T(r)oy's Marbles

For starters, let’s trace the ministry of Jesus and see how he reveals God to us. Let’s do this through citing various passages from the apostle John.

John 1: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

John says, “We know because we’ve seen it ourselves. We know because God, the One and Only, whose glorious nature used to be hidden from our eyes, has now revealed himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ.”

This, however, does not preclude the idea that, though God has revealed himself to us in the person of Jesus Christ, humans will still be unable to see this simple fact. This is where faith comes in. And this is the second feature in our return to an ancient epistemology. Notice in John 1 also:

“The light shines in the darkness…” [God reveals himself to us]

“but the darkness has not understood it.” [but we fail to “see”]

And again:

“He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.”

How is this possible? God reveals himself to us, yet we fail to see it.

Jesus explains later how this is possible in John 10. Here is the story:

“Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon's Colonnade. The Jews gathered around him, saying, ‘How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.’

“Jesus answered, ‘I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.’”

Faith plays a part in our ability to apprehend truth. God can reveal himself to us “till he’s blue in the face”, but, if we choose not to believe, we won’t “get it”.

In John’s first epistle, he revisits this idea that God’s part is to reveal, while our part is to believe. Look at the pattern:

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.”

That’s the “revelation” part, contained in the very beginning of John’s letter. Now, let’s see how John concludes his letter. It’s interesting to note that he concludes on a note of “belief”. Read:

“Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Is it any wonder that one of the most famous verses in the whole Bible is John 3:16, a perfect example of revelation and belief:

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

God gives, God reveals; our job is to believe. Thus, a Christian theory of knowledge rests on a sure foundation made up of a mixture of revelation and belief. God will reveal; we must believe.

That’s enough for today. Let’s return tomorrow to discuss a difficulty or two with this particular theory of knowledge.

Until then,
Troy

Click here to read part 3 of Discerning God's Will.