Owen: that we might believe

Wednesday, September 4, 2013
    Commemoration of Birinus, Bishop of Dorchester (Oxon), Apostle of Wessex, 650
Meditation:
    But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
    —John 20:31 (NIV)
Quotation:
    Christ did not die for any upon condition, if they do believe; but he died for all God’s elect, that they should believe, and believing have eternal life. Faith itself is among the principal effects and fruits of the death of Christ; as shall be declared. It is nowhere said in Scripture, nor can it reasonably be affirmed, that if we believe, Christ died for us, as though our believing should make that to be which otherwise was not,—the act create the object; but Christ died for us that we might believe.
    ... John Owen (1616-1683), The Death of Death in the Death of Christ [1647], in Works of John Owen, v. X, New York: R. Carter, 1852, II.5, p. 235 (see the book)
    See also John 20:31; Matt. 26:53-54; 27:54; Luke 1:3-4; John 10:17-18,37-38; 11:42; Rom. 10:8-9; Eph. 5:1-2; 1 Thess. 4:14; Heb. 7:27; 9:26; 1 John 5:20
Quiet time reflection:
    Lord, You have granted me faith. CQOD    Blog    email    RSS
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