AndyBern
Member
And seeing their faith, he said, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
A miracle is something that cannot happen through natural means. A true miracle can only happen if God intervenes in the natural course of things to bring it about. Man cannot bring dead people back to life – especially after 4 days. Man cannot walk on water. Man cannot turn water to wine. And man can not do anything to cause sins to be forgiven. God has to do all of these things, or they won't get done.
Having the burden of sin removed is a much greater miracle than healing the sick or casting out demons. Here are four reasons why:
Forgiveness is eternal. If you get healed physically, it's a great thing. But that healing is only temporary. It only affects your life here on earth. If you get the use of your legs back, you still might having something else happen to you later on. You could go blind, get cancer, or lose your mind. Even if you retain your health for the rest of your life, you're still going to die anyway and face the judgment. But forgiveness of sins is much better. It is eternal. It is a miracle for which the consequences continue long after death into eternity.
Another thing that sets forgiveness of sins apart from other miracles is with our relationships. Forgiveness restores our relationship with God. Physical healing can restore relationships with our fellow man. For example, those Jesus healed of leprosy no longer had to live apart from the rest of society, and the healed paralytic could go for walks with his friends. But forgiveness of sins restores man's relationship with God. Sin is like a spiritual leprosy. In sin we have to live apart from God because we are “unclean”. But when God removes our sin and cleans us up, we have fellowship with Him, and He with us. That is why Jesus could say, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” And that is why the Holy Spirit can dwell in us.
Third, the scriptures mention only one emotion in heaven over what happens down here on earth. We read nothing about heaven's response when Jesus raised the dead or gave sight to the blind. But we are told there is more joy in heaven over one repenting sinner than over 99 that don't repent. The angels rejoice when one sinner repents and receives forgiveness of sins! Forgiveness brings more joy to heaven. I think that goes to show what heaven thinks is more important. (True, Luke 15:7 doesn't mention forgiveness, but it is implied. Why would the angels rejoice over a repentant sinner if he's going to go to hell anyway?)
Once more thing that makes forgiveness a greater miracle: We all need it. Not all of us need our sight or hearing restored, or cancer removed, but we're all sinners with the need for God's forgiveness and He offers it freely to anyone who asks. Jesus fed thousands of people at one time, and they eventually got hungry again. But millions have received God's forgiveness, which lasts for eternity!
- Luke 5:20 (VW)
A miracle is something that cannot happen through natural means. A true miracle can only happen if God intervenes in the natural course of things to bring it about. Man cannot bring dead people back to life – especially after 4 days. Man cannot walk on water. Man cannot turn water to wine. And man can not do anything to cause sins to be forgiven. God has to do all of these things, or they won't get done.
Having the burden of sin removed is a much greater miracle than healing the sick or casting out demons. Here are four reasons why:
Forgiveness is eternal. If you get healed physically, it's a great thing. But that healing is only temporary. It only affects your life here on earth. If you get the use of your legs back, you still might having something else happen to you later on. You could go blind, get cancer, or lose your mind. Even if you retain your health for the rest of your life, you're still going to die anyway and face the judgment. But forgiveness of sins is much better. It is eternal. It is a miracle for which the consequences continue long after death into eternity.
Another thing that sets forgiveness of sins apart from other miracles is with our relationships. Forgiveness restores our relationship with God. Physical healing can restore relationships with our fellow man. For example, those Jesus healed of leprosy no longer had to live apart from the rest of society, and the healed paralytic could go for walks with his friends. But forgiveness of sins restores man's relationship with God. Sin is like a spiritual leprosy. In sin we have to live apart from God because we are “unclean”. But when God removes our sin and cleans us up, we have fellowship with Him, and He with us. That is why Jesus could say, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” And that is why the Holy Spirit can dwell in us.
Third, the scriptures mention only one emotion in heaven over what happens down here on earth. We read nothing about heaven's response when Jesus raised the dead or gave sight to the blind. But we are told there is more joy in heaven over one repenting sinner than over 99 that don't repent. The angels rejoice when one sinner repents and receives forgiveness of sins! Forgiveness brings more joy to heaven. I think that goes to show what heaven thinks is more important. (True, Luke 15:7 doesn't mention forgiveness, but it is implied. Why would the angels rejoice over a repentant sinner if he's going to go to hell anyway?)
Once more thing that makes forgiveness a greater miracle: We all need it. Not all of us need our sight or hearing restored, or cancer removed, but we're all sinners with the need for God's forgiveness and He offers it freely to anyone who asks. Jesus fed thousands of people at one time, and they eventually got hungry again. But millions have received God's forgiveness, which lasts for eternity!