Question about the usage of miracles

[lanceleo]

Since miracles are not a sure sign someone is from God then why was it used to confirm God's message?

Acts 14:3
King James Version
3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

 

[Mark Quayle]

Since miracles are not a sure sign someone is from God then why was it used to confirm God's message?

Acts 14:3
King James Version
3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Define 'miracle'

 

[lanceleo]

Define 'miracle'

An extraordinary event that is not accounted by natural or scientific laws and is therefore attributed to a divine agency.

And since Satan has the ability to counterfeit miracles, what is the purpose of using miracles to confirm the message?

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
King James Version
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Since miracles are not a sure sign someone is from God then why was it used to confirm God's message?

Acts 14:3
King James Version
3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

They "spoke boldly in the Lord". This was a sure sign. Any other so called miracle by any other name is not to be trusted.
Blessings.

 

[Joy]

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[lanceleo]

They "spoke boldly in the Lord". This was a sure sign. Any other so called miracle by any other name is not to be trusted.
Blessings.

Not entirely true though it speaks a lot about their conviction. According to John 20:30-31 Christ performed miracles so that we might believe.

John 20:30-31
King James Version
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

 

[Mark Quayle]

An extraordinary event that is not accounted by natural or scientific laws and is therefore attributed to a divine agency.

And since Satan has the ability to counterfeit miracles, what is the purpose of using miracles to confirm the message?

2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
King James Version
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

You say that miracle is "An extraordinary event that is not accounted by natural or scientific laws and is therefore attributed to a divine agency." Even Satan can do some of that; for example he did not cause natural or scientific laws, yet he made Job sick, and caused his children to be killed by various means. I agree that Satan's does counterfeit miracles, but by your definition, at least the ones he did to Job were genuine miracles.

But, anyhow, to answer your question, Jesus said, "An evil and perverse generation seeks a sign." He did the miracles for them, and for those of us who are wowed by miracles. Some people are more easily convinced, some are more skeptical.

Also notice that Jesus said "…If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand. And if Satan is divided and rises against himself, he cannot stand; his end has come.…" Because of that fact, Satan does few 'miracles' that imitate God, except to deceive and convince the easily wowed, lest he ruin his own projects. Well, because of that, and the fact that he can only do what God allows him to do.

 

[lanceleo]

You say that miracle is "An extraordinary event that is not accounted by natural or scientific laws and is therefore attributed to a divine agency." Even Satan can do some of that; for example he did not cause natural or scientific laws, yet he made Job sick, and caused his children to be killed by various means. I agree that Satan's does counterfeit miracles, but by your definition, at least the ones he did to Job were genuine miracles.

But, anyhow, to answer your question, Jesus said, "An evil and perverse generation seeks a sign." He did the miracles for them, and for those of us who are wowed by miracles. Some people are more easily convinced, some are more skeptical.

Also notice that Jesus said "…If a kingdom is divided against itself, it cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, it cannot stand. And if Satan is divided and rises against himself, he cannot stand; his end has come.…" Because of that fact, Satan does few 'miracles' that imitate God, except to deceive and convince the easily wowed, lest he ruin his own projects. Well, because of that, and the fact that he can only do what God allows him to do.

How can one tell if a miracle is genuine or not? In the last days the antichrist is going to perform miracles that fool even the elects. Since the Apostles were spreading God's message, why did God grant them miracles to authenticate it?

 

[Clare73]

Since miracles are not a sure sign someone is from God then why was it used to confirm God's message?

Acts 14:3
King James Version
3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

John calls Jesus' miracles "signs" (2:11, 23, 3:2, 4:54, 6:2, 14, 26, 30, 12:37, 20:30); that is, signs which show the nature of gospel grace or salvation (Lk 7:22); i.e., healing the spiritually lame, blind and deaf, and raising the spiritually dead to (eternal) life.
So he did them to demonstrate and as testimony of the spiritual nature of his salvation.

Likewise, he did it to fulfill the Scriptures regarding the Messiah (Isa 29:18-21, Isa 35:5-6, Isa 61:1, Lk 4:17-21).

 

[Mark Quayle]

How can one tell if a miracle is genuine or not? In the last days the antichrist is going to perform miracles that fool even the elects. Since the Apostles were spreading God's message, why did God grant them miracles to authenticate it?

I think the phrase there is not "fool even the elects", but "...insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

The miracles only authenticate the message because people consider the miracles epistemic evidence of the power of God. To me, frankly, the miracles are "wow-ous" only. No problem for God, not requiring anything like the power of God to forgive sin or to regenerate a lost soul at enmity with God.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Not entirely true though it speaks a lot about their conviction. According to John 20:30-31 Christ performed miracles so that we might believe.

John 20:30-31
King James Version
30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

What's not true?

 

[Blade]

Since miracles are not a sure sign someone is from God then why was it used to confirm God's message?

Acts 14:3
King James Version
3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

Its written " So [Paul and Barnabas] stayed on there for a long time, speaking freely and fearlessly and boldly in the Lord, Who continued to bear testimony to the Word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be performed by their hands."

There is no one out there today doing "lying wonders". It can't happen as long as we are still here. We have been given all power all authority over the enemy. Satan can not do miracles. Its like them saying to Christ He has demon.. How can Satan cast out Satan? A kingdom divided against its self will fall. Satan does not do evil or make someone sick to then heal them. Same with God that does not can not make someone sick to then heal.

After the Church is gone after He that holds the lawless one back is taken out of the way then and only then do we read he does lying wonders. Then after the tribulation Christ comes He gathers the nation those that came out of the great tribulation and splits them sheep and goats. We well I won't be there.

These signs shall not maybe not might and does not say its of the enemy or some fake believer but shall follow them that believe. It does not follow them that doubt. People can give to some fake preacher and they will be blessed. So many of them don't know the person of there is fake but they have FAITH in that name! As Peter and John said.. we didn't do this by our own power...its that "name faith in that name healed this man". Satan can not ever do miracles. There is no such thing as fake healing. I could go on with things I have seen but.. not what this is about.

Jesus/Yeshua Christ came in the flesh died on the cross for the worlds sin was buried rose the 3d day is seated at the right hand of the Father. It is by the BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST we are saved washed. <---this is how you test. Remember its faith in that name... signs shall follow them that believe. Its like talking about Gods voice. What did Christ say? My sheep hear/know my voice. There is nothing else to say.. don't wonder don't doubt (Doubt always stops God). How do you know? You know that you know that you know. You will just know. He said it.. you just believe it

 

[ARBITER01]

Since miracles are not a sure sign someone is from God then why was it used to confirm God's message?

They are considered an "arresting truth" for the gospel to be preached. That's GOD's method, which normally has thousands being saved at a time.

 

[throughfiierytrial]

Since miracles are not a sure sign someone is from God then why was it used to confirm God's message?

Acts 14:3
King James Version
3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

The miracles were prophecied in Isaiah and were to accompany Messiah.

 

[lanceleo]

The miracles were prophecied in Isaiah and were to accompany Messiah.

The Messiah's disciples performed them too.

 

[lanceleo]

I think the phrase there is not "fool even the elects", but "...insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."

The miracles only authenticate the message because people consider the miracles epistemic evidence of the power of God. To me, frankly, the miracles are "wow-ous" only. No problem for God, not requiring anything like the power of God to forgive sin or to regenerate a lost soul at enmity with God.

But Satan is knowledgeable too and can do miracles epistemic enough to deceive the very elect.

 

[lanceleo]

There is no one out there today doing "lying wonders". It can't happen as long as we are still here. We have been given all power all authority over the enemy. Satan can not do miracles. Its like them saying to Christ He has demon.. How can Satan cast out Satan? A kingdom divided against its self will fall. Satan does not do evil or make someone sick to then heal them. Same with God that does not can not make someone sick to then heal.

Are there any differences between miracles and great signs and wonders (Mat 24:24)? Are you implying miracles are real whereas the last two are illusions? If yes how can we differentiate between them?

These signs shall not maybe not might and does not say its of the enemy or some fake believer but shall follow them that believe. It does not follow them that doubt. People can give to some fake preacher and they will be blessed. So many of them don't know the person of there is fake but they have FAITH in that name! As Peter and John said.. we didn't do this by our own power...its that "name faith in that name healed this man". Satan can not ever do miracles. There is no such thing as fake healing. I could go on with things I have seen but.. not what this is about.

Is there any scriptural proof Satan can never do genuine miracle?

Jesus/Yeshua Christ came in the flesh died on the cross for the worlds sin was buried rose the 3d day is seated at the right hand of the Father. It is by the BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST we are saved washed. <---this is how you test. Remember its faith in that name... signs shall follow them that believe. Its like talking about Gods voice. What did Christ say? My sheep hear/know my voice. There is nothing else to say.. don't wonder don't doubt (Doubt always stops God). How do you know? You know that you know that you know. You will just know. He said it.. you just believe it

Yes prior to our conversion we are not his sheep, so how can we recognize his voice and believe in his message unless something supernatural was accompanying it, which the devil has the ability to provide it as well?

 

[Clare73]

But Satan is knowledgeable too and can do miracles epistemic enough to deceive the very elect.

Not enough to overcome the Holy Spirit who preserves the elect from deception by Satan.

 

[lanceleo]

Not enough to overcome the Holy Spirit who preserves the elect from deception by Satan.

But how can the elect be without the Holy Spirit? Are they the predestined elect that have not yet received Christ?

 

[Clare73]

But how can the elect be without the Holy Spirit? Are they the predestined elect that have not yet received Christ?

Mt 24:24 indicates it is not possible to deceive the elect.

What more needs to be said?