by James M. Bramblet
In chapter two it was indicated that Christian education is not curriculum-centered, child-centered, or society-centered, but that it is God-centered. The reason for this is that God is central to all things. We have seen that God is central to the created material world because it was made to “declare the glory of God” and to “show His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). We have seen that God is central to mankind because He is the original to which we have been created images. But the Bible says, “For of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things” (Rom. 11:36). Our finite minds cannot grasp all things but in this chapter we will try to bring together as many things as we can. We will show that God is central to all, God is supreme and in authority over all, and the glory of God is revealed by all (Rom. 11:36b).
When we talk about God being supreme, we are talking about the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When we say that our Christian education is Christ-centered, we mean the same as when we say that it is God-centered. The first verse in the Bible says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In the New Testament we read concerning Christ:
“For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers—all things were created by Him and for Him; and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist” (Col. 1:16-17).
The Person and work of the three Persons of the Trinity are so intertwined that it is not easy for us to separate them. Christ says, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). He said to Philip, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). From other Scriptures we know He did not mean that He and the Father were the same person but, rather, that since He was the “express image” of God, to see Him was to see the Father. Christ is the “Word” or the member of the Godhead which expresses the nature of God. Paul taught this same truth when he said:
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (II Cor. 4:6).
We can only know God if we know Jesus Christ. To be godly is to be Christ-like. Since Christ is God, “Christ-centered” is the same as “God-centered.” When we say that God is supreme, we mean that Christ is supreme. That Christ is supreme is clearly stated in Col.1:18-19: “That in all things He might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell.”
We will consider the supremacy and centrality of God in the following five areas: 1) God’s Word, the Bible, 2) The material world, 3) The nonmaterial world, 4) The world of sin and evil, and 5) The spiritual world.
Excerpted from Chapter 4 of An Introduction to the Christian School by James M. Bramblet, Copyright © 1985 by James M. Bramblet.
When we talk about God being supreme, we are talking about the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When we say that our Christian education is Christ-centered, we mean the same as when we say that it is God-centered. The first verse in the Bible says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In the New Testament we read concerning Christ:
“For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers—all things were created by Him and for Him; and He is before all things, and by Him all things consist” (Col. 1:16-17).
The Person and work of the three Persons of the Trinity are so intertwined that it is not easy for us to separate them. Christ says, “I and my Father are one” (John 10:30). He said to Philip, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (John 14:9). From other Scriptures we know He did not mean that He and the Father were the same person but, rather, that since He was the “express image” of God, to see Him was to see the Father. Christ is the “Word” or the member of the Godhead which expresses the nature of God. Paul taught this same truth when he said:
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (II Cor. 4:6).
We can only know God if we know Jesus Christ. To be godly is to be Christ-like. Since Christ is God, “Christ-centered” is the same as “God-centered.” When we say that God is supreme, we mean that Christ is supreme. That Christ is supreme is clearly stated in Col.1:18-19: “That in all things He might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fullness dwell.”
We will consider the supremacy and centrality of God in the following five areas: 1) God’s Word, the Bible, 2) The material world, 3) The nonmaterial world, 4) The world of sin and evil, and 5) The spiritual world.
Excerpted from Chapter 4 of An Introduction to the Christian School by James M. Bramblet, Copyright © 1985 by James M. Bramblet.
No comments:
Post a Comment
I welcome your comments. However, since this is a blog rather than an open forum, I will determine what is and what is not posted. All comments, especially anonymous comments, will be scrutinized carefully. I will not post comments that contain profanity or are negative toward the Scriptures, God, Christianity in general, Christian schools, or the United States of America. I also will not post comments that are nothing more than generally uninformed or absurd opinions. In addition, I will not post comments that are totally irrelevant to the subject being discussed. Finally, I will not post comments that are commercial advertisements or advertisements for religious organizations which are in conflict with my biblical convictions.