The simple challenge is to do the math. Children breeze right through it, but many learned adults never get it quite right.
"Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me." (John 8:17-18)
It should be as simple as 1+1=2, but the equation has been changed to 1+1+1=1. The testimony of our Creator Father is one, and the second testimony is that of Jesus, whom the Father sent into the world. But, sophisticated theologians have somehow made the Father, Jesus His Son, and Holy Spirit, all into one. The confusion is horribly confusing and restrictive, whereas the truth is liberating - "you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (John 8:32).
Getting the math straight is far more than a "doctrinal distinctive" for me; it's liberating truth that radically impacts my worship. I've never tried to worship my Father and Jesus my Lord as one entity, but I can attest to the simplistic beauty of honoring each of them for Who they are. I know that it is an absolute impossibility for sinful, imperfect me to approach Him "who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see." (1 Timothy 6:16). But, through Jesus my Lord I "have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus" (Hebrews 10:19).
Truth liberates me to freely converse with my Savior who fully understands me and my weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15), and Who ushers me in to the great throne room of God my Father. Through Him I can stand where I would otherwise instantly perish in my imperfection. And I do not stand there in fear, but rather in liberating confidence. Covered and protected by my sinless Savior, I am a welcome guest before my Creator!
What we believe is important, but why we believe it is equally important. Demonic beings are in agreement with us theologically, but with a decidedly different response - "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder." (James 2:19) Truth leads to terror, rather than liberating transformation.
We will never truly know our Father until we know His Son, and I don't want to miss out on the incredible opportunity to know them both. Truth leads me to Jesus' testimony about Himself, and the testimony of the Father who sent Him (John 8:18). Taking their testimonies to heart in child-like simplicity is the most liberating thing I have ever done.
May you know the liberation that truth brings, and ever continue in that liberating truth (John 8:31)
Steve
© 2010, Steve Taylor
"Even in your law it has been written that the testimony of two men is true. I am He who testifies about Myself, and the Father who sent Me testifies about Me." (John 8:17-18)
It should be as simple as 1+1=2, but the equation has been changed to 1+1+1=1. The testimony of our Creator Father is one, and the second testimony is that of Jesus, whom the Father sent into the world. But, sophisticated theologians have somehow made the Father, Jesus His Son, and Holy Spirit, all into one. The confusion is horribly confusing and restrictive, whereas the truth is liberating - "you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." (John 8:32).
Getting the math straight is far more than a "doctrinal distinctive" for me; it's liberating truth that radically impacts my worship. I've never tried to worship my Father and Jesus my Lord as one entity, but I can attest to the simplistic beauty of honoring each of them for Who they are. I know that it is an absolute impossibility for sinful, imperfect me to approach Him "who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see." (1 Timothy 6:16). But, through Jesus my Lord I "have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus" (Hebrews 10:19).
Truth liberates me to freely converse with my Savior who fully understands me and my weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15), and Who ushers me in to the great throne room of God my Father. Through Him I can stand where I would otherwise instantly perish in my imperfection. And I do not stand there in fear, but rather in liberating confidence. Covered and protected by my sinless Savior, I am a welcome guest before my Creator!
What we believe is important, but why we believe it is equally important. Demonic beings are in agreement with us theologically, but with a decidedly different response - "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder." (James 2:19) Truth leads to terror, rather than liberating transformation.
We will never truly know our Father until we know His Son, and I don't want to miss out on the incredible opportunity to know them both. Truth leads me to Jesus' testimony about Himself, and the testimony of the Father who sent Him (John 8:18). Taking their testimonies to heart in child-like simplicity is the most liberating thing I have ever done.
May you know the liberation that truth brings, and ever continue in that liberating truth (John 8:31)
Steve
© 2010, Steve Taylor
posted by steve @ 8:20 AM
2 Comments:
At 8:40 AM,
Anonymous said…
Steve,
Your observations are right on point. Thank you for your incite. Thanks to our Lord for revealing his Father to us in such a wonderful way. Thanks to our Father for revealing himself to us. The more I know about Him the more I love Him.
Dennis from Virginia
At 2:43 PM,
Unknown said…
Very true! :) Love your daily devotions Pastor Steve. God Bless you!
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