Tuesday, January 29, 2013

I believe in the 11 affirmations and 4 denials given in the document "A Statement on Biblical Spirituality" from Andrews University (Ministry Magazine August 2012, pages 12-16, no author). All that is mentioned of God's part is true, the priority of the Bible, the love of God, the preeminence of Christ, His substitutionary atonement, the work of the Holy Spirit, communion with God and of the healing power of Christ, of the good things of nature are essential to our spiritual formation. On our side, the roles of the human mind, of our body, our feelings, are also essential to this spiritual formation. 

I honestly would make it simpler though. The way of God is in the sanctuary (Psalm 77:13). The plan of (our) salvation is in the sanctuary. Man has lost the glory of God (Romans 3:23). The plan of God for us is to restore what was lost by Adam and Eve. What is the glory of God? The glory of God is His character of love (Exodus 33:18-34:7). Therefore God made a plan to restore His character in us. How will God restore His character in us? By using a law of psychology that He Himself placed in our mind: we are changed by what (and into what) we behold (2Cor 3:18). The sanctuary shows us what we need to behold in order to be transformed back into the image of God. We don't need anything else for our spiritual formation.

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