“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;
but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9: 23-24 (Emphasis added.)
but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD. Jeremiah 9: 23-24 (Emphasis added.)
Note that this Scripture does not put “Being saved” at the pinnacle such as “let him boast about being saved”. Rather, this Scripture puts “Knowing God” at the pinnacle.
“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;” John 5:39
Note that this Scripture does not put “Knowing Scripture” at the pinnacle. Rather, this Scripture puts “Knowing God, the Son, Jesus Christ” at the pinnacle.
“This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” John 17:3
Note that eternal life is defined as “Knowing God” and “Knowing God, the Son, Jesus Christ”.
Too many so-called “Christians” are content with their false image of God. They fashion their own “God of love” through a few scattered verses of Scripture and ignore the rest of Scripture that testify of a God, that not only exercises lovingkindness, but also exercises justice and righteousness. They fall into the Arminianism trap of false thinking that God loves everybody, Christ died for everybody, and that they can secure their own salvation through their own innate goodness and wisdom of “their free-will choice of Christ”.
They reject the God of wrath even though that is the God of justice. They reject the God of righteousness, trusting their own ability to perfect themselves by the flesh, rather than trusting God to provide the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
They cling to “free will” and their own feelings of justice above Scripture and stubbornly hold to their belief that their God would not unconditionally elect certain people to salvation. They cling to their own image of god that fits their own sense of “free will” and justice. To the God revealed in Scripture which is best summarized by the doctrine of Calvinism, they declare: “That is not the God I serve!”
So, how can we best know God?
CALVINISM FOCUSES ON GOD.
ARMINIANISM FOCUSES ON MAN.
ARMINIANISM FOCUSES ON MAN.
CALVINISM FOCUSES ON THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD.
ARMINIANISM FOCUSES ON THE ATTRIBUTES OF A GODLY MAN.
CALVINISM FOCUSES ON WHAT GOD HAS DONE.
ARMINIANISM FOCUSES ON WHAT MAN SHOULD DO.
ARMINIANISM FOCUSES ON WHAT MAN SHOULD DO.
CALVINISM FOCUSES ON THE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD.
ARMINIANISM FOCUSES ON THE ALLEGED “FREE WILL OF MAN”.
ARMINIANISM FOCUSES ON THE ALLEGED “FREE WILL OF MAN”.
CALVINISM HUMBLES MAN BY THE FIRST POINT OF CALVINISM: TOTAL DEPRAVITY.
ARMINIANISM EXALTS MAN BY THEIR FIRST POINT: FREE-WILL.
CALVINISM KNOWS THE GOD THAT EXERCISES LOVINGKINDNESS, JUSTICE, AND RIGHTEOUSNESS.
ARMINIANISM KNOWS THE GOD WHO ONLY EXERCISES LOVINGKINDNESS.
CALVINISM KNOWS THE GOD WHO HAS ACHIEVED TOTAL PERFECT TRIUMPH.
ARMINIANISM KNOWS THE GOD WHO IS OFTEN DEFEATED BY MAN’S FREE-WILL, BY MAN’S OBSTRUCTION OF GOD’S GRACE, AND BY MAN’S FALL FROM GRACE.
In conclusion, “Knowing God” is of paramount importance. Calvinism is the best summary of Scripture, because it best reveals the God taught by Scripture. Calvinism’s God is not a god who best fits their own preconceived image of god – what god should be according to their own sense of justice and their own sense of the condition of man. Rather, Calvinism’s God is what Scripture reveals God to be. Just as the idolaters of the Old Testament were convinced that they knew God through their idols or images of god; Arminians are convinced that they know God through their images of god – what god should be according to their own sense of justice and their own sense of the condition of man. But, “Knowing God”, the true God revealed by Scripture, not our contented image of god, is eternal life. John 17:3
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 