Christians should be aware that it is
possible for the devil to counterfeit portents as if they were from God.
In the Scripture we can see how the
Pagan priests of Egypt performed a portent that tried to compete with Moses’s
true miracles (Exodus 7:10-11), and St Paul warns us that the devil can perform
“miracles” as if they were from God:
“The
coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false
signs and wonders”
(2 Thessalonians 2:9)
THREE
MARKS OF A TRUE MIRACLE
There are three major marks of a true
miracle coming from God:
1
– IN THE NAME OF GOD
Miracles should give Glory and
attention to God Himself.
Whether they are claimed to have happen
through someone’s intersession, relics, prayer or blessing, the ultimate glory
must be to the Holy Trinity, not to the channel used, either, person, object or
matter.
2
– TRUE DOCTRINE
The portent should be done according to
true doctrine, and not to avail or support heresy or error. Miracles are among
other things, a seal of approval or guarantee that God consents to the doctrine
being proclaimed or implied, and their message or reason. False teachers can
perform portents in support of their errors. For this reason, a priori
knowledge of Christian true doctrine is necessary. Always check miracle’s
implications with the Scriptures.
3
– FRUITS
Finally, miracles are not tricks. God
does not bother to perform portents for the amusement or wonder of humans, as
if it was an entertainment show. When God performs a miracle, He does it as a
seal of approval towards the channel of the miracle, (person, object or matter)
and the doctrine it carries.
God also performs miracles as acts of
mercy, like healings, answering supplications, etc;
Finally God performed miracles to
increase the holiness and faith of the observer or recipient.
LAST
WORD
In the world today, there are many
sources of “miracles”, as much from outside than within Christianity.
A true portent of God, will glorify the
Holy Trinity above everything else, be in support and according true doctrine,
and produce Faith and holiness in the receiver as much as in passive observers
that will contribute to their salvation.
The only miracle Satan cannot copy from
God is the resurrection of the dead.
Omar Flores
Comments
Post a Comment