Quotes on Faith, Knowledge, and Regeneration

I'm working on a reading assignment for one of my seminary classes, and some of it relates well to what we discussed in class this past Sunday. These quotes are written by John Murray, one of my favorite theologians (from Volume 2 of his Collected Writings).

On the importance of knowledge for faith:

"Faith respects an object and in this case Christ. But there can be no trust without knowledge of the person in whom trust is reposed. We do not trust any person unless we know something about him and, more particularly, things pertaining to that in respect of which we have confidence. So it is with Christ. In this case, however, the knowledge must be proportionate to the issues of life and death, of this age and the age to come. Hence we must know that he is worthy of and equal to such confidence." (pp. 257-8)

On the relation between faith and regeneration (being made alive by God with respect to our spirits, i.e. spiritual birth):

"Regeneration is not believing; it is the Holy Spirit who regenerates. Faith is not regeneration, for it is the person who believes. But it is by the washing and renewal of regeneration that the person is enabled to believe. Faith is of God, but faith itself is the whole-souled movement of the person in entrustment to Christ" (p. 262).

Knowing the gospel--my two cents

Thanks for your comments responding to the following statement: "The gospel isn't about intellectual content; it's about each individual's personal relationship to God." Here is my opinion about it.

I have no problem with what this statement affirms; I do have a problem with what it denies. The gospel certainly DOES concern each individual's personal relationship to God. One is either still in their sin and rightfully deserves God's wrath, or is in Christ and is graciously given eternal life (John 3:36).

But it's also true that the gospel has intellectual content. Our response to the gospel is to repent and trust. But that trust, as we discussed today, is trust in a person and what He has done. If there is not even a basic knowledge of who this person is, then where or in whom is this trust placed? At best, it's unclear; at worst, it's a misplaced trust--it's not saving faith at all.

So the gospel is about each person's individual relationship to God. But that relationship, just like ALL relationships, necessarily requires knowledge of the other person. Without some basic and true knowledge, there is no real relationship.

I will try to answer some of the questions asked in response to the previous post shortly. Stay tuned!!!

Bible Study I (from p. 27)

Not sure if anyone's reading this (actually, I'm fairly sure you're not :), but let's give this another shot.

Read the following passages: 1 Corinthians 15:1-8; Colossians 2:6-7; 2 Timothy 3:14-15. How do these passages show that the gospel of Christ is taught or learned? What do these passages reveal about the actual content of the Christian message?

1 Corinthians 15:1-8 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: {3 Or you at the first} that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, {5 Greek Cephas} and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

Colossians 2:6-7 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

2 Timothy 3:14-15 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15 and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.