[2:1] For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, [2] that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, [3] in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. [4] I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. [5] For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.
(Colossians 2:1-5 ESV)
Without Scripture(that is, true writings from God about God), how are we to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ? In other words, how do we know God, without being able to know Him, to Study Him? I'm not insinuating that reading the Scripture is like looking at the face of Christ, rather, I am saying that the Study of Scripture is how we find out about Him, both what He commands and what He has done. It's akin to me getting out some of my grandfather's letters to my grandmother to try and get a better picture of what he was like. Only in the case of the Scriptures, we are dealing with the Living God, and not studying someone else's relationship, but studying our own. What am I to do with this Person Jesus Christ? How am I to know Him?
He chose to reveal Himself in this way. Oh, yes, the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth His handiwork. We can understand some of the greatness of God by looking at nature - creatures, plants, weather patterns, seasons. The human body is a marvel, and we know that there must have been a Designer.
ReplyDeleteBut to truly KNOW this Person, we have to read what He wrote down for us to understand. He gave His word for us - but these are written, that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing we might have life through His name. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for instruction, for correction... we need a guidebook, a way to understand what is right and what is wrong, what God requires of us, and what He has done for us.
I am thankful for the Word of God.
Oh, how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.
Good thoughts, my son.
I don't think we could reach the fullness without what God has revealed to us in His Word.
ReplyDeleteFor we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:16-21 ESV)
The characteristic of a (true) prophet was that he spoke God's message to the people. So if we believe that the "prophetic word" is more sure than the message Peter heard on the mountain with Jesus, we have to believe that Scripture is in fact the Word of God, living and active...and yes, perfect, because it has been spoken by the Perfect One.
If something in scripture doesn't line up with something else in scripture, it is mans interpretation that needs to be corrected, not Gods word. By saying 'certain' writings could have been altered or changed is suggesting that God is not Sovereign over what He has commanded to be recorded. That type of thinking leads people down the path where they say certain Authors should have never been added to Scriptures, that they are imposters at best, or that the entire New Testament is a sham. Dangerous indeed.
ReplyDeleteChristianity is a vision of the way things should be. The Christian Bible is a unique blend of Old Testament and New Testament. From a religion of certain do's and dont's to a religion of done's!
ReplyDeleteIt is the revelation of God Himself and His timeless awareness of what His creation is and will become - and our own unique part of it. I think that is what staggers me the most - the uniqueness of my own part in God's glorious story as it unfolds. Doubt? I have plenty - as a sinner actively sinning, how can God possibly be glorified through me? Yes, because of Christ's sacrifice, the very heavens rejoice at my feeble attempts to live the Christian life!
There is hope. Ultimately, is that not the message? Php 1:6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.