"For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus" (Philippians 1:6, NASB).
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Cor. 5:17, NIV).
"Thou art the potter, I am the clay" (cf. Isaiah 64:8).
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!" (2 Cor. 5:17, NIV).
"Thou art the potter, I am the clay" (cf. Isaiah 64:8).
"Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would [not could] not believe in him," (cf. John 12:37, NIV, italics mine).
Another word for miracle is a sign (as John calls them in his gospel), they are the same in German (Wunder), and miracles are indeed signs from the Almighty, with Whom nothing is impossible. The greatest proof or evidence of the resurrection, for instance, is the changed, even transformed and renewed, lives of the apostles, especially of Saul to Paul. As Job said, "I will wait till my renewal comes," (cf. Job 14:14). Miracles don't make faith though, but faith makes miracles. There is never a big enough miracle for someone who doesn't want to believe, but there is ample evidence for the willing. Jesus refused to do any biggie miracle or miracle on demand to prove Himself but told the crowds that they would receive one sign: the sign of Jonah.
Miracles are events that cannot be independently explained apart from God's Finger at work and are not producible without divine intervention or interference. They are not producible by natural causes at the time of the event. Paul didn't change himself--he was transformed. That's the miracle of salvation--changed lives from the inside out, and not reformed, nor informed, but transformed. We don't get merely enlightened or educated, but our spiritual eyes are opened to see God at work in His world.
God is still in the resurrection business and Jesus is still in the business of changing lives. No one is too much of a challenge for God! We come to Him as we are, but He makes us anew in His image. We don't turn over a new leaf, make an AA pledge, or vow to clean up our act, but accept the grace of God at work in us. The same miracle that happened to Paul can happen to anyone. What He's done for others, He can do for you!
No one is too far gone or too much involved in sin to be saved, for Paul was the chief of sinners. John Bunyan wrote Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners to reiterate this point, and in a sense, we all follow Christ to the "Celestial City" and have to avoid "Mr. Worldly Wiseman" or false theologian and seek the truth of God that transforms and sets us free, as Jesus said, "The truth shall set you free (cf. John 8:32)." The whole point of salvation is a changed life, and if there is none then salvation is suspect--everyone needs to be set free; we don't come to God with free wills, but wills that are ready to be set free!
In Scripture, we read of the blind man who said, "I was blind, but now I see!" You cannot argue with one's testimony like that--he knows something for sure that cannot be denied or refuted. Thomas was radicalized when Jesus let him put his finger into His side and was told to believe, not to doubt. Another example was the wayward woman at the well in Samaria whose eyes were opened when she met Jesus and saw herself for what she was, but much more the grace of God. We all have a testimony or story to tell and the Bible says, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!" in Psalm 107:2. Each of us is a miracle ready to happen as well as one that must be told--if you want to see a miracle, look in the mirror or remember from what you were saved! All of us should be able to relate what God has done for us by grace and feel grateful enough to pass on the good news.
The greatest sign that Jesus gave was his resurrection to a stubborn generation, but it was given "many infallible proofs" according to Luke in Acts 1:3. But we can expect Christ to arise in us personally and to take up residence in our hearts. The resurrection of Christ is history, but the resurrection experience in our hearts is salvation! The resurrection is either the biggest and cruelest hoax in history, or it's the most important event and the turning point, according to Josh MacDowell. Has Christ risen in you? Look in the mirror, check your fruit! If we have experienced God through Christ we will feel compelled and constrained to pass it on! That's how we can accomplish miracles ourselves: changing lives in Jesus' name by sharing the gospel! We are free to come as we are, but we will not stay that way.
Even great sinners can be changed into great saints by faith, but they must realize it's God at work, and not of human achievement: we receive, we don't achieve. Salvation is wholly God's work in us and of divine accomplishment ("salvation is of the LORD," per Job 2:9), not human achievement. Religion is just a do-it-yourself proposition and a way of pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps, but Christianity is all about Christ coming to the rescue to save us from ourselves because we are our own worst enemy!
We are consequently saved from God's wrath, sin, Satan, hell and judgment, condemnation, our old sin nature, the power of sin over us, and eventually, the presence of sin itself--this is all a miracle and not our own work or effort that we should boast. When I got saved I remember telephoning my Mom and telling her that she would like the new me; she only replied that she liked the old one--but I'm sure she sees the difference now! It's simply God at work in me as a work in progress.
Another word for miracle is a sign (as John calls them in his gospel), they are the same in German (Wunder), and miracles are indeed signs from the Almighty, with Whom nothing is impossible. The greatest proof or evidence of the resurrection, for instance, is the changed, even transformed and renewed, lives of the apostles, especially of Saul to Paul. As Job said, "I will wait till my renewal comes," (cf. Job 14:14). Miracles don't make faith though, but faith makes miracles. There is never a big enough miracle for someone who doesn't want to believe, but there is ample evidence for the willing. Jesus refused to do any biggie miracle or miracle on demand to prove Himself but told the crowds that they would receive one sign: the sign of Jonah.
Miracles are events that cannot be independently explained apart from God's Finger at work and are not producible without divine intervention or interference. They are not producible by natural causes at the time of the event. Paul didn't change himself--he was transformed. That's the miracle of salvation--changed lives from the inside out, and not reformed, nor informed, but transformed. We don't get merely enlightened or educated, but our spiritual eyes are opened to see God at work in His world.
God is still in the resurrection business and Jesus is still in the business of changing lives. No one is too much of a challenge for God! We come to Him as we are, but He makes us anew in His image. We don't turn over a new leaf, make an AA pledge, or vow to clean up our act, but accept the grace of God at work in us. The same miracle that happened to Paul can happen to anyone. What He's done for others, He can do for you!
No one is too far gone or too much involved in sin to be saved, for Paul was the chief of sinners. John Bunyan wrote Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners to reiterate this point, and in a sense, we all follow Christ to the "Celestial City" and have to avoid "Mr. Worldly Wiseman" or false theologian and seek the truth of God that transforms and sets us free, as Jesus said, "The truth shall set you free (cf. John 8:32)." The whole point of salvation is a changed life, and if there is none then salvation is suspect--everyone needs to be set free; we don't come to God with free wills, but wills that are ready to be set free!
In Scripture, we read of the blind man who said, "I was blind, but now I see!" You cannot argue with one's testimony like that--he knows something for sure that cannot be denied or refuted. Thomas was radicalized when Jesus let him put his finger into His side and was told to believe, not to doubt. Another example was the wayward woman at the well in Samaria whose eyes were opened when she met Jesus and saw herself for what she was, but much more the grace of God. We all have a testimony or story to tell and the Bible says, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so!" in Psalm 107:2. Each of us is a miracle ready to happen as well as one that must be told--if you want to see a miracle, look in the mirror or remember from what you were saved! All of us should be able to relate what God has done for us by grace and feel grateful enough to pass on the good news.
The greatest sign that Jesus gave was his resurrection to a stubborn generation, but it was given "many infallible proofs" according to Luke in Acts 1:3. But we can expect Christ to arise in us personally and to take up residence in our hearts. The resurrection of Christ is history, but the resurrection experience in our hearts is salvation! The resurrection is either the biggest and cruelest hoax in history, or it's the most important event and the turning point, according to Josh MacDowell. Has Christ risen in you? Look in the mirror, check your fruit! If we have experienced God through Christ we will feel compelled and constrained to pass it on! That's how we can accomplish miracles ourselves: changing lives in Jesus' name by sharing the gospel! We are free to come as we are, but we will not stay that way.
Even great sinners can be changed into great saints by faith, but they must realize it's God at work, and not of human achievement: we receive, we don't achieve. Salvation is wholly God's work in us and of divine accomplishment ("salvation is of the LORD," per Job 2:9), not human achievement. Religion is just a do-it-yourself proposition and a way of pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps, but Christianity is all about Christ coming to the rescue to save us from ourselves because we are our own worst enemy!
We are consequently saved from God's wrath, sin, Satan, hell and judgment, condemnation, our old sin nature, the power of sin over us, and eventually, the presence of sin itself--this is all a miracle and not our own work or effort that we should boast. When I got saved I remember telephoning my Mom and telling her that she would like the new me; she only replied that she liked the old one--but I'm sure she sees the difference now! It's simply God at work in me as a work in progress.
CAVEAT: NEVER FORGET YOUR ROOTS AND FROM WHAT YOU WERE SAVED (CF. ISA. 51:1).
In sum, the only proof we need is what happened to us and to others as a witness and cannot be denied--don't be forced to prove anything, but let them see the irrefutable proof themselves. The gospel illustrated in shoe leather. Soli Deo Gloria!
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