NO POVERTY RELIGION HERE
26/04/23 11:09
It’s important to know God and Jesus Christ whom God has sent. This includes an accurate knowledge of Christ and a correct knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus and the apostles. Deficits in this area can make us tares instead of wheat. Aberrations can distort and suffocate the Gospel and do the same to people, which is why Paul warns that ‘other gospels’ curse us. This is why these posts are devoted to revealing our riches in Christ and exposing the robbery of diluted gospels.
CHRIST IS WHO HE IS TO THE IGNORANT AND MISTAKEN
Alexandra Radcliff in her discussion of the Torrance’s theology writes, “The importance of knowledge of God in the Torrance’s scheme of salvation raises the questions as to whether this makes salvation dependent upon intellectual capacity or correct theological knowledge.
These questions are significant because this would suggest that some are unfairly excluded from salvation on these grounds. However, the Torrance’s are not susceptible to this critique because they affirm that our 'realisation' is not dependent upon our own intellectual capacity or knowledge of the truth, but upon the revelation of the Holy Spirit.
HOLY SPIRIT INFORMED
The Holy Spirit is 'the Spirit of truth' (John 14:7; 16:13), who reveals the reality of our salvation in Christ. T.F. writes, The mission of the Spirit sent from the Father in the name of the Son as the Spirit of truth is to convict people of the truth as it is in Jesus, in judgement and mercy, to enlighten, inform and strengthen the Church through serving the centrality of Christ and deepening its understanding of his teaching and person as the incarnate Son of the Father, the one Lord and Saviour of humanity.” (1)
DISCIPLES WHO FOLLOW CHRIST
There are people of modest intelligence and little education who are teachable and who comprehend accurately grace, life in the Spirit and our participating in Christ’s person and accomplishments. They have a better grip on the Gospel than others who are somewhat smarter, better educated but who have never made the transition from union with religion to union with Christ. The other implication is that if we insist on a gospel that is ‘no Gospel at all’ in the face of continued encounter with Holy Spirit – the latter will retreat until we are ready to listen. This is the reason why Holy Spirit episodes in a church can start with a bang and end with a whimper.
RECONCILIATION WITH GOD IS THE CORE
‘Holy Spirit and the anointing and gifts are not the essence of the Gospel. Welded onto a non-gospel they eventually fade while filling people with false hope and damaging lives.
The Christ of God has given us intimacy with God in the person of Himself. Our union with God does not depend on our performance but on His. Jesus has given us His relationship with His Father. Intimacy with Christ is not something earned. It’s what you already have. Live in the intimacy Christ has won you rather than in your own guilt and shame. Live in this gifted union rather than in sin consciousness and you will be a Godlier and more happy person.
FACE TO FACE RELATIONSHIP NOW YOURS
“John describes an eternal “face-to-face” relationship between the Father and the Eternal “Word” who was “with God.” Later, John tells us that the Eternal Word who was “with God” in the beginning, and who “was God,” “became human (or, ‘flesh’) and made his home among us.” When John says the Word of God “made his home among us,” he means that the Eternal Word of God “pitched his tent among us.” John is referring to the “tent of meeting,” or “tabernacle,” in the wilderness, where the people of Old Testament Israel met with God (see Exodus 25:8; 33:7-11). John is using descriptive language to show that Jesus is the tabernacle; that is, Jesus is the meeting place between God and humanity.” (2) The radical truth is that in Christ God has made His home in us. He is never somewhere else and not confined to religious places. You do not earn Him. Christ has earned you.
(1)Alexandra Radcliff, The Claim of Humanity in Christ: Salvation and Sanctification in the Theology of T. F. and J. B. Torrance. P 109
(2)Davis Ph.D., Martin M.. The Christian Doctrine of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (pp. 19-20). AsiAfrica Ministries, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
CHRIST IS WHO HE IS TO THE IGNORANT AND MISTAKEN
Alexandra Radcliff in her discussion of the Torrance’s theology writes, “The importance of knowledge of God in the Torrance’s scheme of salvation raises the questions as to whether this makes salvation dependent upon intellectual capacity or correct theological knowledge.
These questions are significant because this would suggest that some are unfairly excluded from salvation on these grounds. However, the Torrance’s are not susceptible to this critique because they affirm that our 'realisation' is not dependent upon our own intellectual capacity or knowledge of the truth, but upon the revelation of the Holy Spirit.
HOLY SPIRIT INFORMED
The Holy Spirit is 'the Spirit of truth' (John 14:7; 16:13), who reveals the reality of our salvation in Christ. T.F. writes, The mission of the Spirit sent from the Father in the name of the Son as the Spirit of truth is to convict people of the truth as it is in Jesus, in judgement and mercy, to enlighten, inform and strengthen the Church through serving the centrality of Christ and deepening its understanding of his teaching and person as the incarnate Son of the Father, the one Lord and Saviour of humanity.” (1)
DISCIPLES WHO FOLLOW CHRIST
There are people of modest intelligence and little education who are teachable and who comprehend accurately grace, life in the Spirit and our participating in Christ’s person and accomplishments. They have a better grip on the Gospel than others who are somewhat smarter, better educated but who have never made the transition from union with religion to union with Christ. The other implication is that if we insist on a gospel that is ‘no Gospel at all’ in the face of continued encounter with Holy Spirit – the latter will retreat until we are ready to listen. This is the reason why Holy Spirit episodes in a church can start with a bang and end with a whimper.
RECONCILIATION WITH GOD IS THE CORE
‘Holy Spirit and the anointing and gifts are not the essence of the Gospel. Welded onto a non-gospel they eventually fade while filling people with false hope and damaging lives.
The Christ of God has given us intimacy with God in the person of Himself. Our union with God does not depend on our performance but on His. Jesus has given us His relationship with His Father. Intimacy with Christ is not something earned. It’s what you already have. Live in the intimacy Christ has won you rather than in your own guilt and shame. Live in this gifted union rather than in sin consciousness and you will be a Godlier and more happy person.
FACE TO FACE RELATIONSHIP NOW YOURS
“John describes an eternal “face-to-face” relationship between the Father and the Eternal “Word” who was “with God.” Later, John tells us that the Eternal Word who was “with God” in the beginning, and who “was God,” “became human (or, ‘flesh’) and made his home among us.” When John says the Word of God “made his home among us,” he means that the Eternal Word of God “pitched his tent among us.” John is referring to the “tent of meeting,” or “tabernacle,” in the wilderness, where the people of Old Testament Israel met with God (see Exodus 25:8; 33:7-11). John is using descriptive language to show that Jesus is the tabernacle; that is, Jesus is the meeting place between God and humanity.” (2) The radical truth is that in Christ God has made His home in us. He is never somewhere else and not confined to religious places. You do not earn Him. Christ has earned you.
(1)Alexandra Radcliff, The Claim of Humanity in Christ: Salvation and Sanctification in the Theology of T. F. and J. B. Torrance. P 109
(2)Davis Ph.D., Martin M.. The Christian Doctrine of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (pp. 19-20). AsiAfrica Ministries, Inc.. Kindle Edition.
