Sermon Central
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Seeing Dimly
Contributed by Derek Geldart on Mar 20, 2019 (message contributor)
Summary: How can Christians get along when they have so many differing interpretations of Scripture? This is must read for anyone who is learned and wants to remain humble!
Lesson #2: Humility and Forbearance. Surely two Christians grouping in the darkness of this fallen world can agree to forbear and always love one another? We are not to amass knowledge of ourselves, creation and God so that we might arrogantly point out our “perceived” superior connection to and understanding of all things seen and unseen. How many times has today’s born again “Pharisees” tried to force the “letter” of their law upon another while withholding grace? How many times has brotherly and sisterly love been destroyed by intolerance to opposing points of view, especially when it comes to the interpretation of Scripture? Are not Christ’s ambassadors and royal priests called to “soften the asperity of their debates” and forebear with differing points of views by humbly accepting the truth that they too are childlike and currently see only in part? Remember the Spirit gave various gifts to all members of the body to have them build one another up in the faith (1 Corinthians 12), not become angry with and separate from the body in which Christ died for (Ephesians 5:25) and is the chief cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20)! Instead of separating from those having differing points of view we are to in gentleness and humility “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:2).
Lesson #3: Faith in God. And lastly, we learn that we are to lean not unto our own understanding but trust in the wisdom of God (Proverbs 3:5-6)! While “we do not yet perceive how He will make all those dark dispensations, trials and afflictions that come upon His people to sub-serve His glory and their happiness” the circumstances appointed to us will in heaven be understood as His great acts of mercy and kindness. To one day find out why a loved one died at a young age, or why we suffered so long with that painful disease, or why we lost our job, or why God allowed wars, earthquakes or famines, or why we were created ugly or not overly smart; will be a day of great rejoicing! And while we are unlikely to understand everything concerning God’s providence (for that would imply we have become omnipotent like God), will not our salvation be enough to fulfill our heart’s desire? Death will no longer be seen as a sorrowful end of life but a journey through the gate of endless joy that we in our childlike state dreaded to enter! So, lets look forward to that glorious day when “everything that exalted itself against the knowledge of God will be casted down and replaced with true knowledge and obedience to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5)!
Sources Cited
C. H. Spurgeon, “Now, and Then,” in The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit Sermons, vol. 17 (London: Passmore & Alabaster, 1871).
Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994).
Roy E. Ciampa and Brian S. Rosner, The First Letter to the Corinthians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2010).
