Reach Christians Effectively
by
David Young
12 Paragraphs

Miracles: (19:0)

"The meaning is not that the Manifestations are unable to perform miracles, for They have all power. But for Them, inner sight, spiritual healing and eternal life are the valuable and important things." (saq 102) [as it is shown below, and emphasized by Christ and by Paul, faith in Christ should not be based on miracles] (19:1)

1. "To one is given through the Spirit, the utterance of wisdom.. to another the working of miracles." (1co 12:8-10) [many may have been given the power to do miracles, but it is not a proof of them being a Messiah] (19:2) see

2. If someone comes into a room and says "1+1=3" and disappears in a puff of smoke, would you believe that 1+1=3? A miracle is not proof that everything one says is true, and a miracle worker is not necessarily a Messiah. (19:3)

3. False prophets can show miracles too: "..false prophets will arise and show great signs so as to deceive.." (mat 24:24) (19:4) see

4. "But when the Pharisees heard it they said, "It is only Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this man casts out demons." (mat 12:24) (19:5) see

5. "But though He had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on Him; it was that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled.." (joh 12:37-38) (19:6) see

6. "And (the devil) said to Him, 'If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down (from the top of the temple)'.. and Jesus said to him, "Again it is written, 'you shall not tempt the Lord your God.'" (mat 4:1-7) [Jesus said to ask for a miracle was wrong. To do so is to follow the devil's example] (19:7) see

7. "The Pharisees came and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven to test Him. And He sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, 'Why does this generation seek a sign" Truly, I say to you, no sign shall be given to this generation.'" (mrk 8:11-12) [the Pharisees sought the wrong proof by asking for a miracle] (19:8) see

8. "..ye shall seek Me, not because ye saw miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for the meat which endureth unto everlasting life,.. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.. Jesus said to them 'I am the bread of life.'" (joh 6:26-35) [Jesus said to believe - not because of miracles, but because His teachings were the spiritual food and life to the world] (19:9) see

9. If physical miracles were the greatest proof for a religion, then the religion with the greatest physical miracle would be the correct one, and it would boil down to a contest of best miracles. For the Jews it may be the parting of the Red Sea, for the Christians the resuscitated body of Jesus, for the Muslims the night journey to heaven by Muhammad, etc. There would be no end to the arguments. Therefore, faith in Christ should not be based on physical miracles. All religions do, however, demonstrate even greater miracles than any of their related physical miracles, as demonstrated below:
1. "..if we relate to a seeker, a stranger to Moses and Christ, marvelous signs, he will deny them and will say: "Wonderful signs are also continually related of false gods by the testimony of many people, and they are affirmed in the Books. The Brahmans have written a book about wonderful prodigies from Brahma." He will also say: How can we know that the Jews and the Christians speak the truth, and that the Brahmans tell a lie? ..The same may be said of other religions; if one is true, all are true; if one is accepted, all must be accepted. Therefore, miracles are not a proof... For if they are proofs for those who are present, they fail as a proof to those who are absent." (saq 100-101)
2. "..many wonderful things were done by Baha'u'llah, but we do not recount them, as they do not constitute proofs and evidences for all the people of the earth, and they are not decisive proofs even for those who see them: they may think that they are merely enchantments." (saq 37) (19:10)

The REAL miracle: "Recollect that Christ, solitary and alone, without a helper or protector, without armies and legions, and under the greatest oppression, uplifted the standard of God before all the people of the world, and withstood them, and finally conquered all, although outwardly He was crucified. Now this is a veritable miracle which can never be denied. There is no need of any other proof of the truth of Christ. The outward miracles have no importance for the people of Reality. If a blind man receives sight, for example, he will finally again become sightless, for he will die and be deprived of all his senses and powers.. But for them (the Manifestations) inner sight, hearing, life and healing are eternal.." (saq 101-102) (19:11)

End of Quote

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