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Seeing Generational Thought as a Means for Marveling

I had an interesting experience last week while studying for a sermon. It was like hearing a thought handed down from generation to generation. By God’s grace I found myself, at each turn, more sucked into the center of the biblical vortex.

On the first level I heard Tim Keller in a sermon make a profound point about justification. In the midst of it he referenced another teacher who articulated this same thing. A day or so later I was reading a sermon by Jonathan Edwards and he said the exact same thing with a bit more Edswardian symmetry and accent. Finally, I was reading a reference passage in Titus and found the same point made with clarity and power by the Apostle Paul.

You might say, “What do you expect? Of course you are going to find people saying the same thing about the Bible.” In one sense you are right, I should. But on the other hand, we are talking about a more nuanced point about the implications of justification bringing us into the family rather than just out of judgment. The odds seem pretty remote that I would hear the exact same implications drawn out by multiple people in such a short period.

The end result of course is that I find myself impressed with how God works throughout church history in the lives of his people. As he had previously brought it to the pen and lips of men in the past he has likewise brought it freshly to my mind and lips. Just as they were overwhelmed by the goodness of God in the gospel so too am I, even on a particularly nuanced implication of justification.

God continues to illuminate minds today the way he has in the past, he takes his revealed word and drives it deep into our minds and lives. This fact of God’s continued activity in his church by means of the Holy Spirit causes me to be greatly encouraged and greatly eager. I am encouraged because this is who God has been and will be. I am eager because I want to learn more. I want to marvel more.

As we do marvel, take time to consider that God has faithfully made himself known throughout the generations to give joy in the particulars of the gospel.

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