead. Despite these signs, many, including the religious leaders, rejected Him. Jesus lamented this unbelief, saying, "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had occurred in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes" (Matthew 11:21).

4. The Pharisees' Blasphemy: The Pharisees, despite witnessing Jesus' miracles, attributed His works to demonic power rather than the Holy Spirit. This rejection of the evidence was deemed blasphemy against the Spirit, an unforgivable sin (Matthew 12:24-32).

Theological Implications

Rejecting the evidence of miracles is not merely a matter of intellectual disbelief but is often rooted in a deeper spiritual rebellion. The Bible presents this rejection as a willful act against the clear revelation of God's power and authority. Such disbelief is seen as a moral failing, leading to spiritual blindness and separation from God.

1. Hardened Hearts: The rejection of miracles often results in a hardened heart, making individuals less receptive to future revelations of God's truth. This spiritual condition is both a cause and consequence of unbelief, as seen in the repeated hardening of Pharaoh's heart.

2. Accountability and Judgment: Those who reject the evidence of miracles are held accountable for their unbelief. Jesus warned that the cities that witnessed His miracles yet did not repent would face a harsher judgment than those who had not seen such works (Matthew 11:20-24).

3. Faith and Repentance: Miracles are intended to lead individuals to faith and repentance. The rejection of these signs is a rejection of the opportunity for salvation and reconciliation with God. As the author of Hebrews warns, "How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3).

Conclusion

The guilt of rejecting the evidence afforded by miracles is a serious theme in the Bible, underscoring the importance of faith and the consequences of unbelief. Miracles serve as a divine invitation to recognize God's presence and respond in faith, and the rejection of this evidence is portrayed as a profound spiritual failure with eternal implications.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Matthew 11:20-24
Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 15:24
If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin: but now have they both seen and hated both me and my Father.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The First Preaching in Asia Minor
... as Peter did, by charging home the guilt of the ... about Christ's life of gentle goodness,
His miracles or teaching ... plain warning of the dread issue of rejecting it ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/the first preaching in asia.htm

The Day of Pentecost.
... signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts ... awaits them, if they persist
in rejecting and vilifying a ... to reflect seriously upon your guilt and danger ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture ii the day of.htm

The Conversion of Cornelius.
... and that consciousness of inferiority and guilt, which man ... the scene of the incarnation,
miracles death, and ... his relation to us, and rejecting another equally ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xiii the conversion of.htm

Extracts No. X.
... reject, yea it is impossible to avoid rejecting, that which ... able to confirm the same
by miracles, the same ... persuasion did not acquit him from guilt, nor would ...
/.../ballou/a series of letters in defence of divine revelation/extracts no x.htm

The Book of Jubilees
... in righteousness, He will remove their guilt and forgive ... It may be that the teaching,
miracles, and example ... 279 ff., only rejecting the writer's unwarrantable ...
//christianbookshelf.org/deane/pseudepigrapha/the book of jubilees.htm

The Religious Revolution
... only the non-imputation of the guilt on account ... gifted with the power of working
miracles, and favoured ... in religious matters, the other rejecting entirely the ...
/.../chapter ii the religious revolution.htm

According to which principle or hypothesis all the objections ...
... do suffer only for their own guilt; whereas many ... God's just judgment in rejecting
and forsaking ... concerning the birth, life, miracles, sufferings, resurrection ...
/.../proposition vi according to which.htm

Of Prayer --A Perpetual Exercise of Faith. The Daily Benefits ...
... The great comfort thereby afforded. ... own, but that by which, while confessing our
guilt, we utter ... is necessary, by way of example, to give clear evidence of the ...
/.../the institutes of the christian religion/chapter 20 of prayera perpetual.htm

Some Gospel Truths Opened, According to the Scriptures; Or, the ...
... saith the Apostle, it is the evidence, or testimony ... of the filth of sin, as the guilt
of it ... shalt practise hereafter, especially for thy rejecting and trampling ...
/.../the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/some gospel truths opened according.htm

part i
... Christ act miraculously by themselves, apart from and independently of Christ Himself,
this same Cross and name of Christ do not perform any miracles, until I ...
//christianbookshelf.org/calvin/my life in christ/part i.htm