Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Greek Participles & Sanctification
While learning about present participles tonight, though, God reminded me why I'm taking Greek. One, to know his word better that I might know Christ deeper, and secondly to one day share the deep riches of His word with the church and the world around us. The following is a quote from my Greek textbook about the importance of a participle in II Corinthians 3:18. You don't have to be learning Greek to benefit from this quote, and I hope it will inspire you as it has inspired me to grow deeper in my knowledge of God's Word.
"At the heart of the Christian experience is a radical transformation from what we were by nature into what God intends us to become by grace. Nowhere is that transformation stated with greater clarity than in 2 Corinthians 3:18. And at the heart of this verse is a present participle that reveals the secret of Christian growth & maturity."
And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into his likeness from one degree of glory to another, for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. - 2 Corinthians 3:18
"What this verse tells us is that a wonderful change is taking place in the life of the believer. Although a veil remains over the mind of the unbeliever, that veil is lifted for those who are in Christ. They are being changed into the image of Christ, from one degree of glory to the next.
The secret of divine transformation lies in the participle 'katoptrizomenoi.' It comes from a verb which originally meant "to look into a mirror." Then it came to mean "to gaze or upon" or "to contemplate." Taking the participle in the instrumental sense we read, "We all are being changed into the image of Christ by beholding the glory of the Lord."
Transformation into the likeness of Christ is the inevitable result of gazing upon his glory. We become like that which dominates our thoughts and & affections.
Note that the participle is present tense. It is a continual contemplation that effects the transformation. As the participle is present tense, so also is the finite verb "are being changed" The transformation keeps pace with the contemplation. They are inextricably bound together. By continuing to behold the glory of the Lord we are continually being transformed into his image."
-Robert H. Mounce
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Persecution
Today in History of Christianity we talked about the persecution of the early church but also the persecution that takes place today. The fact is there has been more Christian persecution and martyrs in the past century than in any other century. This fact is troubling besides the obvious reasons, because I am living my life oblivious to a lot of it.
International Christian Concern keeps pretty up to date account of reported persecution. I feel convicted to know what is happening to the church around the world.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Heart Knowledge
Seminary reading is something that you hear a lot about...any graduate program, for that matter, is filled with horror stories of the amounts of work that is required. Two weeks into seminary and I know that I have barely scratched the surface. Perhaps it's my naivety speaking, but, I am really excited about a Sunday afternoon dedicated to reading.
I am so excited, so thrilled, to have the opportunity to be attending Reformed Theological Seminary. And you know what? The reading is really, really interesting. Not only does the reading material challenge your intellect, but it speaks to your heart. Everything I am learning is not just knowledge, it is applicable to your life. In my Hebrews-Revelation class I learned not only about I Peter, the setting, authorship and intent of the letter, but I learned a deeper truth about being a submissive wife. In Systematic Theology, I learned not only about the sovereignty of God and his control over all things, but my human responsibility in the active pursuit of the salvation of others.
We are always learning. Hopefully, the knowledge we are gaining isn't just staying in our heads, but it is transforming our hearts. What have you learned recently that's deepened your heart knowledge and not just your head knowledge?
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Top 5 Reasons To Go To Seminary With Your Wife
4. It just looks cool to walk to class with someone that wears a feather in their hair.
3. When studying together, you get to hear the highlights of your wife's classes without doing all of the work. About every ten minutes you'll hear things like "Hey baby, listen to this," or "John Frame figured out the problem of evil" or "Chuck Hill solved the tension between Paul's theology of faith and James' theology of works."
2. Everyone knows who you are very quickly because you're the guy who's married to the girl with all of the pink stuff.
1. Seriously though, It is an awesome privilege to learn about the Love of your life alongside the love of your life. She pushes me to be more like Christ more than anyone else on earth and I'm lucky to have her beside me on this new journey for our lives.
Waiting...
Today, during my reading time I am writing this blog, texting, wishing I was taking a nap and contemplating the amount of pink I bring to class everyday...my pink Vera Bradley bag, pink computer cover, pink Bible and pink notebook....at what point does it become too much? Does the pink cardigan push it over the edge?
In the midst of all this I did manage to get a little reading in. "With One Voice" by Reggie Kidd (one of my professor's) had a quote that stood out to me. Kidd is writing about a college student who is influenced by her professor's opinions of the Bible. She is influenced not because of the facts presented but because she hasn't been shaped by gospel influenced people. Kidd says, "Arguably the chief icon-maker of her day, Walt Disney, taught her to "wish upon a star" but not to pray to a living God."
How sad it seems to me that the God of the universe seems dull compared to Disney. The Disney "fairy tales" when compared with the ultimate drama of the Bible are boring! I believe, it is so important to tell the stories of the Bible. The story of the unbelievable love of God, the battle of good and evil, the mission to the world, the hope that we have and the promise of our inheritance that is to come. If that college student knew that story, would she be influenced by every passing whim?
How should we take the message of Christ, this unbelievable story of Love, and share it with our culture?
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Welcome to Seminary Sayings!
"How can it be that the Lord of heaven and earth makes no difference?" John Frame asks in Doctrine of God. In a culture where God has lost his "weight," meaning society has set their own standards and no longer use God as the ultimate measure of righteousness, "our message to the world must emphasize that God is real, and that he will not be trifled with. He is the almighty, majestic Lord of heaven and earth, and he demands our most passionate love and obedience."
We believe that the Lord of heaven and earth makes all the difference. We have been irrevocably changed because of him...and that's good news! We are starting this blog because we want to have a place to write, discuss and process what we our learning on our seminary journey about our almighty Lord who is full of love and abounding in mercy. We hope that you will join us on this adventure and also share what God is doing in your life and in your world.