Apologia Quorum

You know how we gather information about all kinds of things, and most of it just stays in our heads. The facts, ideas, stuff we learn from books, from meetings and conferences. Useful, but it often does not go any deeper.

But there is another kind of knowledge. The kind that does not stay stuck in your mind. It touches the heart and actually changes how we live. This is what the Bible calls epignosis, the right knowledge, a full and intimate understanding.

The Apostle Paul talked about this a lot. He often prayed that believers would receive “the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the epignosis of Him.”

What is really this Epignosis about?

How is it that we have so much knowledge in our hands and we do not see true repentance and Holy living?

Epignosis is the kind of knowledge that helps you recognize what is true, turn away from what is wrong, and walk in real freedom. It brings clarity when everything feels confusing, and it transforms how we think, speak, and treat one another.

This meeting promises to open us to this kind of knowledge, let us open our hearts and ask God to give us this kind of understanding.

The kind of knowledge that strengthens our faith, heals us, and lights up the paths we walk on.

Let us make this a time when we do not just learn about God, but we truly know Him more.

Amen.

~ Theophilus Ijaja , Programs Director.

1 Corinthians 13:12

Scripture acknowledges that we know in part.

However, knowing in part does not mean having flawed knowledge of a particular part. Rather, it means having accurate and robust knowledge of the part of the whole that one knows. Therefore, knowing in part does not provide room for error; instead, it provides room for accurate knowledge and continual growth.

Take, for instance, a child learning mathematics. We say the child knows arithmetic in part when he or she can count the natural numbers from 1 to 10, even if that same child cannot yet solve 1 + 1. But we would not say the child knows in part if he or she claims that 1 + 1 = 3. Rather, we would say the child is mistaken or simply has not yet been taught.

Therefore, knowing in part means knowing only a portion of the whole. It does not mean speaking error or possessing a flawed understanding of the portion one claims to know.

Consequently, the argument that someone who teaches error should not be held responsible because "we all know in part" does not stand. Paul's statement is not an excuse for false teaching or doctrinal error.

In fact, it is precisely because we know in part that we should be careful to remain within the boundaries of what we truly know, speaking only according to the measure of understanding God has granted us while remaining open to further growth and correction.

Okay, Have a great July!

Photo Credit: Ai generated

I wanted to teach on something this month, but I couldn't. By God's grace, I'll do that next month.

I intend to examine certain things the Apostle Paul warned believers not to be ignorant about.

Things like:

"...I would not have you ignorant concerning spiritual gifts..."

"Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea..."
..and others.

While ignorance in spiritual matters is always dangerous, Paul specifically identified certain things believers must not be ignorant about.

The question, then, is: Why were these things so important? And what are the implications of being ignorant about them?

These are the questions we hope to answer.

Anticipate!

From all of us @ Apologia Quorum

There is only one Lennox!

There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.

~ C.S Lewis.

In a pluralistic world like ours, with myriad worldviews, tolerance is, and should be, one of the virtues. This is how we can live in harmony amid our differences.

But then, There must be some limits to tolerance in a society. Such limits point towards the universal and absolute moral values which are necessary for any and every society. As human beings we cannot live without some framework for existence.

But there are some problems with tolerance as a virtue. If we were to meet someone who believed that it was his or her job to rid the world of all tolerant people by killing them, it is hard to see how we could tolerate such a view and action. If we did, then tolerance would very soon disappear all together.

Hence, there must be an objective ground, wholly separate from us and transcendent, by which we can decide what should be tolerated and what should not be.

Act 2:23
This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.

God's foreknowledge: This man was handed over to you according to God's set purpose and foreknowledge.

Man's Freewill: And you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death...

There is God's foreknowledge and there is YOU (Man's freewill).

And YOU!!

'sForeknowledge
'sFreewill.

In a time when people bring the idea of fast food to the Word and doctrine, the preaching of the Word will look boring. But let those who labour in the Word not be discouraged, for therein is the Word of Life, and in it lies the power to live righteously in this present world.

It was all looking boring until Eutychus fell and died.

Then everyone realized this wasn't a normal lecture hall, because Eutychus left there alive!

Preach the Word!

Grasp a concept thoroughly. Know what the concept is.

To start with, you should give the definition, not an instance. You do not define or explain a concept by giving instances.

It is so bad that people carry this flawed approach into theology and preaching.

What a thing is is not the same as how it should be understood. And I tell you the truth: there are no instances in this world that will serve as sufficient examples for something as vast as the Trinity. Scripture is enough!

Do the work of understanding what the concept is. Do not start with an instance!

WHAT a thing IS is not the same as HOW the thing should be understood.

Just try! You can!