1/15/2019

John 17:3

³ And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.

Westminster Shorter Catechism

Q. 3 What do the Scriptures principally teach?

A. The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

It is one of my greatest joys to live in the New Testament revelation of the Triune God and have an assured faith in Him. Having said that, it is one of my confidences in personal Christian growth that I can say sincerely, “I don’t know”.

This morning as Darlene and I looked at the daily confessional reminder that she receives by email, it was Shorter Catechism Q 3.  This is like question Q1 to me.  I know it because I am convinced that if our expectation from the Scriptures was confined to Question 3 we would have less debate and more unity.  And we would all say, “I don’t know” more often.

Let me give you two reasons why ministers do not admit ignorance.

1.      There comes with the recognition and appointment to office a certain amount arrogance.  And it seems as if you are admitting disqualification if you “don’t know”.

2.      Then there is the fact that the minister does think his knowledge is exceedingly great.  The only thing greater is God Himself and there is a certain propensity to define Him.

Who did Cain and Seth marry.  I don’t know.