Topical Bible: Unbelief: Miracles Designed to Convince Those In

◄ Unbelief: Miracles Designed to Convince Those In ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

Unbelief, a state of skepticism or doubt regarding the divine truths and promises of God, is a recurring theme throughout the Bible. The Scriptures reveal that God, in His mercy and desire for all to come to faith, often employed miracles as a means to confront and overcome unbelief. These supernatural acts served as divine attestations of His power, authority, and love, aiming to lead individuals and communities from doubt to faith.

Old Testament Examples

In the Old Testament, miracles were frequently used to address unbelief among the Israelites and surrounding nations. One of the most prominent examples is the series of miracles performed during the Exodus. When Moses was sent to deliver the Israelites from Egyptian bondage, God empowered him to perform signs and wonders to convince both Pharaoh and the Israelites of His sovereign power. In Exodus 7:3-5 , God declares, "But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I will multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay My hand on Egypt and bring out the divisions of My people the Israelites by mighty acts of judgment. 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 of the plagues, the parting of the Red Sea, and the provision of manna in the wilderness were all designed to demonstrate God's power and to foster belief among the Israelites and the Egyptians. Despite witnessing these mighty acts, the Israelites often struggled with unbelief, as seen in their repeated complaints and disobedience during their journey to the Promised Land.

New Testament Examples

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ performed numerous miracles to address unbelief and reveal His divine identity. The Gospel of John particularly emphasizes this purpose, as stated in John 20:30-31 : "Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name."

One notable instance is the miracle of raising Lazarus from the dead. In John 11:41-42 , Jesus prays, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. I knew that You always hear Me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, so that they may believe that You sent Me." This miracle was a powerful testament to Jesus' authority over life and death, intended to lead the witnesses to faith.

Another significant example is the healing of the paralytic, where Jesus not only healed the man's physical ailment but also addressed the spiritual unbelief of the onlookers. In Mark 2:10-12 , Jesus says, "But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins..." He then commands the paralytic to rise, take up his mat, and walk, leaving the crowd amazed and glorifying God.

The Apostolic Era

Following Christ's ascension, the apostles continued to perform miracles as a means to confront unbelief and confirm the message of the Gospel. In Acts 2:22 , Peter addresses the crowd at Pentecost, saying, "Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know."

The apostles, empowered by the Holy Spirit, performed numerous signs and wonders, such as the healing of the lame man at the temple gate (Acts 3:6-10) and the raising of Tabitha (Acts 9:36-42). These acts served to validate their testimony about Jesus and to bring many to faith.

Conclusion

Throughout the biblical narrative, miracles are consistently portrayed as divine interventions aimed at overcoming unbelief. They serve as tangible demonstrations of God's power and presence, intended to lead individuals and communities to a deeper faith and understanding of His divine nature and purposes.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 10:37,38
If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Corinthians 14:22
Why tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not: but prophesying serves not for them that believe not, but for them which believe.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Extracts No. vi.
... real: and finally to disarm unbelief at once ... Here Jeremiah evidently designed to
declare himself an ... most surely pretended to perform most astonishing miracles. ...
/.../ballou/a series of letters in defence of divine revelation/extracts no vi.htm

Snares of Satan.
... unregenerate elements that will encourage doubt and unbelief, and hinder ... The Bible
was designed to be a guide to ... of law, a miracle, and that miracles have no ...
/.../white/the great controversy between christ and satan /32 snares of satan.htm

Snares of Satan
... unregenerate elements that will encourage doubt and unbelief, and hinder ... The Bible
was designed to be a guide to ... of law, a miracle, and that miracles have no ...
/.../white/the great controversy/chapter 32 snares of satan.htm

Paul in Malta and Rome.
... Miracles were not designed to aggrandize them as men ... an impostor, notwithstanding
the splendid train of miracles, by which ... The unbelief of the Jews was not the ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture xxix paul in malta.htm

The Contents. The Introduction, Concerning the Causes of Atheism 1
... Who seem to have been designed by Providence to bear ... Of the Pretended Miracles of
Apollonius and others 350. ... That the Cause of Men's Unbelief is not Want of ...
/.../the contents the introduction concerning.htm

Acts III
... common with extemporaneous speakers, and designed to express more ... He replied, "Because
of your unbelief." [104] In ... enough, we, too, could work miracles, has as ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts iii.htm

The First Apology of Justin, the Martyr
... you wouldn't]. In the same way unbelief prevails about ... of human origin, and did these
miracles you speak ... that these are sufficient to convince those who have ...
/.../richardson/early christian fathers/the first apology of justin.htm

Extracts No. Ix.
... of this kind; and should, through unbelief, neglect their ... bold figurative language
of the day, designed, in reality ... what use would any pretended miracles be to ...
/.../ballou/a series of letters in defence of divine revelation/extracts no ix.htm

Acts XVII
... to those Jews who obstinately remained in unbelief. ... of discriminating between it
and the working of miracles. ... dead." This was evidently not designed for the ...
/.../mcgarvey/a commentary on acts of the apostles/acts xvii.htm

Natural Science and Theological Science.
... Natural Science: that it was designed to inculcate ... the reasonableness of Faith: and
accordingly, unbelief enters in ... Miracles, for example, are now to be classed ...
/.../burgon/inspiration and interpretation/sermon ii natural science and.htm