◄ Enlightenment and Illumination ►

God… in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, Whom He hath appointed heir of all things,
Hebrews 1:1

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.
1Corinthians 2:16

Man’s View

There is a modern-day view that the Bible is a history of man’s discovery of God. Some think the Scriptures show that man has uncovered the truth about God. But this point of view is fundamentally flawed. This opinion places man in the driving seat. This perspective implies that man is getting knowledge through man’s wisdom...  that through man’s pioneering cleverness, man has found out the secrets of God.

God’s Word

There is indeed an increasing revelation of Himself. There is a revelation that God has given to His people. The Holy Scriptures are the record of the revelation of God to man. The Bible is the tool God has used to disclose Himself to His people. At first, God at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets. Hebrews 1:1.  This revelation of Himself is given by God, to those appointed for the task.. but the revelation is clearly from God -and not via the wisdom of man.

Final Revelation

The full revealing of the Godhead finally came through Jesus. Jesus; the brightness of the glory of the Father. Jesus; the express image of the person of God. Jesus; Who upholds all things by the word of His power. Jesus; Who through His death and resurrection purged us of our sin. Jesus; Who is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high. Jesus; the only begotten Son of God. Jesus is the One Who is the full revelation of the Father.

The Lord Jesus

He it was Who was with the Father from eternity past. Jesus was brought forth to be born of a pure virgin. Jesus assumed our very nature. Jesus expressed, in a human body, the character of God. Jesus spoke the words of the Father through a human voice. He it was, Who lived a perfect godly life through the circumstances of a human life. Our Lord was the expression and image of the Father. Our Lord is the only One Who is in unity with His two natures – of God and of man. Our Lord in the finality of His atoning work, illuminated the glory of God to us.

Knowledge of Christ

He is the One Who is the revelation to us.. to His children. He may reveal Himself in a blinding flash, as He did to Paul on the road to Damascus. He may unveil His magnificence in the quiet dawning of understanding, but it is He and not man that uncloaks His truths and enlightens the heart. This knowledge and understanding that is revealed in the person of the Lord Jesus, enlightens the mind; sanctifies the soul; and rejoices the heart.

Intimacy with Christ

It is not a knowledge and understanding about the Lord Jesus. It is to know Jesus - to know Him intimately. It is to see the character of the Father reflected in Him. So be of good cheer..  the Lord has not only revealed Himself in Christ – the Lord is still revealing Himself by His Word and by His Spirit.

Promises of Christ

The Lord Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to indwell those that believe in Him. He promised that the Holy Spirit would show us all things. He promised that His Spirit would guide us into all truth. He promised that His Spirit would open the Scriptures to us… as we live and move and pray and in the Spirit – as we allow the Spirit to instruct and to correct – as we offer ourselves a living sacrifice to Him – as we abide in Him and He in us.