The following is comment on the book,
"Knowing God," by J. I. Packer, Inter-
Varsity Press, 1973. I trust this short
introduction will persuade you to pur-
chase a copy and read this important,
literary effort that has been so meaning-
ful to those who have read it. It may still
be purchased through ebay on internet.
"The highest science, the loftiest speculation, the
mightiest philosophy, which can ever engage the
attention of a child of God, is the name, the
nature, the person, the work, the doings, and the
existence of the great God whom he calls his
Father." Charles Haddon Spurgeon, 1855, quo-
ted in the book, "Knowing God," by J. I. Packer,
Intervarsity Press, 1973.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon lived in the 19th century,
but was known to read and refer to books of the
17th century. It was widely thought by persons of
the era that books written in "modern times," were
hardly worth reading because of the creep of moder-
nism. In many pulpits today, "Modernism" has
given way to contemporary preaching and worship
styles with little doctrinal or substantive content.
That is not to say there is not still Christ centered,
Scriptural commentary from many pulpits, but the
erosion is there. The book, "Knowing God," addres-
ses many of the concerns of todays conservative,
Bible based followers of Jesus Christ.
With the release of a new Barna survey, ministry
leaders believe people in the pews are not always
hearing what they need to hear from the pulpit.
******************************************
According to a study, 90 percent of pastors surveyed
believe the Bible says a lot about pressing political
and social issure, but less than ten percent actually
preach about such topics. Sam Rohrer of the Amer-
ican Pastors' Network (APN) tells OneNewsNow,
America's culture is suffering because of that.
Rohrer, Sam (PPN)"When those in the pulpit choose
not to preach the controversial portions or the por-
tions that really affect our culture and the people in
the pew, when that is done, confusion reigns," Roh-
rer contends. "And I would say the pastors in the
pulpit have sinned, and they're going to have an
awful lot to answer to before God himself when they
stand before him."
The study suggests that pastors do not want
to offend people and want their congregations to
leave feeling warm and fuzzy, so they fail to preach
about sin, "about the necessity of living a righteous
life, making biblically based decisions, because
those tend to be uncomfortable and challenge us,
the APN president submits: "But that is exactly
what the Word of God is to do. If we do not chal-
lenge people in their lives, in their choices by what
God says, we are failing in the pulpit to deliver
what God says; our culture will suffer the results."
(Our culture is suffering the results.) Roehr adds;
"If pastors do not speak to the culture in their ser-
mons, then people will not be equipped to impact
the culture."
******************************************
The answer to the fourth question in the Westminster
Shorter Catechism, "What is God?" "God is a Spirit,
infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wis-
dom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
(The above answer is not an attempt to define our
Lord, since He is beyond the understanding of man-
mankind, and cannot be defined. On the other hand
it is simply information we might internalize to bet-
ter know him.)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Before embarking on a study from God's Holy
Word, we must ask ourselves two questions:
What is my ultimate aim and object in occupying
my mind with these things?"
What do I intend to do with my knowledge about
God, once I have gotten it?"
If we pursue theological knowledge (knowledge of
the Lord God ) for it's own sake, it is bound to go
bad on us; make us proud and conceited. The very
greatness of the subject-matter with intoxicate us,
and we shall come to think of ourselves as a cut
above, because of our interest and grasp of it. We
shall look down on those whose theological ideas
seem, to us, crude and inadequate, dismissing them
as very poor (specimens) representatives of the
Word of God.
(Taken from "Knowing God," J. I. Packer)
"Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth. And
if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he kno-
weth nothing yet, as he ought to know it."
I Corinthians 8: 1a-2
Yes! You can know God...Here's how:
As you study the Scripture, pray and listen to
the declaration of the Word, you get to know God
of the Bible through believing in his Son, Jesus
Christ. Knowledge about God is not enough. You
must have a personal relationship with God by
believing in his Son through faith. He is God and
is known through the Word of God. Jesus Christ is
that Word, fleshed out in a person. So faith comes
by hearing and hearing by the Word. (of God, the
Bible.)
"The Word of faith is night thee, even in thy
mouth, and in thy heart, the Word of faith which
we preach: That if thou shalt confess with thy
mouth and believe in thine heart that God has
raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
For with the heart man believeth unto righteous-
ness and with the mouth, confession is made unto
Salvation. Romans 10: 8a-10...
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the
Lord shall be saved." Romans 10: 13; That name
is "Yeshua," Jesus, the Christ who is God the Son.
http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2015/01/god-is-sovereign.html
donporter,sr 9.11.14
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