The Best Knowledge
Posted by jerrywhite on May 30, 2010
Knowledge about the contents of the Bible is not the same as knowing the Lord Jesus intimately. Knowledge about theology (doctrine) is not the same as close personal fellowship with the Lord Jesus. Knowledge about all the Biblical principles for Christian living is not the same as knowing the Lord Jesus with the fullness of one’s soul. Knowledge of how to serve in ministry is not the same as privately gazing with wonder and awe on the Lord in His beauty. Knowledge about the Lord’s supernatural working through the gifts of the Spirit is not the same as knowing in one’s inner being the reality of the Lord’s presence through faith.
To know Jesus Christ—to know Him ever more intimately—to see Him with eyes of heart ever more clearly—to enjoy His near presence with ever increasing spiritual reality—this is the goal, and all knowledge should point to this ultimate goal for life and eternity. Deep personal knowledge of the Lord Jesus brings heart satisfaction like nothing else, and this is what our Heavenly Father longs to give us. This kind of knowledge is what we must set our heart upon to seek. Here is where our soul finds rest. Then we are prepared to tell others with experiential authority, both lost and saved, the wonders of Jesus Christ.
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And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
John 17:3 (ESV)
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 3:18 (ESV)
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“That nearness is what we are to make daily efforts after, and that nearness is one capable of indefinite increase. We know not how close to His heart we can lay our aching heads. We know not how near to His fullness we can bring our emptiness. We have never yet reached the point beyond which no closer union is possible.”
Alexander MacLaren
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Only Christ Satisfies
Posted by jerrywhite on May 3, 2010
“Spiritual progress, therefore, is tied up in knowing Christ as our All. It takes place when we take Christ as our portion to be all things for us. Greater Bible knowledge will not do this for you. Increased religious activity or spiritual service will not do this for you. Neither will spending more time praying. Only a revelation of the vastness of Christ can meet the bill.
As I survey the landscape of modern Christianity, it seems to me that spiritual things and objects have replaced the person of Christ. The doctrines, gifts, graces, virtues, and duties that we so earnestly seek have substituted for Jesus Himself. We look to this gift and that gift, we study this truth and that truth, we seek to appropriate this virtue, we try to fulfill this duty, but all along we fail to find Him.
When the Father gives us something, it’s always His Son. When the Son gives us something, it’s always Himself. This insight greatly simplifies the Christian life. Instead of seeking many spiritual things, we seek only Him. Our single occupation is the Lord Jesus Christ. He becomes our only pursuit. We do not seek divine things; we seek a divine person. We do not seek gifts; we seek the giver who embodies all the gifts. We do not seek truth; we see the incarnation of all truth.
God has given us all spiritual things in His Son.”
Frank Viola
From Eternity To Here, 302-303
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He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (ESV)
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The enemy violently opposes your finding complete satisfaction in Christ alone. He cares not what he uses, whether the world’s pleasures, or the Lord’s blessings, or even ministry. He wants desperately to keep you occupied with anything but the Lord Jesus.
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Jesus’ Perfect Character
Posted by jerrywhite on Dec 7, 2009
“In speech as in silence His perfect balance of character was displayed. He never spoke when it would have been wiser to remain silent, never kept silence when He should have spoken. Mercy and judgment blended in all His actions and judgments, yet neither prevailed at the expense of the other. Exact truth and infinite love adorned each other in His winsome personality, for He always spoke the truth in love. His severe denunciations of apostate Jerusalem were tremulous with His sobs (Matthew 23:27). True to His own counsel, He manifested the prudence of the serpent and the simplicity of the dove. His tremendous inner strength never degenerated into mere obstinacy. He mastered the difficult art of displaying sympathy without surrendering principle.
The excellencies of both sexes coalesced in Him. But while possessing all the gentler graces of womanhood He could never be regarded as effeminate. Indeed, He was linked in popular thought with the rugged Elijah, and the austere John the Baptist (Matthew 16:14). There is contrast yet not contradiction in His delicacy and gentleness in handling people who merited such treatment, and the blistering denunciations He poured on the hypocrites and parasites.”
J. Oswald Sanders
The Incomparable Christ, 2
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Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, truly delightful.
Song of Solomon 1:16
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“Most recently you have arrogantly challenged me saying, ‘Show me your God.’ I say, ‘Consider your soul –-your inner man—which cannot be seen and yet is real.’ Show me your soul, I say, and I will show you God. Though you may not yet be aware of it, the eyes of your soul have the ability to see—that is, to perceive the qualities of Him who is invisible. And the ears of your soul have the ability to perceive His voice as He calls in your heart. By these—the eyes and ears within, which are opened by faith—we behold God.”
Theophilus of Antioch (115-181 A. D.)
Reply to Autolychus
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The eyes of our heart can behold the Lord Jesus and our souls can know the reality of His nearness through meditation on His Word and the ministry of His Spirit.
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Created To Know God
Posted by jerrywhite on Nov 26, 2009
“What were we made for? To know God. What aim should we set ourselves in life? To know God. What is the ‘eternal life’ that Jesus gives? Knowledge of God. ‘This is life eternal, that they might know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent’ (John 17:3). What is the best thing in life, bringing more joy, delight, and contentment, than anything else? Knowledge of God. “
J. I. Packer
Knowing God, 29
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“Dear Friend in Christ,
In answer to your question, ‘Why didn’t God take me to heaven the moment I trusted Jesus? Does He have a special work for me to accomplish for Him?’—I would turn your heart to a more foundational truth. God in His mercy does not keep us alive because of some mission we have to perform, but rather because He desires to reveal Himself to us on earth in ways impossible in heaven.
The benefits earth yields outstrip heaven in many ways. Take, for example, knowing God as our Sustainer through trouble. This is our privileged experience now rather than later, after all tears have been dried by His own hand. It’s here on earth that God unveils to us His priesthood and enters into our sufferings, rather than in Glory where no one suffers. Only on earth does God show Himself to us as our Fortress and Defender, for who opposes us in heaven? On earth He shows Himself as our Rock and the One who lifts up our heads.
Here, when we faint, His everlasting arms catch and support us. Here He is our Savior and Advocate and gentle Shepherd. Through the changing experiences of this life we are introduced to His hands, His eyes, His feet, His wings, and His heart.
We are not left here on earth because we have a job to do, but because we have a God to know. And because knowing Him is the purpose of our existence here, we need not frustrate ourselves trying to identify our slot of service or qualifying gifts.
O, dear friend, follow hard after Him! Sanctify Christ as Lord and thankfully receive everything that enters your life as preparation for beholding Him in fresh ways.”
Edward Miller, Letters to the Thirsty, 8-9
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Jesus As A Man
Posted by jerrywhite on Nov 19, 2009
How do you view Jesus? Do you see Him as completely human? Oh, yes, He was fully divine, but He was fully human and He lived as any human must live. If we see Him as only Divine and lose sight of His genuine humanity then we lose sight of the significance of what He did for us. He became a human, suffered as a human, was tempted as a human, defeated the devil as a human, and died as a human. He was as human as you and I are, yet without a sin nature. Severest temptation does not require a sin nature. Before his transgression Adam did not have a sin nature.
As a human, Jesus had meaningful relationships. He loved His mother and she loved him. He had close friends like Mary, Martha and Lazarus, and the disciples. He experienced the full range of human emotions like sorrow and grief, anger and joy, disappointment and distress. This is why He can sympathize with our weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15).
When you see Him for who He really is as a human as well as the Lord, you will love Him more than you ever knew was possible.
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“’There stood by the cross of Jesus his mother’ (John 19:25).
Where else would one expect to find such a mother? It was her very own Son who was suffering. The outstretched arms and nail-torn hands once had clung around her neck. The head now tortured with a crown of thorns was once pillowed on her breast. The mouth on which she had once lavished her kisses of love was now parched and swollen. Though powerless to help, she could at least be beside Him in loyalty and love.
Sympathetically she entered into all His sufferings. The spear pierced her heart as it rent His flesh. With joy she had followed His career, had feared and preyed for Him, had rejoiced in His successes and wept over His disappointments. But now He was dying as a criminal, not as a hero! What an end to the life of such a Son! Lest she add to His sufferings, she did not give way to uncontrolled weeping, but repressed her grief as the sword pierced her soul. She did not faint or swoon, she ‘stood.’ He had enough suffering of His own without her adding to his overflowing cup of sorrow.
J. Oswald Sanders
The Incomparable Christ, 172-173
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