Thomas Boston on the experimental knowledge of Christ

Status
Not open for further replies.

Reformed Covenanter

Cancelled Commissioner
A MERE speculative knowledge of Christ, and of the great doctrines of the gospel, however laboriously acquired and extensive it may be, is of small importance in itself, and quite vain and ineffectual, if it be not sanctified, and issue in experimental knowledge of Christ, and a real feeling of the beauty and excellency, and efficacy of divine truth on the heart. A man may have a competent, nay, a very extensive acquaintance with the whole doctrines of the Christian religion … yet if you have not the experimental knowledge of Christ, all your knowledge is in vain as to the salvation of your souls.

For the reference, see Thomas Boston on the experimental knowledge of Christ.
 
A MERE speculative knowledge of Christ, and of the great doctrines of the gospel, however laboriously acquired and extensive it may be, is of small importance in itself, and quite vain and ineffectual, if it be not sanctified, and issue in experimental knowledge of Christ, and a real feeling of the beauty and excellency, and efficacy of divine truth on the heart. A man may have a competent, nay, a very extensive acquaintance with the whole doctrines of the Christian religion … yet if you have not the experimental knowledge of Christ, all your knowledge is in vain as to the salvation of your souls.

For the reference, see Thomas Boston on the experimental knowledge of Christ.
“a real feeling of the beauty and excellency, and efficacy of divine truth”

And how is that acquired? Its a hypothetical question...... but I’ve heard sermons more concerned with such a ‘feeling.’ That is preaching where we are the story..... back to the question. The beauty and excellency is not had apart from its context - His Word. This is not something we can manufacture of ourselves. His Word reveals it. When such a feeling is espoused, without a double emphasis on the context in which these things are made known, the emphasis is wrongfully centered on ‘me.’

Im not saying Boston does this.




”With all his mouthing of the words, “Spirit, Spirit, Spirit,” he tears down the bridge, the path, the way, the ladder, and all the means by which the Spirit might come....”

- Martin Luther
 
Last edited:
If a man loves a woman, everyone knows it. His conversations and thoughts run back to her constantly. She easily becomes the subject of his talk, sometimes at times when it seems out of place. The way he acts around her tells all. He knows her so well.

A man who can only recite facts about his wife is little better than her doctor who can do all that as well, but does not know her. That man has missed the whole heart of the marriage and only has the form and shell. But a husband who loves and knows his wife may know all those things, but speaks of her far differently, more deeply, more personally. That is not only a man’s duty to his wife, but privilege and joy.

And isn’t marriage just a dim picture of the marriage of Christ to his church? If such love should exist between a man and a woman, how much more personal and deeply-felt love between Christ and the church? Mere academic knowledge of Christ (really, the Triune God) misses Christianity altogether.
 
Last edited:
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top