Guest Article: What is a Miracle? (Part 2 of 2)

by J. Noel Merideth (1941-1992)
Don’t you think it nothing short of miraculous that one is born into the family of God, and
receives pardon of his sins?” My answer to this question is: “No, I do not consider this a miracle.
I most emphatically deny that it is.” He continues: “Regeneration involves no miracle at all, but it
is the result of conformity to a fixed spiritual law. The new birth, established by the Lord, is as
much a positive spiritual law as physical birth is a positive physical law (John 3:5). He points out
that in the parable of the seed sown in the ground, the seed is employed in the regenerating
operation so it follows a preordained law of the Lord (Mat. 13:3-9, 18-23). In discussing the
question of miracles today, let us bring the issue into focus.
First, it is not a question of miracles yesterday in Bible times, but today. We believe miracles
were performed in the first century. “For the man was more than forty years old, on whom this
miracle of healing was wrought” (Acts 4:22). But there is no passage that teaches we are to have
miracles today.
Second, it is not a question of power, but of will. Indeed, God is powerful enough to heal a
man by a miracle today, but what is God’s decision about that today? It is not what God can do
but what God does do.
Third, it is not even a question of prayer for the sick. We must even pray for our daily bread.
That, however, does not mean that Jehovah will hand us a loaf of bread directly from heaven. Yet,
we must pray for it (Mat. 6:11). Bread today must be gotten according to God’s natural law. God
has specific natural laws about the sick. To ignore them is to fail in God’s plan for the sick today.
God works, yes, but through His law, His natural law. When we pray for the sick today, we do not
expect them to take up their bed and walk, being miraculously healed. We pray if it be “according
to his will” (1John 5:14), through the means being administered, that the person may regain his
health.
Fourth, it is not a question of healing. Indeed, God heals today. But how? And such healing
is divine but not miraculous. There is a vast difference between being healed miraculously and
being healed by using God’s natural laws. All healing is divine, but not all healing is miraculous.
All bread is divine. It is provided by natural law.
Fifth, it is not a question of so-called testimonials of alleged healings. The issue is what the
Bible teaches. Many religious groups, with conflicting doctrines, claim miracles and rely on
testimonials to attract converts. However, the Holy Spirit is not responsible for these conflicting
testimonies that support different doctrines. Jesus raised the dead. Who can raise a person from
the dead today? Paul struck a man blind. Who is striking people blind today? Jesus could take a
few loaves and multiply them to feed thousands. Who can make bread like that today? Jesus could
turn water into wine. Who does that today like He did? Where is the miracle bread-making church?
Where is the dead-raising church? The signs and miracles of Jesus and the apostles of the first
century were intended to confirm the Word (Mark 16:20; Heb. 2:1-4). The signs for us today are
written in the New Testament (John 20:30-31). If someone wants a sign today, let him read from
the New Testament. To ask for other signs or miracles than “these” signs that are written in the
New Testament is to reject the Word of God.
—The Beacon
Editor’s Note: The above article by Noel Meredith is well-reasoned and eminently scriptural. It
points out the common misuse of the word “miracle” these days. We need to be very careful
about referring to every amazing occurrence as a “miracle.” This word is clearly defined by its
use in the Scriptures, and we should limit our use of it accordingly, (see 1 Peter 4:11). The job of
miracles was to confirm the word of God, and that job has been accomplished. The Bible no
longer needs to be confirmed, just obeyed! —RCV