Salvation

The Bible presents salvation as the ultimate miracle, a divine act where God transforms a spiritually dead person into a "new creature" through grace. It is not earned by human merit but is a supernatural gift, requiring belief in Jesus's death and resurrection, resulting in instant regeneration, justification, and eternal lifespiritual truths. 

Paul called salvation a miracle in Romans 1:16. "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." The word translated "power" in Romans 1 is the Greek word dunamis. This word is consistently used in reference to the direct power of God and is even translated "miracle" or "miraculous" 22 times. The Greek scholars say this word refers to, "(miraculous) power, might, strength" (NAS Greek) and "specially, miraculous power" (Strongs). Dunamis is not a generic word for power and authority. The Greek word exousia seen many times in Revelation regarding the power of the locusts and armies is the more common word for power and authority. When we read dunamis, we are to think of tremendous might and power.

In Ephesians 2, Paul told us that we were dead in our sins and trespasses and were by nature children of wrath (Ephesians 2:1-3). But look what Paul says, " 4But God, who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, 5 made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved! 6 He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-6).

Paul is describing a miracle taking place in our lives. We are dead and God is raising us from the dead, making us alive with Christ. Paul is emphasizing what amazing power and abundant love was shown to raise us from our spiritual death. Verse 5 reminds us of our status: we were dead in trespasses. But God has authored a resurrection in our lives, taking us from being dead and making us alive.

The raising of people from the dead was to show us that God has the power to raise our spiritual bodies from sin and death and make us alive. Specifically, we are to witness this power in the resurrection of Jesus. Paul makes this point in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19. Closely look at verses 14-18: " 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.”

If Christ has not been raised from the dead, then we are not raised from the dead. We are still in our sins and lost without the power of God raising Christ from the dead.