The natural knowledge of God
The natural knowledge of God
Does the Word of God in the first several verses of John's Gospel come from the natural knowledge of God?
John 1:1-18 conveys information about Jesus that is revealed only through the gospel. The Word (that is, Jesus) existed already in eternity with the Father. He was present at creation. He is the one through whom the world is saved. Nature cannot reveal this information. It is learned only through the revelation given by the Holy Spirit.
Two statements in these verses, however, might lead a reader to wonder whether the natural knowledge of God is in the picture here. Verse 4 says, "In him was life, and that life was the light of men." Verse 9 tells us, "The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world."
If Jesus was the light of men before he was born into the world, and if he gives light to all men, some might say that this must refer to the natural knowledge of God, since "every man" receives the natural knowledge of God. Neither the gospel nor saving faith, however, are received by "every man."
Since Jesus is the Creator God, natural knowledge of God does come from Jesus. Such an interpretation, however, does not fit the context here. Jesus was the light of men, that is, the Savior for the whole world, also during Old Testament times. As the promised Savior he was revealed to the world at the time of Adam and again at the time of Noah, but the world did not want him. He gives light by winning salvation for us and offering salvation to us, but those who prefer to live in darkness reject this light.
These verses, therefore, are not talking about the natural knowledge of God, but about mankind's rejection of the revelation of salvation. "The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it" (v. 5). "His own did not receive him" (v. 11).
Damnation is not the result of God's hiding the light of salvation. It is the result of rejecting the light that is there for all. This is the message John emphasizes through-out his Gospel.
On the question of state school versus Christian school, doesn't Scripture command parents, not the state, to educate their children? Christian liberty allows us to hire a tutor, use a Christian day school, or educate our children at home.
Scripture repeatedly assigns responsibility for a child's spiritual and moral training to the parents (Ephesians 6:4, Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Scripture does not directly address the question of whether a government may take a role in secular education. Scripture nowhere states that the government has a duty in education in the same way that it has a duty to punish evil and reward good. It does not forbid the state to have such a role, nor does it forbid Christians to use a non-Christian school or non-Christian teachers in some phase of the education of their children.
John 1:1-18 conveys information about Jesus that is revealed only through the gospel. The Word (that is, Jesus) existed already in eternity with the Father. He was present at creation. He is the one through whom the world is saved. Nature cannot reveal this information. It is learned only through the revelation given by the Holy Spirit.
Two statements in these verses, however, might lead a reader to wonder whether the natural knowledge of God is in the picture here. Verse 4 says, "In him was life, and that life was the light of men." Verse 9 tells us, "The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world."
If Jesus was the light of men before he was born into the world, and if he gives light to all men, some might say that this must refer to the natural knowledge of God, since "every man" receives the natural knowledge of God. Neither the gospel nor saving faith, however, are received by "every man."
Since Jesus is the Creator God, natural knowledge of God does come from Jesus. Such an interpretation, however, does not fit the context here. Jesus was the light of men, that is, the Savior for the whole world, also during Old Testament times. As the promised Savior he was revealed to the world at the time of Adam and again at the time of Noah, but the world did not want him. He gives light by winning salvation for us and offering salvation to us, but those who prefer to live in darkness reject this light.
These verses, therefore, are not talking about the natural knowledge of God, but about mankind's rejection of the revelation of salvation. "The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it" (v. 5). "His own did not receive him" (v. 11).
Damnation is not the result of God's hiding the light of salvation. It is the result of rejecting the light that is there for all. This is the message John emphasizes through-out his Gospel.
On the question of state school versus Christian school, doesn't Scripture command parents, not the state, to educate their children? Christian liberty allows us to hire a tutor, use a Christian day school, or educate our children at home.
Scripture repeatedly assigns responsibility for a child's spiritual and moral training to the parents (Ephesians 6:4, Deuteronomy 6:4-9). Scripture does not directly address the question of whether a government may take a role in secular education. Scripture nowhere states that the government has a duty in education in the same way that it has a duty to punish evil and reward good. It does not forbid the state to have such a role, nor does it forbid Christians to use a non-Christian school or non-Christian teachers in some phase of the education of their children.
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