"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you..." (Eph. 1:18, NIV).
"Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law" (Psalm 119:18, NIV).
People who reject the Bible have motives that aren't readily apparent but should be obvious. If the heart is in the right place one would see for oneself that it appeals to the very heart of man. The Bible is able to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart and it reads us as we read it. Many have read through the Bible thinking they apprehend its message of salvation, but have never let the Bible read through them! When we ignore what we do see, God blinds us and refuses more light. Mark Twain illustrated this by quipping: "It's not the parts of the Bible that I don't understand that bother me; it's the parts I do!" Likewise, we must heed what the Lord is trying to say or we will not get further light.
Israel witnessed many signs and wonders and still wouldn't believe (cf. Psalm 78:32, NIV) and the Pharisees in Jesus' time would not, not could not, believe despite His signs and miracles (cf. John 12:37, NIV). The point is that miracles don't elicit faith, but faith evokes miracles. Miracles can bring about skepticism as well as increase faith. Miracles only increase faith but don't make it. If you remove the miraculous from Scripture, you have just idle tales, a catalog of religious idealism, meditations, or even list of dos and don'ts. This is not the case of so-called miracles of other religions--they are believed because the religion is already affirmed to them, not to make them believe--they are not necessary for their religion.
If Jesus had performed no miracles, He'd be a mere footnote in history. Jesus' miracles were not haphazard or helter-skelter, nor for personal gain, but to illustrate His Deity or to show compassion and make a point in His teaching--they were not fantastic, nor showy and He never did a miracle on-demand or any biggie miracle to force faith on the hardened and unwilling. He said in His teachings that if anyone is willing to do His will (cf. John 7:17), he shall know whether His works were of God or not and His teaching was from God.
Now, you don't have to believe the Bible per se to become a Christian, but it will make a believer out of you upon reading it. Note that the Pharisees believed the Scriptures, but were blind to the truth due to the hardness of their hearts. And Paul preached to the Greeks who didn't necessarily already believe in the Scriptures. But most people that reject the Bible or say it's obsolete or even legend or tall tale, have never read it! If they say they have, ask them what its main message is! The Bible is known to feed you, then make you hungry--one can never get too much of the Word and newborn believers seem to have an insatiable appetite for its contents--a true thirst and love for the Word.
The person who has never read the Bible is on the verge of being barbarian or illiterate and doesn't realize the Western Civilization was founded upon its principles. The Bible has always been considered part of the Common Law of England according to Jurist William Blackstone. It's easily the most influential book in history, even most popular! People who reject it have a problem in their heart because the heart of the matter is that it's a matter of the heart--one's heart needs to be in the right place to appreciate it. Bitterness can blind a person to the truth! The Bible is so foundational to wisdom that a knowledge of the Bible without a college education is worth more in life than a college education without knowledge of the Bible.
Now, why do the vast majority of skeptics deny the Bible's authenticity as true, even historically? If a secular scholar or historian disagrees, it's assumed they are the ones without bias. They believe and accept usually by faith since they may have only heard this, that it contains contradictions. Several scholarly books have been written to dispel this notion; namely, The Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties and Alleged Discrepancies of the Bible. But I contend that there are no contradictions because I have seen many resolved and see that most are merely the result of not knowing basic Bible doctrine, semantics, or of sound reading, of seeing the big picture, or even that they don't know basic rules of interpretation like interpreting the obscure in light of the clear, and seeing that the Scripture interprets itself. When they say that the Bible contradicts itself; it really contradicts them! Some famous men have done Bible revisions or tried to rewrite it the way they see it, even taking out the miracles which they find offensive or unbelievable. But they are not believing the Bible, but are believing themselves!
The Bible is its own Supreme Court that appeals to no higher authority for attestation. the proof of the pudding is in the eating! If it appealed to science, then science would be the ultimate arbiter of truth! The proof of the Bible is in itself: "Taste and see that the LORD is good!" The Bible appeals to the heart and soul of man and if it's not good soil, it will not be able to grow into fruition and mature. We often are asked to prove the Bible is the Word of God by those who cannot prove it isn't! But the Bible can prove itself if given the opportunity. If they say prove it to me! You ought to say, "No, you prove it yourself--read it!" All one needs is an open mind, willing spirit, and needy heart and God will authenticate Himself through His chosen vehicle or method of communication--the Bible.
In sum, people who think they are rejecting the Bible are really rejecting themselves and/or their perception or understanding of it, not necessarily what it says in reality; the Bible tells it like it is and shows people who and what they are in God's estimation (it isn't pretty!), but some people don't want to live up to its reality but choose to delude themselves and reject the truth. Soli Deo Gloria!
About Me
- Karl Broberg
- I am a born-again Christian, who is Reformed, but also charismatic, spiritually speaking. (I do not speak in tongues, but I believe glossalalia is a bona fide gift not given to all, and not as great as prophecy, for example.) I have several years of college education but only completed a two-year degree. I was raised Lutheran and confirmed, but I didn't "find Christ" until I was in the Army and responded to a Billy Graham crusade in 1973. I was mentored or discipled by the Navigators in the army and upon discharge joined several evangelical, Bible-teaching churches. I was baptized as an infant, but believe in believer baptism, of which I was a partaker after my conversion experience. I believe in the "5 Onlys" of the reformation: sola fide (faith alone); sola Scriptura (Scripture alone); soli Christo (Christ alone), sola gratia (grace alone), and soli Deo gloria (to God alone be the glory). I affirm TULIP as defended in the Reformation.. I affirm most of The Westminster Confession of Faith, especially pertaining to Providence.
Showing posts with label enlightenment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label enlightenment. Show all posts
Saturday, June 29, 2019
Monday, April 15, 2019
The Doctrine Of Cognizance
Some evangelical pastors are overly zealous about how people become aware of their salvation and think there must be a dramatic "attestation" experience. "What's your attestation experience" This is called "initial evidence validation" and some Pentecostal churches say that only speaking in tongues is the evidence of being baptized in the Spirit. But Scripture says, "We were all baptized by one Spirit into the body..." (1 Cor. 12:13). Tongues (glossolalia) are not the only evidence of the filling or baptism: One may prophesy, one may feel great peace and freedom or relief, one may get a thirst for the Word and even a great desire or burden to witness boldly.
I was one of the only persons in the Bible study that couldn't nail down my conversion date--I guess I forgot how important it would be and by the time I was asked I had forgotten. For instance, if you cannot pinpoint your salvation to the day and even time you probably weren't saved. This is balderdash! You don't have to remember the precise moment that the Holy Spirit took up residence. Beth Moore says most of us don't remember the moment the Holy Spirit took up residence.
Charles Spurgeon has written that not all of us become aware of instantaneously, but some over a period of time. Billy Graham says, "We may not know the time the sun rose but we surely know it is up." 2 Peter 1:19 says that there is a time when "the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." We may repent one day and commit our lives to Christ another (I can remember when I repented and when I committed myself).
We may walk forward to no avail and dedicate our lives or renew them many a time before that real "assurance" sticks. Isa. 32:17 correlates assurance with righteousness ("The work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever"). In other words, being righteous leads to producing fruit which gives assurance. "Bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Col. 1:10). Nota bene that assurance is not a subjective thing but from the objective Word of God that we rely upon.
Many people think they got saved when they said a sinner's prayer. Actually going through the motions or memorizing the dance of the pious don't save--faith does. The devil can raise his hand, walk an aisle, say a prayer, etc. But can the devil produce the fruit of love for the Lord and good deeds the fruit of repentance (Acts 26:20)? That is like the Roman position that grace comes through the action. It is called ex opere operato.
For instance, they believe that the actual baptizing of infants washes away original sin and he would go to hell if not baptized. True faith is tested by its fruit and we are all fruit inspectors--ourselves first! It is the Word of God coupled with the testimony of the Holy Spirit that gives assurance. "The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Rom. 8:16). Soli Deo Gloria!
I was one of the only persons in the Bible study that couldn't nail down my conversion date--I guess I forgot how important it would be and by the time I was asked I had forgotten. For instance, if you cannot pinpoint your salvation to the day and even time you probably weren't saved. This is balderdash! You don't have to remember the precise moment that the Holy Spirit took up residence. Beth Moore says most of us don't remember the moment the Holy Spirit took up residence.
Charles Spurgeon has written that not all of us become aware of instantaneously, but some over a period of time. Billy Graham says, "We may not know the time the sun rose but we surely know it is up." 2 Peter 1:19 says that there is a time when "the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." We may repent one day and commit our lives to Christ another (I can remember when I repented and when I committed myself).
We may walk forward to no avail and dedicate our lives or renew them many a time before that real "assurance" sticks. Isa. 32:17 correlates assurance with righteousness ("The work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance forever"). In other words, being righteous leads to producing fruit which gives assurance. "Bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God" (Col. 1:10). Nota bene that assurance is not a subjective thing but from the objective Word of God that we rely upon.
Many people think they got saved when they said a sinner's prayer. Actually going through the motions or memorizing the dance of the pious don't save--faith does. The devil can raise his hand, walk an aisle, say a prayer, etc. But can the devil produce the fruit of love for the Lord and good deeds the fruit of repentance (Acts 26:20)? That is like the Roman position that grace comes through the action. It is called ex opere operato.
For instance, they believe that the actual baptizing of infants washes away original sin and he would go to hell if not baptized. True faith is tested by its fruit and we are all fruit inspectors--ourselves first! It is the Word of God coupled with the testimony of the Holy Spirit that gives assurance. "The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God" (Rom. 8:16). Soli Deo Gloria!
Sunday, January 20, 2019
I Saw The Light!
"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD shines over you. For look, darkness covers the earth, and total darkness the peoples; but the LORD will shine over you, and His glory will appear over you" (Isaiah 60:1-2, HCSB).
"'This, then, is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19, HCSB).
"In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matt. 5:16, NIV).
"If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:6-7).
Once you've seen the light, your life is transformed not just reformed. Darkness is expelled by the presence of light, which is its enemy. They cannot dwell together in the same space. God is light and in Him is no darkness! He created light and separated it from the darkness. No one has an excuse: God gives light to all, for in Jesus we all can see the light if we look for it; however, He gives us only enough to see where we are to go. There is enough to see for the willing and enough darkness for the unwilling to reject the light. We must be willing to come to the light and hate the darkness! In God's economy, known as the divine order of reality, enlightenment comes from Light!
If we are to become enlightened by the Word, we ought to seek the Source, the Holy Spirit, who illuminates the eyes of our hearts. We are to be lights in a dark-infested world that is Satan's domain and turf. We are to let our light shine in the darkness and influence it for the good. The M.O. of finding the light and being enlightened is via the Bible and preaching of it; the day will dawn and the morning star will shine in our hearts (cf. 2 Pet. 1:19).
The problem with evil men is that they love darkness rather than light and will not come to it lest their evil deeds become exposed (cf. John 3:19)! Only those who see the light can pass it on to others and show them the Way. The Bible shows us the real self, for what we are in reality, not painting a pretty picture but being blunt about the portrayal. For Proverbs 20:27 "The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost thoughts." God made our hearts and knows the diagnosis as well as the cure and prognosis!
There is just enough light for anyone to see if they are willing and the Bible equates Truth with light, for Augustine said that all truth is God's truth (cf. 1 John 1:6)! It is a sign of evil when men walk in darkness and this type of metaphoric language should hit home for us all, for we can all identify a time in our life without direction and guidance from the Divinity. This is in contradistinction to Satan, the prince of darkness. The fulfillment of our faith is to see Jesus: "Open our eyes, Lord, we want to see Jesus." "But we do see Jesus" as the ultimate "Beatific Vision" completed in glory (cf. Heb. 2:9, NIV) for He is the very personification and manifestation of the Light.
CAVEAT: THE GOAL OF OUR LIFE IS NOT "ENLIGHTENMENT" AS IS SOUGHT IN BUDDHISM BUDDHA MEANS "ENLIGHTENED ONE"), BUT SALVATION OF THE SOUL AND RESTORATION OF OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD. CHRISTIANITY IS A RELIGION OF SALVATION! NB: BUDDHA, SIDDHARTHA GAUTAMA, DIDN'T BELIEVE IN GOD AND SAID THAT IF HE DID EXIST, HE COULDN'T HELP YOU FIND ENLIGHTENMENT, YOU MUST FIND IT ON YOUR OWN! Soli Deo Gloria!
Sunday, April 8, 2018
Loving Darkness Or Light?
"I form light and create darkness..." (Isa. 45:7, ESV).
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5, ESV).
"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Cor. 4:4, NIV).
"The unfolding of your words gives light..." (Psa. 119:130, NIV).
"For with you is the fountain of life; in your light, we see light" (Psa. 36:9, NIV).
"Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me" (Psa. 43:3, NIV).
"I selected and sent you to bring light and my promise of hope to the nations" (Isa. 42:6, CEV).
This is the verdict: men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil, and refused to come to the light, lest their deeds are exposed (cf. John 3:19). Woe to those who put light for darkness and darkness for light (cf. Isa. 5:20). Coming to the light is the same as coming to Jesus and coming clean. There is just enough light to see if one wants to and enough darkness to keep those in the dark who wish to stray there and not come to the light (cf. John 7:17).
It's true that seeing isn't believing, but believing is seeing because we believe in order to understand according to Augustine. No one is in total darkness (cf. Acts 14:17), but there is always a light to show the way for those who might repent. We all experience darkness on occasion because we shouldn't "... doubt in the dark what God told [us] in the light (attributed, Raymond Edman). Jesus came to bear witness of the light and enlightened every man. When we see the light, our lives are transformed, on a mission, and we see Jesus in action.
The reason we can't see God, who is Light, and dwells in unapproachable light (cf. 1 Tim. 6:16), is because we cannot even bear to look into the sun, one of His creations, much less see His glory. There is no darkness with God (cf. 1 John 1:5). It has been told of a man who lived in a dark cave and when he went outside was afraid of the light and went back into the dark cave where he felt secure and unseen. Newsflash: God sees in the darkness and nothing is hidden from Him (cf. Psa. 90:8). When we get saved we see the light and our spiritual eyes are opened, especially in reading the Bible.
Christians are called to be lights and not to hide our light but to let it shine and change the world with it collectively. We are the light of the world (cf. Matt 5:14). We are to be children of light, putting off the works of darkness, and to act like it as God's ambassadors (cf. 2 Cor. 5:20), and witnesses to a dark, fallen world that doesn't see the way, doing works of light. Our light is equated with truth (cf. John 3:21, "he that doeth truth cometh to the light"), and Amos accuses the people of "twisting the truth and stomping on justice"--the same thing is occurring today as we see Postmodern worldviews becoming predominate and people not even knowing what truth is, much less what a lie is--they seem to think that truth is what they prefer to believe or what works for them, and another person's truth has no power over them because it's all relevant.
It is unfortunate, as James Russell Lowell says: "Truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne." There seem to be no truths anyone is willing to die for anymore. Hosea 5:6 says that when people refuse the light, it's withdrawn from them. It is only by God's grace that we acknowledge the truth (cf. 2 Tim. 2:25) and the highest regard is to be well spoken of by the truth (cf. 3 John v. 12). It is the truth that sets us free (cf. John 8:32), referring to knowing the Lord, for Augustine said "all truth is God's truth" and Aquinas added that "all truth meets at the top," to discover the truth is to discover the God of truth in some manner.
We are to walk in the truth, or in the light figuratively because the Word of Truth is what sanctifies us (cf. John 17:17). God is light and in Him is no darkness, and therefore there is no fellowship between light and darkness and we are to come out from it and be separate or holy. "Come, ... let us walk in the light of the LORD" (Isa. 2:5, NIV). When we walk and abide in the light, even as Christ is in the light, we have sweet fellowship with one another (cf. 1 John 1:7).
The fool walks in darkness though (cf. Eccl. 2:14), so we must show the way and be lights in a dark world, putting on the armor of light (cf. Rom. 13:12). If we say we are in the light, we ought to walk in the light (1 John 2:9ff). "The LORD is my light and my salvation..." (Psa. 27:1, NIV): everyone needs to see the light.
"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5, ESV).
"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God" (2 Cor. 4:4, NIV).
"The unfolding of your words gives light..." (Psa. 119:130, NIV).
"For with you is the fountain of life; in your light, we see light" (Psa. 36:9, NIV).
"Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me" (Psa. 43:3, NIV).
"I selected and sent you to bring light and my promise of hope to the nations" (Isa. 42:6, CEV).
This is the verdict: men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil, and refused to come to the light, lest their deeds are exposed (cf. John 3:19). Woe to those who put light for darkness and darkness for light (cf. Isa. 5:20). Coming to the light is the same as coming to Jesus and coming clean. There is just enough light to see if one wants to and enough darkness to keep those in the dark who wish to stray there and not come to the light (cf. John 7:17).
It's true that seeing isn't believing, but believing is seeing because we believe in order to understand according to Augustine. No one is in total darkness (cf. Acts 14:17), but there is always a light to show the way for those who might repent. We all experience darkness on occasion because we shouldn't "... doubt in the dark what God told [us] in the light (attributed, Raymond Edman). Jesus came to bear witness of the light and enlightened every man. When we see the light, our lives are transformed, on a mission, and we see Jesus in action.
The reason we can't see God, who is Light, and dwells in unapproachable light (cf. 1 Tim. 6:16), is because we cannot even bear to look into the sun, one of His creations, much less see His glory. There is no darkness with God (cf. 1 John 1:5). It has been told of a man who lived in a dark cave and when he went outside was afraid of the light and went back into the dark cave where he felt secure and unseen. Newsflash: God sees in the darkness and nothing is hidden from Him (cf. Psa. 90:8). When we get saved we see the light and our spiritual eyes are opened, especially in reading the Bible.
Christians are called to be lights and not to hide our light but to let it shine and change the world with it collectively. We are the light of the world (cf. Matt 5:14). We are to be children of light, putting off the works of darkness, and to act like it as God's ambassadors (cf. 2 Cor. 5:20), and witnesses to a dark, fallen world that doesn't see the way, doing works of light. Our light is equated with truth (cf. John 3:21, "he that doeth truth cometh to the light"), and Amos accuses the people of "twisting the truth and stomping on justice"--the same thing is occurring today as we see Postmodern worldviews becoming predominate and people not even knowing what truth is, much less what a lie is--they seem to think that truth is what they prefer to believe or what works for them, and another person's truth has no power over them because it's all relevant.
It is unfortunate, as James Russell Lowell says: "Truth forever on the scaffold, wrong forever on the throne." There seem to be no truths anyone is willing to die for anymore. Hosea 5:6 says that when people refuse the light, it's withdrawn from them. It is only by God's grace that we acknowledge the truth (cf. 2 Tim. 2:25) and the highest regard is to be well spoken of by the truth (cf. 3 John v. 12). It is the truth that sets us free (cf. John 8:32), referring to knowing the Lord, for Augustine said "all truth is God's truth" and Aquinas added that "all truth meets at the top," to discover the truth is to discover the God of truth in some manner.
We are to walk in the truth, or in the light figuratively because the Word of Truth is what sanctifies us (cf. John 17:17). God is light and in Him is no darkness, and therefore there is no fellowship between light and darkness and we are to come out from it and be separate or holy. "Come, ... let us walk in the light of the LORD" (Isa. 2:5, NIV). When we walk and abide in the light, even as Christ is in the light, we have sweet fellowship with one another (cf. 1 John 1:7).
The fool walks in darkness though (cf. Eccl. 2:14), so we must show the way and be lights in a dark world, putting on the armor of light (cf. Rom. 13:12). If we say we are in the light, we ought to walk in the light (1 John 2:9ff). "The LORD is my light and my salvation..." (Psa. 27:1, NIV): everyone needs to see the light.
In summation, let's fulfill the Word of God in Isa. 60:1, NIV, saying, "[A]rise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has come upon you." It's a known, undisputed fact among believers that the closer you get to the light, the more imperfections are seen. Soli Deo Gloria!
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Stewards Of The Mysteries Of God
"This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy" (1 Cor. 4:1-2, ESV).
God has revealed to us believers a quota or portion of divine truth to be used for His glory, and in His name. We are all stewards of it and will give account for what has been revealed to us--we are not judging God's truth, but it is judging us! If we have come up with some strange idea or a truth no one else realizes, it is not of God. Remember what Jesus said: "To whom much is given, much is required." We are never to make light of the revelations and insights God has granted us by grace. Truth with a capital T can be ascertained and we are in the Great Quest to find it and apply it to our lives the best we know; for to know the right thing or duty to do and be remiss or derelict in it is sinful. Jesus said, that we shall know the truth (which is in Jesus per Eph. 4:21) and it shall set us free per John 8:32.
God only reveals mysteries to us so that they may benefit the body as a whole, not to give us inflated egos or that we might become conceited or arrogant, even condescending in our fellowships and relationships. When we pass along the truths God has revealed to us, He grants more and illumines us to a higher degree. Illumination is not salvation, but we grow in illumination and enlightenment as we mature in Christ--sharing in the mind of Christ Himself. The complete mind of Christ is manifest in Scripture for us to study for all eternity since we are incapable in our finite mind to apprehend the infinite mind of God. His mind is called the Ultimate mind, and this means there is more to the cosmos than matter and energy--there are spirit and mind, or what we might term the Logos, as Jesus is called in John 1:1.
No man has a monopoly on knowledge of the truth and is an island or rock in himself, but must learn from the body of Christ, as all share gifts for the benefit of the body. To be a spiritual Lone Ranger (one who doesn't submit to any authority other than himself or is unbowed), or a spiritual lone wolf is in danger of going astray and doing his own thing, which is another name for sin per Isaiah 53:6 (ESV), which says, "All we like sheep have gone astray...." People who are not sheep, or have no shepherd guiding them, are like goats in Jesus' analogy and goats do not act like sheep, who are helpless, but can fend for themselves.
If a Christian thinks he's a shepherd and not a sheep, he must be a sheep first, and he never really stops being a sheep, even though he's a shepherd; He can tell if he's a shepherd by seeing if anyone is following him or if he exhibits leadership ability. If he thinks people should listen to him, he should see if they do first!
In summation, the student is not above his teacher, according to the Word, and God is judging how good and faithful of a student one is, as well as how good and faithful a teacher the shepherd is--whether he teaches the truth and practices what he teaches, that is. Soli Deo Gloria!
God has revealed to us believers a quota or portion of divine truth to be used for His glory, and in His name. We are all stewards of it and will give account for what has been revealed to us--we are not judging God's truth, but it is judging us! If we have come up with some strange idea or a truth no one else realizes, it is not of God. Remember what Jesus said: "To whom much is given, much is required." We are never to make light of the revelations and insights God has granted us by grace. Truth with a capital T can be ascertained and we are in the Great Quest to find it and apply it to our lives the best we know; for to know the right thing or duty to do and be remiss or derelict in it is sinful. Jesus said, that we shall know the truth (which is in Jesus per Eph. 4:21) and it shall set us free per John 8:32.
God only reveals mysteries to us so that they may benefit the body as a whole, not to give us inflated egos or that we might become conceited or arrogant, even condescending in our fellowships and relationships. When we pass along the truths God has revealed to us, He grants more and illumines us to a higher degree. Illumination is not salvation, but we grow in illumination and enlightenment as we mature in Christ--sharing in the mind of Christ Himself. The complete mind of Christ is manifest in Scripture for us to study for all eternity since we are incapable in our finite mind to apprehend the infinite mind of God. His mind is called the Ultimate mind, and this means there is more to the cosmos than matter and energy--there are spirit and mind, or what we might term the Logos, as Jesus is called in John 1:1.
No man has a monopoly on knowledge of the truth and is an island or rock in himself, but must learn from the body of Christ, as all share gifts for the benefit of the body. To be a spiritual Lone Ranger (one who doesn't submit to any authority other than himself or is unbowed), or a spiritual lone wolf is in danger of going astray and doing his own thing, which is another name for sin per Isaiah 53:6 (ESV), which says, "All we like sheep have gone astray...." People who are not sheep, or have no shepherd guiding them, are like goats in Jesus' analogy and goats do not act like sheep, who are helpless, but can fend for themselves.
If a Christian thinks he's a shepherd and not a sheep, he must be a sheep first, and he never really stops being a sheep, even though he's a shepherd; He can tell if he's a shepherd by seeing if anyone is following him or if he exhibits leadership ability. If he thinks people should listen to him, he should see if they do first!
In summation, the student is not above his teacher, according to the Word, and God is judging how good and faithful of a student one is, as well as how good and faithful a teacher the shepherd is--whether he teaches the truth and practices what he teaches, that is. Soli Deo Gloria!
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Blinded By The Light
God is light and those who deny Him live in darkness or chaos without His guidance. The Word exhorts us to "walk in the light, even as He is in the light." The Word itself is a "light to our path and a lamp to our feet." Isaiah 9 talks of those who dwell in darkness seeing a great light (Matt. 4:16a, ESV). The blind man testified: "This one thing I know, I was blind, but now I see."
You may not recall the precise moment your eyes were opened, but cannot deny that they are opened now and that you see: "Unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God." If you reject the light you have you will suffer darkness, not more light. If you are responsive to the light given you will be given more light--this is God's economy. Saying, "I see the light" is a great testimony.
People have wondered why they can't see God, who is invisible but dwells in great light that we cannot behold. Try looking into the sun; if you say it would blind you, then realize that you would be destroyed by looking into the source of all light, God Himself is light and no darkness dwells with Him--neither does He cast a shadow. Do you see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ? We are to be lights in the world and let our lights shine so that men will see them and give glory to God: "Let your light so shine before men..." (cf. Matt. 5:16). Jesus said in Matt. 5:14 that we are the light of the world--don't put your light under a basket where no one can behold its glory!
Isaiah 60:1 (ESV) says: "Arise, shine, for your light has come...." God saves us to be a blessing (cf. Zech. 8:13) and to bring Him glory by reflecting Jesus or being the icons of God (cf. Isaiah 43:7). We are created for God's glory according to The Westminster Shorter Catechism: "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." We must be faithful to the light we have and bring forth fruit worthy of our calling to enjoy more light--when you pass along insights from God, you are given more insight. Jesus came to open the eyes of the blind so they can see the light (he's not necessarily talking about healing blind men), but the one in the worst state is he who thinks he sees the light but is blind. The song "Blinded By The Light" is relevant because we cannot behold God until we are in a glorified and holy state and if we saw Him now we would be rendered blind--to close for comfort!
God said in the beginning, "Let there be light" and the light and darkness were severed permanently. God is the source of light and created it so we can see and it was good; we are to do likewise and shed light on the subject so others can see the light through our works that speak for themselves and bear witness of the light. Soli Deo Gloria!
You may not recall the precise moment your eyes were opened, but cannot deny that they are opened now and that you see: "Unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God." If you reject the light you have you will suffer darkness, not more light. If you are responsive to the light given you will be given more light--this is God's economy. Saying, "I see the light" is a great testimony.
People have wondered why they can't see God, who is invisible but dwells in great light that we cannot behold. Try looking into the sun; if you say it would blind you, then realize that you would be destroyed by looking into the source of all light, God Himself is light and no darkness dwells with Him--neither does He cast a shadow. Do you see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ? We are to be lights in the world and let our lights shine so that men will see them and give glory to God: "Let your light so shine before men..." (cf. Matt. 5:16). Jesus said in Matt. 5:14 that we are the light of the world--don't put your light under a basket where no one can behold its glory!
Isaiah 60:1 (ESV) says: "Arise, shine, for your light has come...." God saves us to be a blessing (cf. Zech. 8:13) and to bring Him glory by reflecting Jesus or being the icons of God (cf. Isaiah 43:7). We are created for God's glory according to The Westminster Shorter Catechism: "The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." We must be faithful to the light we have and bring forth fruit worthy of our calling to enjoy more light--when you pass along insights from God, you are given more insight. Jesus came to open the eyes of the blind so they can see the light (he's not necessarily talking about healing blind men), but the one in the worst state is he who thinks he sees the light but is blind. The song "Blinded By The Light" is relevant because we cannot behold God until we are in a glorified and holy state and if we saw Him now we would be rendered blind--to close for comfort!
God said in the beginning, "Let there be light" and the light and darkness were severed permanently. God is the source of light and created it so we can see and it was good; we are to do likewise and shed light on the subject so others can see the light through our works that speak for themselves and bear witness of the light. Soli Deo Gloria!
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Why Study the Bible?
"Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing shall cause them to stumble" (Ps. 119:165).
"If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction" (Ps. 119:92).
"I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil" (Ps. 119:162).
The discipline of teleology is the study of the purpose or design of things and unbelievers don't like to hear that there is a purpose behind the universe or creation, but that it is just a big cosmic accident of the forces of nature. For instance, the so-called design of earth (Anthropic principle) is perfectly fit for human habitation--is that an accident? This is one of the proofs for the existence of God, that it seems obvious to the objective person that there is a purpose for everything--telos, or purpose, is anathema to the secularist. Case in point: the purpose of dirt is to grow grass; the purpose of grass is to feed cattle; the purpose of cattle is to nourish man--this is where the equation breaks down, because we can't agree on the purpose of man without religion entering the picture and then we see the big picture. The three questions: where did we come from? Why are we here? And where are we going?
Now, the question at hand, why study the Bible? It should not be an academic issue or discipline to entertain us (like in a trivia game) or increase our knowledge, but to change our lives. During the Enlightenment gentlemen used to have the hobby of discussing theology, the queen of sciences, among themselves to pass the time--it was assumed everyone had a working knowledge of the Bible and could take part. Having a great knowledge about the Bible is not necessarily a compliment, because the Pharisees did too--it's what you apply that counts with God! Knowledge about the Bible is a prerequisite to knowing the Bible; it is necessary, but not sufficient to know God--the goal.
"Knowledge puffs up, but love [is what] edifies," according to 1 Cor. 8:1. But this is the kind of knowledge that doesn't contain discernment or wisdom, knowledge of God (cf. Hos. 4:1,6) "A people without discernment ["understanding" in NIV] perish" (Hos. 4:14). One of the worst sins is knowledge without character, according to Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, because it is a fact that knowledge can be dangerous and a little knowledge is worse than none. Half-educated people are more dangerous than illiterate ones. What you know ought to be so! Some people know just enough to be dangerous. Don't get me wrong--ignorance is not bliss, but we must be careful to see Bible knowledge as a means to an end, and not the end itself. It's not a contest to see who the most about the Bible--knowing the Bible is different and knowing and loving the Author is the paramount goal. More knowledge equals more responsibility too!
We are not to compare or commend ourselves with others because accumulated knowledge can be a byproduct and just because someone knows a lot doesn't mean that is the goal. Knowledge is a tool for the preacher and part of his trade and he is to teach others to become independent of him and learn to fend for themselves, as it were, and someday know how to study on their own--because they love the Bible, not because they want to get smart. The Bible is sufficient to teach us everything we need to know to live a victorious Christian life and grow into a mature believer, producing much fruit. The Bible is also known for its clarity because its main message is clear to the simple-minded and hidden from the "wise" out of the wisdom of God, because of the condition of their heart and will.
You can't teach someone to love the Bible--he must practice it and apply it himself to learn this and he will learn gradually to appreciate it. He has to grow into this. One should learn to study the Bible so that he can get "Aha!" moments or epiphanies (I can remember the exact day when God opened the Scriptures to me and I couldn't stop reading them) One can then sense God is speaking to Him, because this is the way God has promised to reach out to us and speak to our needs. "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth" (2 Tim. 2:15, KJV).
With the privilege of interpreting Scripture, comes the responsibility to do it right and not to fabricate our own truths! The Word also "equips" us for every good work (2 Tim. 3:17)! We should all be able to say with the psalmist, "O, how I love Thy Law, it is my meditation all the day" (Ps. 119:97). Soli Deo Gloria!
"If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction" (Ps. 119:92).
"I rejoice in your promise like one who finds great spoil" (Ps. 119:162).
The discipline of teleology is the study of the purpose or design of things and unbelievers don't like to hear that there is a purpose behind the universe or creation, but that it is just a big cosmic accident of the forces of nature. For instance, the so-called design of earth (Anthropic principle) is perfectly fit for human habitation--is that an accident? This is one of the proofs for the existence of God, that it seems obvious to the objective person that there is a purpose for everything--telos, or purpose, is anathema to the secularist. Case in point: the purpose of dirt is to grow grass; the purpose of grass is to feed cattle; the purpose of cattle is to nourish man--this is where the equation breaks down, because we can't agree on the purpose of man without religion entering the picture and then we see the big picture. The three questions: where did we come from? Why are we here? And where are we going?
Now, the question at hand, why study the Bible? It should not be an academic issue or discipline to entertain us (like in a trivia game) or increase our knowledge, but to change our lives. During the Enlightenment gentlemen used to have the hobby of discussing theology, the queen of sciences, among themselves to pass the time--it was assumed everyone had a working knowledge of the Bible and could take part. Having a great knowledge about the Bible is not necessarily a compliment, because the Pharisees did too--it's what you apply that counts with God! Knowledge about the Bible is a prerequisite to knowing the Bible; it is necessary, but not sufficient to know God--the goal.
"Knowledge puffs up, but love [is what] edifies," according to 1 Cor. 8:1. But this is the kind of knowledge that doesn't contain discernment or wisdom, knowledge of God (cf. Hos. 4:1,6) "A people without discernment ["understanding" in NIV] perish" (Hos. 4:14). One of the worst sins is knowledge without character, according to Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, because it is a fact that knowledge can be dangerous and a little knowledge is worse than none. Half-educated people are more dangerous than illiterate ones. What you know ought to be so! Some people know just enough to be dangerous. Don't get me wrong--ignorance is not bliss, but we must be careful to see Bible knowledge as a means to an end, and not the end itself. It's not a contest to see who the most about the Bible--knowing the Bible is different and knowing and loving the Author is the paramount goal. More knowledge equals more responsibility too!
We are not to compare or commend ourselves with others because accumulated knowledge can be a byproduct and just because someone knows a lot doesn't mean that is the goal. Knowledge is a tool for the preacher and part of his trade and he is to teach others to become independent of him and learn to fend for themselves, as it were, and someday know how to study on their own--because they love the Bible, not because they want to get smart. The Bible is sufficient to teach us everything we need to know to live a victorious Christian life and grow into a mature believer, producing much fruit. The Bible is also known for its clarity because its main message is clear to the simple-minded and hidden from the "wise" out of the wisdom of God, because of the condition of their heart and will.
You can't teach someone to love the Bible--he must practice it and apply it himself to learn this and he will learn gradually to appreciate it. He has to grow into this. One should learn to study the Bible so that he can get "Aha!" moments or epiphanies (I can remember the exact day when God opened the Scriptures to me and I couldn't stop reading them) One can then sense God is speaking to Him, because this is the way God has promised to reach out to us and speak to our needs. "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth" (2 Tim. 2:15, KJV).
With the privilege of interpreting Scripture, comes the responsibility to do it right and not to fabricate our own truths! The Word also "equips" us for every good work (2 Tim. 3:17)! We should all be able to say with the psalmist, "O, how I love Thy Law, it is my meditation all the day" (Ps. 119:97). Soli Deo Gloria!
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