And can it be that I should gain….

October 29, 2011 3 Comments

‘And Can it be’ ~ Charles Wesley.

And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood! Died he for me? who caused his pain! For me? who him to death pursued? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me? Amazing love! How can it be that thou, my God, shouldst die for me?


‘Tis mystery all: th’ Immortal dies! Who can explore his strange design? In vain the firstborn seraph tries to sound the depths of love divine. ‘Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; let angel minds inquire no more. ‘Tis mercy all! Let earth adore; let angel minds inquire no more.


He left his Father’s throne above (so free, so infinite his grace!), emptied himself of all but love, and bled for Adam’s helpless race. ‘Tis mercy all, immense and free, for O my God, it found out me! ‘Tis mercy all, immense and free, for O my God, it found out me!


Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and nature’s night; thine eye diffused a quickening ray; I woke, the dungeon flamed with light; my chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee. My chains fell off, my heart was free, I rose, went forth, and followed thee.


No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine; alive in him, my living Head, and clothed in righteousness divine, bold I approach th’ eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own. Bold I approach th’ eternal throne, and claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Filed under Some Musings Tagged with , , , , ,

Who is God? – INTRODUCTION

July 6, 2011 2 Comments

Before you read it may make sense to read the preamble here: Pre-amble

Introduction

There are difference ways to approach the discussion of who God is

  • My personal story      –     A very-postmodern outlook
  • History of theology   -     This is quite dogmatic, a timeline of the church’s understanding of God
  • History of revelation  -   The biblical order
  • From God before history to history itself   –   Thinking of Him as He was before

We are looking at God’s revelatory order throughout the Scriptures (history of revelation)

  • The Old Testament (O.T.), His attributes, His names
  • New Testament: The Trinity

Looking at it this way (revelatory order) causes the problem of not seeing the whole picture/most important part until the end.

And so we will also include the historical theological route – the church’s understanding of God as time has gone on.




The following quotes from our lecturer Don Fairbairn:

“Who God is, what he has done, the nature of salvation and our life are intrinsically connected.”

“God had to be who he is, and do what he did, to give us the salvation we have”

“Not just the cross, not just the incarnation, but before ALL there was God. Everything about Christian life flows from who He is and was before history.”

“All we are must be held together by who God is and was from all eternity.”


The best way to hold what we believe together with what we do is to focus on God.

Not starting at Genesis 1, but starting in John 1. Not where God created, but who God was, He already was before all creation and that is where we must go – before the beginning.

P

Next : “Beginning – ‘The upper room discourse’ – John chapters 13 -17″

To be continued…

Filed under The Doctrine of God Tagged with , , , , , , , ,

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