"For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come."
-Ephesians 1:15-21
"Thou movest us to delight in praising Thee; for Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in Thee."
"Thou movest us to delight in praising Thee; for Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our hearts are restless until they find rest in Thee."
-Augustine, Basic Writings of Augustine, vol. 1, p. 3
"In all the other sciences man is the one who of himself takes the first step in approaching the objective world, in subjecting it to his scrutiny, in compelling it to submit to his experiments - in a word, man is the one who proceeds actively to make nature reveal her facts and her laws. In Theology this relation between the subject and the object is reversed. Here it is God who takes the first step to approach man for the purpose of disclosing His nature, nay, who creates man in order that He may have the finite mind able to receive the knowledge of His infinite perfections."
"In all the other sciences man is the one who of himself takes the first step in approaching the objective world, in subjecting it to his scrutiny, in compelling it to submit to his experiments - in a word, man is the one who proceeds actively to make nature reveal her facts and her laws. In Theology this relation between the subject and the object is reversed. Here it is God who takes the first step to approach man for the purpose of disclosing His nature, nay, who creates man in order that He may have the finite mind able to receive the knowledge of His infinite perfections."
- Geerhardus Vos, Redemptive History and Biblical Interpretation, p. 4, 5
"Gospel doctrine matters because the good news is so full and rich and wonderful that it must be opened like a treasure chest, and all its treasures brought out for the enjoyment of the world. Doctrine is the description of these treasures. Doctrine describes their true value and why they are so valuable." "Doctrine polishes the old gems buried at the bottom of the chest. It puts the gospel truth in order on the scarlet tapestry of history so each is seen in its most beautiful place."
"Gospel doctrine matters because the good news is so full and rich and wonderful that it must be opened like a treasure chest, and all its treasures brought out for the enjoyment of the world. Doctrine is the description of these treasures. Doctrine describes their true value and why they are so valuable." "Doctrine polishes the old gems buried at the bottom of the chest. It puts the gospel truth in order on the scarlet tapestry of history so each is seen in its most beautiful place."
- John Piper, God is the Gospel, p. 22
"Unveil yourself, God of glory. Wake us up to know you, Savior-King. Enlighten the eyes of our hearts. Drive away the darkness that blinds, chokes, and shrinks us. Make us see."
- David Powlison, Seeing with New Eyes, p. 1
"Unveil yourself, God of glory. Wake us up to know you, Savior-King. Enlighten the eyes of our hearts. Drive away the darkness that blinds, chokes, and shrinks us. Make us see."
- David Powlison, Seeing with New Eyes, p. 1
The Christian has a different orientation than the non-Christian. By way of special revelation (the Scriptures illuminated by the Spirit) the Christian’s orientation is founded on certain objective criteria. God has revealed Himself to man via Jesus Christ through the medium of the Scriptures. What this means is that Christianity is revelational. In other words, God takes the initiative to make Himself known. Other religions may be predicated upon man’s search for and attempt at reaching God, but biblical Christianity reveals God as the One who discloses His character and nature through His Word. Regenerate man is the recipient of revelation. What we know about God, in the sum of all of His perfections, comes to us mediated through the Scriptures. He has opened our eyes to the gospel and has restored us to Himself through Jesus Christ. Sometimes I think I can see with great clarity and other times I think I’m mostly blind, but God demonstrates His love to us by opening our eyes to the riches of His grace in Christ. Not only has He manifested His love by His action of saving us, He has opened our blind eyes to see it through the Word written, and the Holy Spirit has given us the grace of faith to believe it.
If you believe in the saving acts of God on your behalf, you can thank God because He’s given you eyes to see it.
I’m thanking God for opening my eyes to the Gospel. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.
If you believe in the saving acts of God on your behalf, you can thank God because He’s given you eyes to see it.
I’m thanking God for opening my eyes to the Gospel. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.
1 comment:
Good stuff to start your day!
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