Above is a pic of my youngest daughter and me.
My Husband, My brother in Christ
Thursday Theology: I must have been blind
God has to open a persons's spiritual eyes to understand the scripture... we can read and re-read a Scriptural text many times, but until God the Holy Spirit illumines our mind to the text, until it is the fullness of time for someone to understand, we can be looking right at the plain text and yet fail to see or hear it.
For example, the passages John 6:63-65; 37, 44 plainly state that "It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing ... and that no one can come to Me (believe the gospel) unless it has been granted him from the Father" and (v37) that all that the Father gives the Son will come to him (i.e will believe the gospel) and 44 says that no one comes unless God draw him and those same people he will raise up at the last day. To read the passage in context you have to be blinded in some way not to see that it plainly gives a syllogism that teaches the certainty of faith in those God has given the Son from eternity. That God infallibly draws those whom He loves.
YET ... if you show this passage to those who are closed to it, even Christians, they simply cannot see the plain reading of the text. Their hearts are closed to it so they won't hear it. So my admonition and prayer for all of us today is that we need to persevere in showing people these texts and pray the Lord will open their eyes to these and many others like it, that is, in the context of the whole counsel of Scripture. This reveals that persuasion is not merely a matter of presenting facts that are true, but that hearts must be changed to absorb them. So, let us pray for patience for ourselves and our community that we would befriend and cherish those God has put in our lives ... and pray that the Lord will use these weak vessels to open up the truth of Scripture." --by Pastor John
"Indeed the Word of God is like the sun, shining upon all those to whom it is proclaimed, but with no effect among the blind. Now, all of us are blind by nature in this respect... Accordingly, it cannot penetrate into our minds unless the Spirit, as the inner teacher, through his illumination makes entry for it." --Calvin's Institutes 3.2.34.
Comments
Great post and I agree with the clear understanding of John 6. It is good to fellowship with those who love the truth.
CR
Posted by: Christopher Redman | July 27, 2006 05:04 PM
It is good to fellowship with those who love the truth.
Yes, Amen.
Posted by: 4ever4given | July 28, 2006 07:43 AM
Yes.
Text and Prayer.
Here's a million dollar question for you now:
How does a reformed perspective on knowledge (what you just said) effect our efforts at evangelism and apologetics?
How our generation answers that question will determine the future for our children, and sadly it's the one question that so few contemplate.
Posted by: The_Armchair_Theologian | July 28, 2006 07:46 PM
Since we do not know who belongs to the number of the predestined and who does not, it befits us so to feel as to wish that all be saved. So it will come about that, whoever we come across, we shall study to make him a sharer of peace... But it will be for God to make it effective in those whom He foreknew and predestined.--Calvin
Consider reading this article on evangelism from a reformed perspective.
"The only way human beings can come to know God truly is to experience the illuminating effects of regeneration by the Holy Spirit through faith in Christ... the Reformed apologist recognizes that apologetic argument will not convert or regenerate anyone, but at the same time he engages in apologetics in the expectation that God will use it as part of the experience leading to regeneration. “The miracle of regeneration has to occur somewhere, and all that we are arguing is that we must ask where it is that the Holy Spirit will most likely perform this miracle. And then there can be no doubt but that the likelihood is in favor of that place where the non-theist has to some extent seen the emptiness and vanity of his own position.”
Consider reading this article called Reformed Apologetics: Christianity in Conflict.
Posted by: lisa4given | July 28, 2006 10:07 PM
Thanks for the link...I'm pretty familiar with that stuff already. I was asking to see where you'd go with it though.
Lisa, have you actually read Van Til? I only know 1 other person, no 2, who've ever sorted through any of that stuff. He's a tough read and he's also fairly complex...but worth it. I encountered Van Til's "Survey of Christian Epistemology" around 6 years ago and it started me on a LONG journey.
If you've read Van Til, you've just climbed around 5 rungs on the 'cool' ladder. Your family is blessed, and you'd better be sharing that awesome doctrine with some younger women at your church...please.
Posted by: The_Armchair_Theologian | July 30, 2006 04:04 AM
Van Til was a challenge for me, but I have read quite a bit. I have to read him slowly, I found him challenging and thought provoking... almost to the point of frontal lobe explosian. ha.
I am blessed to have such a Godly husband and solid church. There are many opportunities for mentoring younger women in my church.
Posted by: lisa4given | July 30, 2006 06:48 AM