Knowing God
J I Packer
Class notes #6 –
- Review from last time
- So: what is “the supreme mystery with which the gospel confronts us?” Why?
- What are some of the problems of Christian faith and how does the Incarnation help resolve those problems?
- Atonement
- Resurrection
- Miracles
- Virgin birth
- Read John 1:1-14
- Pp 56 – what are the seven things the Prologue tells us?
i. The Word’s eternity
ii. Personality
iii. The Word is God
iv. The Word creates
v. The Word animates – He is Life
vi. The Word reveals Himself to men (He is light)
vii. The Word is incarnate
pp 57: “The Christmas message rests on the staggering fact that the child in the manger was - God”.
- What is the new relationship between God and the devil that is found in the person of Jesus (the Word)? (pp 57)
- “The New Testament does not encourage us to puzzle our heads over the physical and psychological problems that it raises, but to worship God for the love that was shown in it” pp 58
- What does Packer’s statement teach us about our understanding of the Incarnation?
- How does this concept apply to other Christian mysteries?
- What is the principal reason for the Incarnation? Pp 58-59
- What is the Kenosis theory? What are this theories weaknesses?
- How can we understand Christ’s “development” and apparently limited knowledge?
- How can the Word’s Christmas spirit – “He became poor” – be an example to our Christian life and sprit? Do we exhibit this Christmas spirit in our lives? Why or why not.
- Big Question – week Seven, Chapter Six: “What is the work of the Holy Spirit? Why is it important?”
