In my short lifetime, I’ve been graced to hear testimonies of God’s supernatural work of healing. I’ve heard of doctors who are dumbfounded as their patients are suddenly healthy despite a previous life-threatening disease. Indeed, some of the most intelligent people in society are unable to comprehend the hand of God. Further, Scripture attests to various miracles as Christ rose the dead, made the paralyzed walk, cast out demons, gave sight to the blind, healed the lepers, and worked many more wonders. This is cause for rejoicing. All believers should be glad in their God who alone works miracles. Since this is so, I wish to point my heart as well as the hearts of my brothers and sisters to dwell on a miracle that far surpasses the wonders of physical healing. I speak of a miracle Christ has worked on behalf of every believer.
Therefore, let us look to the glory of salvation and marvel at the supernatural work of God. I speak of salvation as supernatural because the nature of mankind is naturally opposed to the message of the Gospel. What is supernatural cannot be explained by the laws of nature; therefore, what is natural is in accord with nature. And since the hearts of mankind are naturally at enmity with God, it is unnatural (opposed to human nature) for a person to become a Christian just as it is unnatural for a person to suddenly be healed of cancer. Therefore, a supernatural work is required; a work that no person can fully comprehend for it is too wonderful.
The Scripture is clear on the nature of mankind for it says, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:14). Let us draw our focus to the words, “not able”. The natural person lacks the ability to understand the spiritual. Just as an infant cannot create oneself, so a natural person cannot make oneself spiritual. While counting the spiritual to be folly, the natural person only lusts after the foolishness of the world. And we know that all those who are spiritual were once natural as Scripture says, “But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual” (1 Cor. 15:46).
Further Scripture declares, “ None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one’ ” (Rom. 3:11-12). These scriptures clarify the state of all mankind from their birth. This a condition that all people, including believers, have inherited (Rom. 3:23), (Col. 1:21).
Now, we may wonder, if this is so then how are any people saved? If the natural person is not able to understand the spiritual then how can anyone repent and believe? And if none does good then how do any choose the good Lord to be their Savior? If no one seeks for God then how can a person draw near to God?
In Scripture, we find an answer to these questions. It magnifies a supernatural God whose calling is not like the call of a mother to her son. A mother depends on the obedience of her son who may choose to turn aside, but God’s calling is always effectual. For Scripture says, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day”(John 6:44), and it also says, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.” (John 6:37). These words proceed directly from the mouth of Christ; they are words of love and power. He seems to say, “Indeed, all mankind has turned their back on me and no one seeks me. However, my Father has sought out a people, and they will come to me because my Father has drawn them and given them unto me. More than this, they will never be cast out, for they will be mine forevermore.” Therefore, those who are called become seekers of God because He first sought them. As Scripture says, “We love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19).
This is precisely why when Simon Peter says to Christ, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God“ Christ responds, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven’ “ (Matt. 16:16b-17). That is to say, any person who praises Christ as the Son of the living God, does not do so by the flesh (or their natural state); rather, it is revealed to them by God. Belief and love for Christ are spiritual and against the nature of the flesh. Therefore, God settles this problem by granting His people a new nature where they are born again by the Spirit of God (John 3:5). Those who were once defined by their unrighteousness become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21). He creates new people by the word of His mouth.
Scripture attests to this as Christ supernaturally rose others from the dead. Let us consider a man named Lazarus who was nearing death. His sisters sent word to Christ, saying, “Lord, he whom you love is ill” (John 11:3). When Christ heard this news He was certain that the Son of God would be glorified; however, He delayed His coming and stayed where He was two days longer. He then journeyed to Lazarus, arriving four days after he had died. The stench of death seeped through the linen that wrapped his already decaying body. His sisters spoke to Christ saying, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:32). There was much weeping and the spirit of Christ was troubled so much that He wept as well. He was deeply moved again as he approached the tomb and commanded the stone to be moved. One of the sisters reminded their Lord of the odor, for Lazarus had been dead for four days.
However, the words of Christ never fall void. With a loud voice, He cried out, “Lazarus, come out” (John 11:43). In that instant, the once-dead man came out of the tomb. He was wrapped in linen cloths that bore witness to his death, but Christ said, “Unbind him, and let him go” (John 11:44).
So it is with salvation. Scripture says, “You were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked” (Eph. 2:1-2a). At one time, all of God’s people were rotten corpses deprived of spiritual life. As the sisters told Christ, “He whom you love is ill” so God the Father told the Son that the ones whom He loves are dead. Therefore, by His supernatural work, God declares life into His people making their stench of death a pleasing aroma to Him. They become the aroma of Christ to God (2 Cor. 2:15). Just as with Lazarus, He commands that they be unbound, and let go so they may live freely as new creations.
Indeed, billions of people from every tribe, nation, and tongue have supernaturally risen from the dead by the hand of God. They, like Lazarus, couldn’t command themselves to live, for they only knew death and dead people can do no such thing. Further, this work of God will continue until the day He returns, and on that day He will gather all of His people unto Himself and they will miraculously be transformed once again. His people shall not know death, and they are the only people who can truly say, “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting” (1 Cor. 15:55-56). For death has no victory, sting, nor lasting stench for those whom Christ has risen. Glory be to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,”
2 Peter 1:3
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