To the Praise of His Glory

[@markbrock8662]

The Lord actually revealed himself personally to Paul on the road. Can we say that Paul had faith after this? He had actual first hand knowledge, which is beyond faith. We start in faith. It seems that Paul is praying for this Knowledge to be revealed to the saints here in the same way (maybe not exactly the same way or course). But he says he is praying that God through grace will reveal or enlighten their hearts in the knowledge of him, which is our hope as saints. Just as God through grace revealed himself to Paul on the road. Paul was not deserving by anything he had done. It isn't a matter of our will or determination of our minds to know God, but it is revealed by the grace of God to us. This is my experience. As a Christian for decades I did my best to focus my life around Christ and perhaps was a miserable failure. But through Grace God did reveal himself to me in a personal way and all fear left me after that. It wasn't as spectacular as the revelation Paul experienced, but it was the most spectacular event in my life. Suddenly Paul's words were opened to me. The spirit, not the mind and the flesh. Grace. Much respect, as a listener of your sermons for several decades. In Christ.

[@thelongdarkteatimeofthesou4497]

The Dark Ages were not as dark as Alistair thinks they were, and the flame of Martin Luther preached one of his last sermons as an invective against the Jews that would have made any modern anti-Semite proud. Otherwise a good message.