Go, Wayne Grudem!

If this doesn't make you want to read Grudem's Systematic Theology, Bible Doctrine, or at least Basic Christian Beliefs, I don't know what will...

On Miracles

As I am continuing to read through Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem, topics come up that really interest me and my wife, Misha.  One of the most recent has been the topic of miracles.  Given Misha's particular Christian upbringing, this was an area that she would like me to teach her what I was learning about miracles from Systematic Theology.  Therefore, as my gorgeous wife noted on her blog a couple of days ago, that's exactly what we did.  Here is the outline that I shared with her about what I have been learning about miracles from Dr. Grudem.

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Definition of Miracles

"A miracle is a less common kind of God's activity in which he arouses people's awe and wonder and bears himself to witness."

In the Bible, there are 3 different terms for miracles.

1. Sign - points to or indicates something else, especially God's activity and power
   
2. Wonder - event that causes people to be amazed
3. Miracle or Mighty Work - act displaying great power, especially divine power

What can be considered a miracle?

1. Jesus' incarnation and resurrection (this is central and most important to all of Christianity)
2. The events of the Exodus, the fall of Jericho, etc.
   
3. Jesus' activity while on earth such as healing people, cleansing lepers, and casting out demons
4. Unusual answers to prayer... However, Grudem does warn us not to water down "miracles" by saying that every answer to prayer is a miracle.  These answers to prayer can be attributed to the good providence of God.

Were miracles restricted to the apostles and can they still happen today?

While much can be said on either side of this question, it is worth noting three things.

1. Stephen & Philip (who were not apostles) both performed miracles.  (Acts 6:8 and Acts 8:6-7)
2. The church in Galatia and Corinth had miracle workers in them (Galatians 3:5 & 1 Cor 12:10,28)
3. Many cessationists (people who believe that miracles ceased when the cannon was closed) use 1 Corinthians 13:10 to prove that miracles no longer happen.  My only plead is that if you subscribe to the cessationist camp that you read 1 Corinthians 13:10 in context.  The "perfect" is not the bible.  The "perfect" is Christ!

So yes, I, as well as Wayne Grudem, believe that miracles still happen today and will continue to happen until Christ returns.

What's the purpose of miracles?

1. To authenticate the message of the gospel (John 4:29; Acts 8:6-8; Acts 9:35,42)
2. To bear witness to the fact that the kingdom of God has come and has begun to expand its beneficial results into people's lives, for the results of Jesus' miracles show the characteristics of God's kingdom (Matthew 12:28; Luke 4:18, 9:1-2; Matthew 10:7-8)
3. To help those who are in need (Matthew 20:30,34; Matthew 14:14)
   
4. To remove hindrances to people's ministries (Matthew 8:15; Phil 2:25-30)
5. To bring glory to God... This is the ultimate purpose for miracles (Matthew 9:8, John 9:3)

What about false miracles?

1. Pharoah's magicians worked them (Exodus 7:11, 22; Exodus 8:7)
2. Simon the sorcerer performed them (Acts 8:9-11)
3. The slave girls with a spirit of divination did them (Acts 16:16-18)

It must be noted that the "power of God is greater than the power of Satan to work miraculous sign, and God's people triumph in confrontations of power with those who work evil.  Furthermore, the identity of these workers of false miracles is always known through their denial of the gospel.  There is no indication anywhere in Scripture that genuine Christians with the Holy Spirit is them will work false miracles."

One distinction must be made.  Grudem only discusses false miracles.  False miracles would be actual miracles carries our in demonic power.  However, he does not discuss, what I would call, pseudo-miracles.  Pseudo-miracles are miracles that never actually happen.  I wish he would have discussed them further.

Should Christians seek miracles today?

The answer to this question depends on the purpose for which they are sought.

• If miracles are sought for power or fame, then the answer is no.
• If miracles are sought to be entertained, then the answer is no.
• If miracles are sought by an unbeliever simply to find ground to criticize believers, then the answer is no.
• However, there is nothing wrong in seeking miracles for the proper purposes for which they are given by God.

Conclusions

"We should not assume that an obviously miraculous answer to prayer is better than one that comes through ordinary means (i.e. medical help in sickness), and we must also realize that asking God for a particular need does not guarantee the prayer will be answered.  On the other hand, our faith that God will work in powerful and even miraculous ways may be far too small."

The Incommunicable Attributes of God: Eternity

Definition of God's Eternity: God has no beginning, end, or succession of moments in his own being, and he sees all time equally vividly, yet God sees events in time and acts in time.

Also known as the doctrine of God's infinity with respect to time.

Basically, time has no hold on God. It does not affect him and it does not bind him. He is outside of time. Somehow, all existence is present to God. This is difficult for us to understand because it is a different state of existence than humans experience.

• Verses that Affirm God's Timelessness: Psalm 90:2, Revelation 1:8, John 8:58, Exodus 3:14

In addition, God is able to stand outside of time and view all time as present in his being. This includes the past, present, and future.

• Verses that Affirm God's Ability to See All Time Equally Vividly: Psalm 90:4, 2 Peter 3:8, Isaiah 45:21, Isaiah 46:9-10

However, we must remember that God does see events in time and acts in time. This can be seen in numerous biblical events, most pointedly in the person and work of His Son. It is God who created time, and he is the one who rules over it, not vice versa. When we remember this, it helps orient our mind to be able to wrap around the concept of God's timelessness.

• Verses that Affirm God Sees Events in Time & Acts in Time: Galatians 4:4-5, Acts 17:30-31
  

Lastly, it is also important to know that we, as humans, will always exist in time, even in heaven. In heaven, we will still experience a succession of moments like we do on earth. However, those moments will never end, rendering us to live eternally with our Creator. Oh how glorious that will be!

Other Posts in this Series:

1. The Incommunicable Attributes of God: God's Independence
   
2. The Incommunicable Attributes of God: God's Unchangeableness
   

The Incommunicable Attributes of God: Unchangeableness

Definition of God's Unchangeableness: "God is unchanging in his being, perfections, purposes, and promises, yet God does act and feel emotions, and he acts and feels differently in response to different situations."

God's unchangeableness is also known as his immutability.

• Verses that Affirm Unchangeableness in God's Being & Perfections: Psalms 102:25-27; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17

• Verses that Affirm Unchangeableness in God's Purposes: Psalms 33:11; Matthew 13:35; Matthew 25:34; Ephesians 1:4, 11; Ephesians 3:9, 11; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 Peter 1:20; Revelation 13:8; Isaiah 46:9-11

• Verses that Affirm Unchangeableness in God's Promises: Numbers 23:19; 1 Samuel 15:29

Does God sometimes change His mind?

• Though the answer to this question requires much explanation, it can be summed up in the following sentence: The instances in Scripture that talk about God "repenting" or "changing his mind" must be understood as true expressions of God's present attitude or intention with respect to the situation as it exists at that moment.

Is God impassible (without passions or emotions)?

• No. It is clearly against the testimony of Scripture to say that God does not have emotions. God rejoices (Isaiah 62:5), God is grieved (Psalm 78:40), and God has wrath & pity & love.

What about Process Theology (or Open Theism)?

• Process Theology says that process and change are essential aspects of genuine existence, and that therefore God must be changing over time also, just like everything that exists.
• However, Scripture states that God is infinite (God is not subject to any of the limitations of humanity or creation) and personal (God interacts with us as a person, and we can relate to him as persons including praying to him, worshipping him, obeying him, and loving him).

Why is God's unchangeableness important?

• This is my favorite section of the chapter and worth restating below.

"If God could change, then any change would be either for the better or for the worse. But if God changed for the better, then he was not the best possible being when we first trusted him. And how could we be sure that he is the best possible now? But if God could change for the worse (in his very being), then what kind of God might he become? Might he become, for instance, a little bit evil rather than wholly good? And if he could become a little bit evil, then how do we know he could not change to become largely evil - or wholly evil? And there would be not one thing we could do about it, for he is so much more powerful than we are. Thus, the idea that God could change leads to the horrible possibility that thousands of years from now, we might come to live forever in a universe dominated by a wholly evil, omnipotent God. It is hard to imagine any thought more terrifying. How could we ever trust such a God who could change? How could we ever commit our lives to him?

Moreover, if God could change with regard to his purposes, than even though when the Bible was written he promised that Jesus would come back to rule over a new heaven and a new earth, he has perhaps abandoned that plan now, and thus our hope in Jesus' return is in vain. Or, if God could change in regard to his promises, then how could we trust him completely for eternal life? Or anything else the bible says?"

Other posts in this series:

• The Incommunicable Attributes of God: Independence
  

The Incommunicable Attributes of God: Independence

As a part of Invest Group at my church, we are reading through most of Bible Doctrine by Wayne Grudem. This book is an abridged version of his Systematic Theology. Therefore, when I first discovered that I was going to be taking part in this group, I thought that it would be good for me to read through Systematic Theology. So, as I am reading through the book, I will be posting short outlines of many of the chapters as I learn in order to benefit you as well as myself.

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God's Independence

What are "incommunicable attrbutes?": Incommunicable attributes are those attributes that God doesn't share (or "communicate") to his people.

Definition of God's Independence: "God doesn't need us or the rest of creation for anything, yet we and the rest of creation can glorify him and bring him joy."

God has always existed. He was not created by anything, and there is nothing that he needs to continue existing. He is completely self-sufficient and self-sustaining. Furthermore, God did not create man because He was lonely. God has always existed in perfect community within the Trinity. However, he has created man to bring glory to himself. ("The chief end of man is to glorify God by enjoying Him forever.")

God's independence is sometimes referred to as his self-existence or his aseity.

Verses that Affirm God's Independence: Acts 17:24-25, Job 41:11, Psalms 50:10-12, John 17:5, Psalms 90:2 (God always was), Exodus 3:14

If God doesn't need us for anything, then are we important at all?

• Yes, simply because God decided that He would create us to glorify him. This alone gives us our ultimate significance.
• Isaiah 43:7, Ephesians 1:11-12, Revelation 4:11, Zephaniah 3:17-18, Isaiah 62:3-5