Theological Term of the Week

theophany
An instance of “divine self-revelation in which God manifests himself to humans”;1 a visible appearance of God.

• An example of a theophany in scripture: 

Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. (Exodus 3:1-6 ESV)

Click to read more ...

Still Bearing Wounds

The re-creation will far surpass the pre-fall creation, partly because it will embody the remembered triumph over sin. The risen Jesus still bears the wounds of the cross (John 20:27) The New Jerusalem has the Lamb as its light, victorious but once slain (Rev. 13:8; 21:23), and at its center stands a tree that memorializes his healing work (22:2). There will be no crying, but it will not be as if sin never happened.

Quoted from Punishment God Cannot Twice Inflict by Garry J. Williams in From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective.

Previously posted quotes from this book:

• Someone for Some People
• Death Is the Penalty
• Election Is the Spring
• Election Circumscribes the Atonement
• The Circle of Salvation

Heidelberg Catechism

Question 33. Why is Christ called the “only begotten Son” of God, since we are also the children of God?

Answer: Because Christ alone is the eternal and natural Son of God, (a) while we are children of God through adoption, by grace, for Christ’s sake. (b)

(Click through to see scriptural proofs.)

Click to read more ...