It is the sine qua non of Americana to enjoy, "Life, LIBERTY, and the pursuit of happiness". Liberty University, carries the motto: Knowledge Aflame.
Biblically I am struck by the passion of Paul, seen in his prayer on behalf of the Phillipian church, "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment….being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Christ Jesus, to the glory and praise of God" (Phil 1:9,11). King David told his son Solomon, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding" (Prov. 4:7), and so "when you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and you will not stumble" (v.12).
The Christian life is vitally tied to knowledge. The type of knowledge Paul prays for is e=pivgnwsiV (epignosis), meaning "precise and accurate knowledge". It is this knowledge that allows us to be "filled with the fruits of righteousness".
Essential to Evangelism
The only evangelism that can succeed is an evangelism that gives the hearer precise and accurate knowledge of their condition, along with the atoning work of Christ the Creator. This is what God meant, when He inspired Paul to write that He "desires all men to be saved, even to come to the knowledge of the truth: (I Ti. 2:4). We are to come to –the—knowledge of –the—truth. Salvation is Truth oriented, not emotion, not work, not action, but faith from the knowledge (e=pivgnwsiV) of the truth. Jesus said, "You shall know the Truth, and the Truth shall set you at liberty" (Jn. 8:32).
Essential to Sanctification
The Christian must rely on the Truth, to pursue his "liberty". Jesus prayed to the Father, "Sanctify them by Your Truth. Your word is Truth" (Jn. 17:17). For this reason, "study diligently to show your self approved unto God, a worker, who does not need to be ashamed, correctly dividing the word of truth" (II Ti. 2:15).
Pursue Liberty
Be free from slavery to sin, "since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in the knowledge according to Him who created him" (Col. 3:9b-10). If you want fruit, water the root.
3 comments:
....you seem smart but can you cook KEM CHI
Yes, sir, what are you doing next saturday? Kimchi hago bap mok'goshipoyo?
WHAT? MY MOTHER WAS A SAINT! YOU TAKE THAT BACK RIGHT NOW!
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