Definition of Miracles

There is a vast difference between the popular definition of miracles in our culture today and that which theologians have defined from the understanding of scripture.

Before we lay out a definition of miracles we first need to answer a few related and crucial questions.

• Does God still answer prayers today? Yes.
• Does God still bring extraordinary things to pass today? Yes.
• Does God still heal people in response to prayer? Yes.

Yes, God is still alive and well, and He still works on all of those things.

And if we define a miracle as a supernatural work of God, it is certainly true today as seen in the miraculous work of salvation. According to the scriptures, rebirth of a human soul can only be achieved by the power of God, not by natural means.

So how do we define a miracle?

A miracle is a supernatural event which has no human, scientific or naturalistic explanation other than the power of God. More than that a miracle is a supernatural event which suspends natural laws.

We believe that God is alive and actively governing the world through His providence, orchestrating and influencing human events according to His divine will.

Purpose of miracles

The purpose of miracles, as revealed in Scripture, was to authenticate God’s messengers and their message. Today, we do not see miracles of the same nature and magnitude as those recorded in the Bible (such as Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead), where the laws of nature were suspended to display God’s power and authority.

While God is still capable of raising every human being from the graveyard today, He isn’t in the business of doing so.

In the Biblical days, God performed miracles in order to certify the authenticity of His truth and message. The need for miracles to authentic the message, revelation or the messenger ended with the cannon of the scriptures being complete.

The biblical miraculous experiences are not expected to be normative for all church ages after the Apostolic age:

• Are we called to walk on water, as Jesus did? No.
• Are we expected to feed 20,000 people by multiplying loaves and fish? No.
• Should we expect our shadows to heal people, as in Peter’s time? No.
• Should pastors distribute handkerchiefs to heal others, as Paul’s garments did? No.

Miracles in the Bible only occurred during 3 major periods; the time of Moses, Joshua, Elijah, and Elisha, as well as the time of Christ and the apostles.

Each of those periods span less than a hundred years of human history. It was during those three brief periods of time that miracles were normal and in abundance.

Certainly, God can interject Himself supernaturally at any time but He has, however, chosen to limit himself (to a large extent) to these three periods.

Miracles were relevant in those three periods of history when God was giving new and fresh revelation. Therefore, miracles were used to introduce a new era of revelation.

A second purpose of the miracles was to authenticate the messengers of God. God used clear signs and supernatural abilities to identify His true prophets when Satan threw in false teachers making claims of their own.

Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, Christ, and the apostles were all empowered by God to perform signs and wonders to validate their divine authority and message. These miracles were concentrated during three key periods: the time of Moses and Joshua, the prophetic era of Elijah and Elisha, and the ministry of Christ and the apostles. Each period marked significant moments in God’s redemptive plan, with miracles serving to authenticate God’s messengers, confront idolatry, and demonstrate divine authority. These acts were not normative but exceptional, tied directly to the revelation of God’s purposes and His unfolding plan of salvation.

Last but not least, theologians prior to the charismatic / pentecostal movement believed that miracles did not occur randomly.

All throughout scripture, from Genesis to Revelation miracles were called “signs and wonders.” But what were the signs for? Signs were used to verify the divinely commissioned teacher’s credentials.

Miracles alone have never led to mass belief or wholesale acceptance of God. Rather, its purpose was to point towards truth and it is the truth (illuminated by the Holy Spirit) that ultimately produces faith and acceptance of God.

All this being said, one of the greatest miracles that is often overlooked today is the ongoing miracle of salvation in the lives of people. The transformation of a sinner’s heart, the regeneration by the Holy Spirit, and the adoption into God’s family are nothing short of divine acts. While we may not witness the suspension of natural laws as in the biblical eras of miracles, we continue to see the unparalleled power of God at work, drawing people to Himself, breaking the chains of sin, and restoring broken lives. This miracle of salvation is not only the foundation of our faith but also the most profound evidence of God’s active presence and power in the world today.