What Role Does Faith Play In New Testament Miracles?

[Mike S]

We find in the Scriptures faith of the person Christ's mercy was sometimes credited as a pre-condition for healings and salvation, sometimes the faith of another, and most often no expression of faith whatever was required.



Matthew 9:20-22
20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
22 But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

The woman's faith accounted for the miracle of her healing.



Mark 5:35-43
35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?
36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.
39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.
40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.
41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.
42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.
43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

The father's faith accounts for the miracle of his daughter's return from the dead.



Luke 8:26-39King James Version
26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.
29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.
32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.
33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

The miracle of driving out demons occurred without anyone expressing faith.

 

[agua.]

This is interesting Mike S. I've always been cautious when it comes to this subject because of the question "who performs the miracle". We can see from your examples that Jesus is the source but who do we give credit for the miracles in Matthew 7 or Rev 16 ?

Mat 7:22 JUB Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Rev 16:14 JUB For they are spirits of demons, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

Touching your OP I suppose the question I have is when we have faith enough to account for/bring a miracle, how do we know Jesus did it ?

 

[Eugene]

Brother Mike, I read in Mat 8:16, . . they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick.

There was the man by the roadside as He was the good Samaritan to him that could not help himself just as we were in the world when He found us lost. Any faith I had was given to heal me from death as He has dealt to every man.

Healing can be instant as with the woman that was healed immediately in Luke 8:47. "And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately."

Healing can be as they went. Matthew 8:13. "And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour."

Luke 17:14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

And there can be instruction given to be followed to be healed. 2 Kings 5:10. "And Elisha sent a messenger unto him, saying, Go and wash in Jordan seven times, and thy flesh shall come again to thee, and thou shalt be clean."

There can be denial of healing for the good of a person such as with Paul who prayed three times to have a thorn in his flesh to be removed in

2 Corinthians 12:7-9
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Blessings in Christ Jesus.

 

[Mike S]

This is interesting Mike S. I've always been cautious when it comes to this subject because of the question "who performs the miracle". We can see from your examples that Jesus is the source but who do we give credit for the miracles in Matthew 7 or Rev 16 ?

Mat 7:22 JUB Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Rev 16:14 JUB For they are spirits of demons, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

Touching your OP I suppose the question I have is when we have faith enough to account for/bring a miracle, how do we know Jesus did it ?

I'm cautious on this subject, as well, aqua, and not the least convinced I have the answer. It's something I come back to think about again from time to time. Yesterday during our Bible study we discussed the reading in Luke 7:36-50, the story of the woman with the alabaster jar. Verse 50 ends with Jesus speaking "And he said to the woman, "Thy faith has saved thee, go in peace." Was the woman's faith necessary for salvation? It seems so here, but not for others in other circumstances.

It does not diminish my faith that there is ambiguity on this, but it does make me more acutely aware of how we can get the controversy over the doctrine of justification by faith alone. It doesn't diminish my belief, however, that there is mystery in our Christianity. My belief is firm in "by faith alone" even as I recognize that God is sovereign, and God will save whom He will save, according to His will, whether I understand it or not; "For now I see as through a glass darkly"

 

[agua.]

I'm cautious on this subject, as well, aqua, and not the least convinced I have the answer. It's something I come back to think about again from time to time. Yesterday during our Bible study we discussed the reading in Luke 7:36-50, the story of the woman with the alabaster jar. Verse 50 ends with Jesus speaking "And he said to the woman, "Thy faith has saved thee, go in peace." Was the woman's faith necessary for salvation? It seems so here, but not for others in other circumstances.

It does not diminish my faith that there is ambiguity on this, but it does make me more acutely aware of how we can get the controversy over the doctrine of justification by faith alone. It doesn't diminish my belief, however, that there is mystery in our Christianity. My belief is firm in "by faith alone" even as I recognize that God is sovereign, and God will save whom He will save, according to His will, whether I understand it or not; "For now I see as through a glass darkly"

I like to think the salvation that comes by "faith alone" is because of Jesus' faith and not ours.

2Ti 2:10-13 KJV Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. (11) It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: (12) If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: (13) If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

My belief is firm in "by faith alone" even as I recognize that God is sovereign, and God will save whom He will save, according to His will, whether I understand it or not; "For now I see as through a glass darkly"

Can't disagree with that !