Читать книгу A Catechism and Confession of Faith - Robert Barclay - Страница 4
ОглавлениеOf GOD, and the true and Saving Knowledge of Him.
Question, Seeing it is a thing unquestioned by all sorts of Christians, that the height of Happiness consisteth in coming to know and enjoy Eternal Life, what is it in the Sense and Judgment of Christ?
A. This is Life Eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent [John 17:3].
Q. How doth God reveal this knowledge?
A. For God, who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness, hath shined in our Hearts, to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ [2 Cor. 4:6].
Q. How many Gods are there?
A. One God [Eph. 4:6].
We know, that an Idol is nothing in the World, and that there is none other God but one. But to us there is but one God [1 Cor. 8:4,6].
Q. What is God?
A. God is a Spirit [John 4:24].
Q. Among all the Blessed, Glorious and Divine Excellencies of God, which are ascribed and given to him in the Scriptures; what is that which is most needful for us to take notice of, as being the Message which the Apostles recorded in special manner to declare of him now under the Gospel?
A. This then is the Message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is Light, and in him is no Darkness at all [1 John 1:5].
Q. What are they that bear Record in Heaven?
A. There are Three that bear Record in Heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost; and these Three are One [1 John 5:7].
Q. How cometh any man to know God the Father according to Christ's words?
A. All things are delivered to me of my Father; and no man knows who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him [Luke 10:22; Matt. 11:27].
Jesus saith unto him, I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me [John 14:6].
Q. By whom, and after what manner doth the Son reveal this knowledge?
A. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor Ear heard, neither have entered into the Heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him; But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit; For the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the Spirit of a man, which is in him? Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now, we have received not the Spirit of the World, but the Spirit which is of God, that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God [1 Cor. 2:9–12].
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my Name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your Remembrance, &c. [John 14:26].
