2) Design and the Designer (Greg Gwin)
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\u201cFor Now We See in a Mirror Dimly\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Tom Edwards<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In writing in the time prior to the completed New Testament, Paul declares, \u201cFor now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known\u201d (1 Cor. 13:12).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though some individuals might interpret this to indicate that one can never see all things clearly while here on earth, but only in heaven, yet is that what this passage is really saying?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the days that Paul wrote this, mirrors were not like what we are familiar with today. Rather, they were merely a polished metal that would dimly reflect an image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Going back many centuries before Paul\u2019s time, those mirrors mentioned in Exodus 38:8, for example, had been made of bronze. And in this passage, women had been donating theirs to be used in making the laver, which would be for washing by the priests, between the tent of meeting and the altar (Exod. 30:18).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, \u201cThe first mirrors known among men were the clear fountain and unruffled lake. The first artificial ones were made of polished brass, afterwards of steel, and when luxury increased, of silver; but at a very early period, they were made of a mixed metal, particularly of tin and copper, the best of which, as Pliny informs us, were formerly manufactured at Brundusium\u201d (which is now known as Brindisi, a natural seaport in the \u201cheel\u201d of southeast Italy).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Job 37:18, Elihu questions Job: \u201cCan you, with Him, spread out the skies, strong as a molten mirror?\u201d Or, as some other versions render this last part, \u201c\u2026hard as a mirror of cast bronze\u201d (NIV), \u201c\u2026strong as a cast metal mirror\u201d (NKJV), and \u201c\u2026hard as polished metal\u201d (GNB).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And so Paul implies in 1 Corinthians 13:12 that having only a partial or incomplete revelation from God is like seeing an image only dimly, instead of getting the complete, clear picture. But when God\u2019s divinely inspired word would be given in its entirety, then it would be as plain as seeing \u201cface to face,\u201d which is the contrasting phrase Paul uses to seeing \u201cin a mirror dimly.\u201d In addition, Paul also likens the mirror to knowing only \u201cin part,\u201d and seeing \u201cface to face\u201d is paralleled to knowing \u201cfully.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So let us note, too, that this seeing \u201cface to face\u201d or knowing \u201cfully\u201d was to happen here on earth, and attained through the complete knowledge of God\u2019s word, which is recorded in the New Testament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This can be compared to Ephesians 4:11-13, where Paul states: \u201cAnd He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Again, some folks would view this as being able to be fulfilled only in heaven where everyone will be perfectly mature and in perfect unity. But look what Paul goes on to say in the very next verse as to the purpose for why these men were given to help the church grow: \u201cAs a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming\u201d (v. 14).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So if that maturity and unity can be attained only in heaven, then what are those men doing there, in that beautiful place of God\u2019s abode, who are given to trickery, craftiness, and deceitful scheming to lead folks away from the truth by every wind of false doctrine? That most definitely won\u2019t be going on in heaven, so it must be something taking place while here on earth; and where we, therefore, see the need to grow in the knowledge of God\u2019s word so that we might remain on that right path and not be led astray from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We noted above that one of the purposes for the saints being equipped for the work of service and built up in the body of Christ is that each would become a \u201cmature man\u201d; and, of course, it is through the knowledge of the Scriptures that that is possible. In Hebrews 5:12-14, the Hebrew writer reproves his readership for failing to have acquired a good knowledge of \u201cthe word of righteousness.\u201d Here, he also indicates that having attained that knowledge would not have been an impossibility for them. For he says, \u201cFor though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.\u201d And now notice what he goes on to say, in defining what a \u201cmature\u201d Christian really is: \u201cBut solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil\u201d (Heb. 5:14) \u2014 and that discernment comes through a knowledge of God\u2019s word. Yes, attaining to that maturity, that discernment, is to be true of each of us while here on earth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the completed New Testament, we today have the \u201cperfect law of liberty\u201d (Jms. 1:15), \u201ceverything pertaining to life and godliness\u201d (2 Pet. 1:3), and \u201cso that the man of God may be adequate [perfect, KJV], equipped [furnished completely, ASV] for every good work\u201d (2 Tim. 3:17).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So the \u201cperfect\u201d of 1 Corinthians 13:10 is the New Testament in its entirety that has been \u201conce for all handed down to the saints\u201d (Jude 1:3). And with that, man is no longer limited to just a dim, dark, or partial view; but can now see as clearly as viewing someone face to face. As Paul declares, \u201cFor we know in part and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away\u201d (1 Cor. 13:9,10).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though some believe the \u201cperfect\u201d to be referring to Christ, the perfect is actually the totality of the \u201cin part\u201d (KJV) or the \u201cpartial\u201d (NASB) of the same verse. In other words, when the complete revelation would be given, the miraculous gifts (which had been revealing the word \u201cin part\u201d or partially at a time) would cease, as Paul also speaks of in 1 Corinthians 13:8: \u201cLove never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away.\u201d Prophecy, tongues, and the word of knowledge were just three of the miraculous gifts; but the ceasing of them would also be true of the other gifts as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Miraculous gifts were for the church in its infancy. They were greatly needed then. For man was without the completed New Testament to turn to. Therefore, six of those nine spiritual gifts, which the Holy Spirit had given as He willed (1 Cor. 12:11), provided them with the knowledge of God\u2019s word to grow thereby, which were \u201cthe word of wisdom,\u201d \u201cthe word of knowledge,\u201d \u201cprophecy,\u201d \u201cdistinguishing of spirits,\u201d \u201cvarious kinds of tongues,\u201d and the \u201cinterpretation of tongues\u201d (1 Cor. 12:8-10). And, in this same passage, we also read of the three other spiritual gifts that had been given to confirm by miraculous signs those messages from God (cf. Mark 16:20; Heb. 2:3,4), which were \u201cfaith\u201d (a miraculous kind), \u201cgifts of healing,\u201d and \u201cthe effecting of miracles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And we need to also point out that it was not the gifts in themselves that produced spiritual maturity \u2014 as evidenced by the Corinthians who abounded in miraculous gifts (1 Cor. 1:7), but were still \u201cinfants in Christ,\u201d \u201cfleshly,\u201d and characterized with \u201cjealousy\u201d and \u201cstrife\u201d (1 Cor. 3:1-3). Paul\u2019s letter to them (1 Corinthians) makes mention of many spiritual problems the Corinthians had that he strives to correct them of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what people need today is simply God\u2019s truth as found in the gospel. For, as we saw, it contains \u201ceverything pertaining to life and godliness\u201d by which we may be spiritually mature (2 Pet. 1:3) and built up in the faith (cf. Acts 20:32).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Paul also shows that after the miraculous gifts would have ceased, faith, hope, and love would still continue (1 Cor. 13:13). This, however, conflicts with the wrong belief that many have today that the miraculous gifts are to continue throughout time. For if that be the case, then faith and hope will have to also be continuing in heaven. \u201c\u2026but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it\u201d (Rom. 8:24,25). And \u201c\u2026faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not see\u201d (Heb. 11:1). We now hope for heaven and have faith that it is; but once there, what will happen to that hope and faith?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So now with the completed revelation of the gospel, we can see as if \u201cface to face\u201d \u2014 rather than merely a dim reflection on a polished piece of metal. May we each, therefore, continue to look into God\u2019s illuminating word that we may clearly see those things He wants us to know; and faithfully respond to that which He would have us to do. -2-<\/p>\n\n\n\n Greg Gwin<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Journal of the American Medical Association give this interesting report: \u201cThe hummingbird is the smallest bird on earth \u2014 some species weigh no more than a dime. It has the highest rate of metabolism (at rest, about 50 times faster than man\u2019s) and thus must consume enormous amounts of nectar to avoid starvation. Not adapted for night feeding, it must stretch its food stores from dusk to dawn. To accomplish this, nature has equipped the hummingbird with a unique energy-saving design: the ability to hibernate overnight. During the night, the hummingbird\u2019s metabolic rate is only one-fifteenth as rapid as in the daytime, and its body temperature drops to that of the surrounding air. The bird becomes torpid, scarcely able to move. When it does stir, it moves as though congealed. By daybreak, the hummingbird\u2019s body spontaneously resumes its normal temperature and high metabolic rate, ready once again to dart off in search of food.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The physical world is literally full of amazing examples of design which the atheist and evolutionist cannot explain. The simple case of the hummingbird is a case in point. Just how did this incredible little creature develop its unique characteristics which allow it to function so well in this world? Could this have happened by chance? And if it came about by gradual evolution, how did the hummingbird survive over millions of years while this awesome metabolic regulator was evolving? This one simple example is sufficient to illustrate the overwhelming difficulties of the theory of evolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What we\u2019re saying here is that when we see obvious design in anything \u2014 a car, a house, or a hummingbird \u2014 that design necessarily implies that there is a designer. In the case of the hummingbird (and all the rest of physical nature) the designer is Almighty God. \u201cFor every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God\u201d (Heb. 3:4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2014 Via The Beacon, <\/em>July 21, 2015 1) Hear<\/strong> the gospel, for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30,31). \u201cGo therefore and make disciples of all the nations\u2026teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age\u201d (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013 Contents: 1) \u201cFor Now We See in a Mirror Dimly\u201d (Tom Edwards)2) Design and the Designer (Greg Gwin)\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013 -1- \u201cFor Now […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/924","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=924"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/924\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":925,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/924\/revisions\/925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=924"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=924"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=924"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nDesign and the Designer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013<\/small><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2) Believe <\/strong>in the deity of Christ (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent<\/strong> of sins <\/strong>(Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30).
4) Confess faith <\/strong>in Christ <\/strong>(Rom. 10:9,10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized <\/strong>in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; Rom. 6:3,4; Gal. 3:26,27; 1 Pet. 3:21)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0
6) Continue in the faith<\/strong>; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013
<\/strong>Tebeau Street
CHURCH OF CHRIST
<\/strong>1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA\u00a0 31501
Sunday <\/strong>services: 9:00 AM (Bible class); 10 AM & 5 PM (worship)
Wednesday: <\/strong>7 PM (Bible class)
evangelist\/editor: <\/strong>Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917
Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com<\/a>
http:\/\/ThomasTEdwards.com\/go<\/a><\/strong> (older version of the Gospel Observer website, but with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990)
http:\/\/ThomasTEdwards.com\/audioser.html<\/a><\/strong> (audio sermons)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"