Topical Encyclopedia In the biblical narrative, miracles serve as divine interventions that reveal God's power and authority. They are not merely displays of supernatural phenomena but are intended to lead individuals and communities toward obedience to God. Throughout Scripture, miracles are closely associated with the call to faithfulness and adherence to God's commands.Old Testament Context In the Old Testament, miracles often accompany God's deliverance and covenantal promises. The plagues in Egypt, for instance, were miraculous signs intended to compel Pharaoh to release the Israelites from bondage. In Exodus 7:5 , God declares, "And the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I stretch out My hand against Egypt and bring the Israelites out from among them." The miracles served a dual purpose: to demonstrate God's supremacy and to prompt obedience from both the Egyptians and the Israelites. The crossing of the Red Sea is another significant miracle that underscores the call to obedience. In Exodus 14:31 , it is recorded, "When Israel saw the great power that the LORD had exercised over the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and believed in Him and in His servant Moses." The miraculous deliverance led the Israelites to a renewed commitment to follow God's commands as they journeyed toward the Promised Land. New Testament Context In the New Testament, Jesus' miracles are central to His ministry and message. They authenticate His identity as the Messiah and call individuals to repentance and obedience. In John 2:11 , after Jesus turns water into wine at Cana, it is noted, "This, the first of His signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee. He thus revealed His glory, and His disciples believed in Him." The miracle led to a deeper faith and commitment among His followers. The feeding of the five thousand is another example where a miracle is intended to produce obedience. In John 6:26-29 , Jesus addresses the crowd, saying, "Truly, truly, I tell you, it is not because you saw the signs that you are looking for Me, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." Here, Jesus redirects their focus from the physical miracle to the spiritual obedience required for eternal life. Apostolic Miracles The apostles continued the pattern of miracles leading to obedience in the early church. In Acts 3, Peter and John heal a lame man at the temple gate, which results in amazement and an opportunity to preach the gospel. Acts 3:19 records Peter's call to the onlookers: "Repent, then, and turn back, so that your sins may be wiped away." The miracle serves as a catalyst for repentance and obedience to the message of Christ. Similarly, in Acts 9, the conversion of Saul (Paul) is marked by a miraculous encounter with the risen Christ. This event leads to Saul's transformation and obedience to his calling as an apostle to the Gentiles. Acts 9:6 recounts Jesus' command to Saul: "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." Saul's obedience following the miracle is pivotal to his mission and the spread of the gospel. Theological Implications Theologically, miracles are not ends in themselves but are means through which God calls His people to a deeper relationship characterized by obedience. They are signs that point beyond themselves to the reality of God's kingdom and His sovereign will. As such, miracles demand a response that aligns with God's purposes, leading to a life of faith and obedience. Torrey's Topical Textbook Deuteronomy 11:1-3Therefore you shall love the LORD your God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments, always. Torrey's Topical Textbook Deuteronomy 29:2,3,9 Library Preparatory Considerations. Want of Universality in the Knowledge and Reception of ... Philosophy Vs. Christianity What Jesus Says of the Meaning of his Miracles What a Revival of Religion Is The Romance of M. Renan. By Napoleon Roussel. Of the Necessity of Divine Influences to Produce Regeneration in ... Man the Image of the Creator, and Christ the Head of the Man ... Mystery and Faith Psalm LVII. Resources Are the miracles in the Bible to be taken literally? | GotQuestions.orgHow can we discern counterfeit miracles? | GotQuestions.org What are the greatest miracles in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit of Different Kinds Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit were not to Be: Despised Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit were not to Be: Neglected Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit were not to Be: Purchased Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit were to be Sought After Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Christ Was Endued With Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Communicated by the Laying on of the Apostles' Hands Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Communicated for the Confirmation of the Gospel Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Communicated for the Edification of the Church Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Communicated: Upon the Preaching of the Gospel Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Counterfeited by Antichrist Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Dispensed According to his Sovereign Will Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Enumerated Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Foretold Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Might be Possessed Without Saving Grace Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Poured out on the Day of Pentecost Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Temporary Nature of Related Terms |
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