An intimate relationship between Redemption and True Education
Written by:
Nqoba M Sibenke
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction
Proverbs 1:7
Inspiration has said so much on the subject of true education. Defining Education the Inspired writer says; "True Education is well defined as the harmonious development of all the faculties—a full and adequate preparation for this life and the future eternal life." EDUCATION 7.3.
Education serves a two-fold purpose, which is preparation for the life on earth and secondly preparation for the life to come.
" In order to understand what is comprehended in the work of education, we need to consider both the nature of man and the purpose of God in creating him. We need to consider also the change in man’s condition through the coming in of a knowledge of evil, and God’s plan for still fulfilling His glorious purpose in the education of the human race." EDUCATION 14.4. In this presantation we shall concetrate more on education after the fall of man. Hence we will consider the condition of man and how God seeks to educate man in this fallen state.
Solomon known as one of the wisest men wrote "The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: (Proverbs 1:7)," The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding.( Proverbs 9:10). Job also testified of the relationship between the fear of God and Wisdom."And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom; and to depart from evil [is] understanding." (JOB 28:28). It is clear from Scripture that we can only gain wisdom and knowledge through the fear of the Lord.It is therefore important to understand the fear of the Lord in order to understand the concept of true education.
The scripture gives us a clear picture of what it is to fear the Lord. "The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: "(Proverbs 8:13), "He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but [he that is] perverse in his ways despiseth him." (Proverbs 14:2)," The fear of the LORD [is] a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death."( 14:27),."Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil." (Proverbs 3:7) , "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD [men] depart from evil."(Proverbs16:6). From the scriptures we have considered we gain a clearer picture of what it means to fear the Lord. In other words to fear the Lord means departing from evil,walking in uprightness and Hating evil. According to Solomon these are the keys to knowledge and wisdom.
Now that we have established that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and also that fear of the Lord is hating sin and living righteously we need to know how one can achieve this fear of the Lord and hence gain wisdom and knowledge. David in Psalms 34:14 says " Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." Doing good, seeking peace and pursuing peace are part of departing from evil.Our condition however makes it difficult to depart from evil.Isaiah describes our condition as"an unclean thing" and all our righteousness "as filthy rags"(Isaiah 64:6).This explains our condition. We are not conditioned to doing good. Paul says;"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." (Romans 7:18-19).In other words we cannot do good because we are carnally minded, and our righteousness is like filthy rags. As much as we wish to do good we find ourselves doing evil instead.And unfortunately we cannot change our characters;"Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? [then] may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil."(Jeremiah 13:23).
Christ has not left us in our hopeless state. It is the objective of true education to make us righteous and hence make us fit for the life on earth and the life to come. " To restore in man the image of his Maker, to bring him back to the perfection in which he was created, to promote the development of body, mind, and soul, that the divine purpose in his creation might be realized—this was to be the work of redemption. This is the object of education, the great object of life." EDUCATION 15.2. In Isaiah Christ says; "Come now, and let us reason together" Reasoning with God plays a vital part in us gaining a relationship with God and in acquiring true education. Reasoning appeals to the mind. Scripture has often times spoken on the issue of reasoning with God. Job says; "Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God."( Job 13:3). In this context reasoning means conversing, talking or persuading. Giving evidence and detail, see also Acts 18;4 Paul reasoning in the temple. We learn Paul took time to open the scriptures unto them. Hence we can deduce that we can reason with God through a study of the scriptures. There has always been a mode of communion betweek God and humanity."God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;(Hebrews 1:1-3). For us who have never had the opportunity to see The Son face to face, the written word provides us with a clear picture of His life and personality.
As we contemplate on the life of Christ, God reasons with us.Isaiah says as we reason with God our sins are removed and we are made clean. "though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18). This is so because the word of God makes us clean, or righteous. "sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17).
The role of scripture in true education is unquestionable. " And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."( 2 Timothy 3:15-17). God ‘s word is His way of reasoning with us. It sets us apart , fits us for all good works(departing from evil),and make us wise unto salvation.
Christ is the source of true education. " Every gleam of thought, every flash of the intellect, is from the Light of the world." (EDUCATION 13.3) We gain the truest form of education by beholding His life and making His life our life. Scripture says; "But as many asreceived him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name." What does it mean to be sons of God? It means we have been awarded a priviledge of partaking in the life of Christ. And "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin" (1 John 3:9). This means that by becoming the sons of God we are made righteous, the image of God is restored in us, and this is the object of true education. But how is this state achieved?"For his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (1 John 3:9).
It is important to understand the theology of the seed. In Genesis God says;" And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." In that scripture lies an amazing promise of restoration and an important principle of true education.Christ is the seed of God(1 John 3:9). How then does this seed remain in them who are born in Christ? 2 Corinthians 5:17 says ; " Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." In Galatians 2:20 Paul says ; "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Colossians 3:3 " or ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." This is how the seed remains in us , when we die and our life is hid in Christ. The image of God is projected in us through the life of Christ that we live. This is the fear of God and the beginning of Wisdom. Thus we can conclude by saying the foundation of true education is Christ; if He is in us then we have hope of life, wisdom and knowledge.
The call in Revelations 14:7 to fear God and give Him Glory is in a true sence a call to true education. As we proclaim the three angel's message we call the world to embrace true education. " In the highest sense the work of education and the work of redemption are one, for in education, as in redemption, “other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” “It was the good pleasure of the Father that in Him should all the fullness dwell.” 1 Corinthians 3:11; Colossians 1:19, R.V. EDUCATION 30.2. In conclusion it is evident that we cannot separate gospel and true education..
Nqoba M Sibenke
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction
Proverbs 1:7
Inspiration has said so much on the subject of true education. Defining Education the Inspired writer says; "True Education is well defined as the harmonious development of all the faculties—a full and adequate preparation for this life and the future eternal life." EDUCATION 7.3.
Education serves a two-fold purpose, which is preparation for the life on earth and secondly preparation for the life to come.
" In order to understand what is comprehended in the work of education, we need to consider both the nature of man and the purpose of God in creating him. We need to consider also the change in man’s condition through the coming in of a knowledge of evil, and God’s plan for still fulfilling His glorious purpose in the education of the human race." EDUCATION 14.4. In this presantation we shall concetrate more on education after the fall of man. Hence we will consider the condition of man and how God seeks to educate man in this fallen state.
Solomon known as one of the wisest men wrote "The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of knowledge: (Proverbs 1:7)," The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy [is] understanding.( Proverbs 9:10). Job also testified of the relationship between the fear of God and Wisdom."And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that [is] wisdom; and to depart from evil [is] understanding." (JOB 28:28). It is clear from Scripture that we can only gain wisdom and knowledge through the fear of the Lord.It is therefore important to understand the fear of the Lord in order to understand the concept of true education.
The scripture gives us a clear picture of what it is to fear the Lord. "The fear of the LORD [is] to hate evil: "(Proverbs 8:13), "He that walketh in his uprightness feareth the LORD: but [he that is] perverse in his ways despiseth him." (Proverbs 14:2)," The fear of the LORD [is] a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death."( 14:27),."Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil." (Proverbs 3:7) , "By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD [men] depart from evil."(Proverbs16:6). From the scriptures we have considered we gain a clearer picture of what it means to fear the Lord. In other words to fear the Lord means departing from evil,walking in uprightness and Hating evil. According to Solomon these are the keys to knowledge and wisdom.
Now that we have established that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and also that fear of the Lord is hating sin and living righteously we need to know how one can achieve this fear of the Lord and hence gain wisdom and knowledge. David in Psalms 34:14 says " Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." Doing good, seeking peace and pursuing peace are part of departing from evil.Our condition however makes it difficult to depart from evil.Isaiah describes our condition as"an unclean thing" and all our righteousness "as filthy rags"(Isaiah 64:6).This explains our condition. We are not conditioned to doing good. Paul says;"For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do." (Romans 7:18-19).In other words we cannot do good because we are carnally minded, and our righteousness is like filthy rags. As much as we wish to do good we find ourselves doing evil instead.And unfortunately we cannot change our characters;"Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? [then] may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil."(Jeremiah 13:23).
Christ has not left us in our hopeless state. It is the objective of true education to make us righteous and hence make us fit for the life on earth and the life to come. " To restore in man the image of his Maker, to bring him back to the perfection in which he was created, to promote the development of body, mind, and soul, that the divine purpose in his creation might be realized—this was to be the work of redemption. This is the object of education, the great object of life." EDUCATION 15.2. In Isaiah Christ says; "Come now, and let us reason together" Reasoning with God plays a vital part in us gaining a relationship with God and in acquiring true education. Reasoning appeals to the mind. Scripture has often times spoken on the issue of reasoning with God. Job says; "Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God."( Job 13:3). In this context reasoning means conversing, talking or persuading. Giving evidence and detail, see also Acts 18;4 Paul reasoning in the temple. We learn Paul took time to open the scriptures unto them. Hence we can deduce that we can reason with God through a study of the scriptures. There has always been a mode of communion betweek God and humanity."God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;(Hebrews 1:1-3). For us who have never had the opportunity to see The Son face to face, the written word provides us with a clear picture of His life and personality.
As we contemplate on the life of Christ, God reasons with us.Isaiah says as we reason with God our sins are removed and we are made clean. "though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." (Isaiah 1:18). This is so because the word of God makes us clean, or righteous. "sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17).
The role of scripture in true education is unquestionable. " And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works."( 2 Timothy 3:15-17). God ‘s word is His way of reasoning with us. It sets us apart , fits us for all good works(departing from evil),and make us wise unto salvation.
Christ is the source of true education. " Every gleam of thought, every flash of the intellect, is from the Light of the world." (EDUCATION 13.3) We gain the truest form of education by beholding His life and making His life our life. Scripture says; "But as many asreceived him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name." What does it mean to be sons of God? It means we have been awarded a priviledge of partaking in the life of Christ. And "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin" (1 John 3:9). This means that by becoming the sons of God we are made righteous, the image of God is restored in us, and this is the object of true education. But how is this state achieved?"For his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God" (1 John 3:9).
It is important to understand the theology of the seed. In Genesis God says;" And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." In that scripture lies an amazing promise of restoration and an important principle of true education.Christ is the seed of God(1 John 3:9). How then does this seed remain in them who are born in Christ? 2 Corinthians 5:17 says ; " Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." In Galatians 2:20 Paul says ; "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." Colossians 3:3 " or ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." This is how the seed remains in us , when we die and our life is hid in Christ. The image of God is projected in us through the life of Christ that we live. This is the fear of God and the beginning of Wisdom. Thus we can conclude by saying the foundation of true education is Christ; if He is in us then we have hope of life, wisdom and knowledge.
The call in Revelations 14:7 to fear God and give Him Glory is in a true sence a call to true education. As we proclaim the three angel's message we call the world to embrace true education. " In the highest sense the work of education and the work of redemption are one, for in education, as in redemption, “other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” “It was the good pleasure of the Father that in Him should all the fullness dwell.” 1 Corinthians 3:11; Colossians 1:19, R.V. EDUCATION 30.2. In conclusion it is evident that we cannot separate gospel and true education..