12/20/2022 – Chapter 15 – “Methods”: Let’s connect the key points of this chapter logically to Kevin DeYoung’s article: “Theological Primer: The Simplicity of God.”
“Simplicity”? Yes!; Kevin, the messenger, will help us here!
Ok,we have read chapter 15: “Methods”. Now , let’s start with a Kevin’s Theological Primer: “The Simplicity of God.” so we can connect them together. Bear with me. Click on the little symbol in the lower right, and copy it into your browser to pull up the article. And then pick back up with me below.
Now, I encourage you to read again from the 3rd to last paragraph all the way to the end of the chapter, a short read. I am going to give you the crucial topical sentence in the first sentence of that 3rd to last paragraph:
“Holiness transcends methods (though it does not despise them and often uses them), and it also transcends words for the same reason: because it is simple.” And why is that? As Keven DeYoung so beautifully laid out in stepwise logical fashion, “God is simple”. Let me repeat the concluding few sentences for us: “God is his very essence – within himself and by himself — is love, wisdom, and holiness. God is whatever his has. He is not the composite of his attributes, some in greater and some in lesser amounts. God is a simple being without parts or pieces. His attributes do not stick to him; he is what they are.”
Holiness is God! So, if God is simple, then Holiness methods are simple. So, we can learn from eight year old Peter Kreeft, who replied to his Dad: “We just have to ask God what he wants us to do and then just do it, right?” Once again: “At that time Jesus said, ‘I praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.’ ” Matthew 11: 25
Thoughts? Questions?
Soli Deo Gloria! We’ll explore Chapter 16: “Faith, Hope and Love are Only One Thing.” next week.
Your brother in Christ,
Jimmy