Have accessed this page, Last Updated 03/27/03 11:33:14 AM
by Adah L. Hutchcraft
A MATTER OF REVEALING AND CONCEALING, #2
Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind. 41"If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains” NIV, John 9:39 & 41.
For Judgment I have Come...
The revelation of Jesus Christ demands a response bearing eternal significance. The message of the Gospel hinges entirely on Christ. So whether one loves him or rejects him determines where one will be for eternity. God became and man, was tempted like man, suffered like man, and died for man. But now He is exulted to God’s right hand and all things are placed under his feet (Hebrews 2:8). There is nothing that does not exist under the authority of Jesus Christ. That is why our response to him is so consequential. He will not be ignored or evaded. He was revealed God to humanity, and his revelation demands a response.
Before Christ’s incarnation, the world walked in ignorance of God. Revelation was rare, and the faithful were few. But Christ came “to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.” Jesus is called the “Day star”, or the “rising sun”, which came from heaven “to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace" (Luke 1:77-79).Christ, the Light of the world, has made God approachable by revealing himself And where Christ is revealed, there is no place for spiritual ignorance.
Christ’s presence and very existence judges mankind by how they respond to him, whether by faith or doubt. Those who’s hearts are turned God-ward have eternal life as their reward, whereas those who ‘love darkness rather than light” are condemned to eternal death (John 3:19). One can only receive or reject the Son of God. There is no middle ground. The decision makes a heaven or hell difference.
Truth judges people. Christ is the personification of Truth, ‘and no man comes to the Father, but by him’. He is the Truth by whom all stand or fall.(John 14:6)
The Truth Revealed ❧ “The Blind will See...”
❦ The Word of God teaches that knowledge of the truth is acquired only through Christ. The “mystery of the Gospel” is unveiled in the Son of God, by whom “the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations... is now disclosed to the saints”(Eph. 6:19, Col 1:26). God’s will for his children is that they be “encouraged ... and united in love so that they may know the riches of complete understanding... in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:2-3). God through Christ calls people out of spiritual ignorance. This ignorance is the result of living at a distance from God. But Christ “gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father” (Gal. 1:4). Christ has opened the heavenly floodgates of blessing to be poured out on those who respond with love for the Son of God.
The Truth of Christ lifts the veil of darkness which blinds them. Jesus came so that “the blind would see” through faith in him. Faith in Christ has the same effect on the sprit as it did on the eyes of Saul (later Paul). After being blinded on the road to Damascus, the Lord led him to the house of Ananias the Priest. While Ananias gave him God’s message, Saul felt “something like scales” fall from his eyes. Once the blinding ‘scales’ were removed he could see clearly, and was baptized (Acts 9:18). Likewise, Christ removes the scales from our spiritual eyes, revealing heavenly knowledge and wisdom. For this reason Christians are exhorted “as obedient children... not [to] conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;” (1 Pet. 1:14-15). The truth is revealed in the person of Jesus Christ, and in him are the “treasures of wisdom and knowledge”. This knowledge is only given to God’s children.
The Truth Concealed ❧
The Seeing Will Be Blinded...”
❦ Christ came to reveal the truth , but Christ also hides the truth from those who love the world rather than God. Jesus prayed to the Father while “full of joy through the Holy Spirit [and] said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure’ (Luke 10:21). Those who in humility reach out to God in child-like faith are able to receive what God provides in Christ. The wisdom of the world, however, prohibits understanding of heavenly things. God will not impart Divine wisdom to people who deny Christ. Those who live under legalism (or enforce it) can appear to possess the truth when in reality the truth is hidden from them. Many Pharisees had an outward appearance of godliness through the law, but they did not recognize God when he walked among them. The wisdom of God is hidden from the ungodly.
“...It is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But... a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glorification... Which none of the princes of this world knew: For had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.(1 Cor 2:6-8)
The world is blind to the truth because its wisdom is of another order– a sinful and temporary order– whereas the Kingdom of God is eternal and righteous. Just as the darkness of the world did not comprehend the Light of Christ, ungodliness can not understand the wisdom of God. (“The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it” John 1:5). Although the spiritually blind can not understand what is from above, still many of them claim to see even while stumbling in their sin. The truth has been deliberately hidden from such people, and they will not see until they look to the Man Christ Jesus.
Email Adah by clicking below
406 S, Sergeant St
Joplin, MO 64801
Send remarks to: Adah02aol.com
