“18 For I would not dare say anything except what Christ has accomplished through me by word and deed for the obedience of the Gentiles, 19 by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit. As a result, I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum. 20 My aim is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named, so that I will not build on someone else’s foundation, 21 but, as it is written, Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.”
Paul has told us that many Gentiles are believing and becoming obedient because of the work that God is accomplishing through him, some of which was detailed in the previous devotional. More importantly, Paul notes, none of this would be possible if not for the power of the Holy Spirit. “by the power of miraculous signs and wonders, and by the power of God’s Spirit.” (v. 19a underline added) If the Holy Spirit withholds His power to change hearts, even the most extraordinary of miracles and wonders would not see anyone change their ways before God. Jesus makes this point quite clearly as He addresses the scribes and Pharisees after they ask to see Him perform a sign.
“Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” He answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation demands a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at Jonah’s preaching; and look — something greater than Jonah is here. The queen of the south will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and look — something greater than Solomon is here.” — Matthew 12:38-42
This passage makes it clear, the greatest miracle any person will ever know is the miracle of the gospel. God the Father sent His Son Jesus the Messiah to live a perfect life where we have failed to do so. Jesus died the death that all sinners deserve to die. Now, having been raised from the dead, He sits at the right hand of the Father interceding for us. Not only that, but He has sent the Helper, the Holy Spirit, to come upon all those who are His chosen elect, that they may grow in Christ-likeness and walk in the Spirit in joyful obedience and fervent service to God. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can any individual come to know and embrace that truth. If not through the miracle of the gospel, there is no other sign, wonder, or miracle that will ever convince any sinner to repent of their sins and follow Jesus.