Daily Thought: God's Perfect Revelation

"The Bible, or the Old and New Testaments, in Hebrew and Greek, contains a full and perfect revelation of God and his will, adapted to man as he now is.  It speaks of man as he was, and also as he will be hereafter be; but it dwells on man as he is, and as he ought to be, as its peculiar and appropriate theme.  It is not, then, a treatise on man as he was, nor on man as he will be; but on man as he is; and as he ought to be; not as he is physically, astronomically, geologically, politically, or metaphysically; but as he is and ought to be, morally and religiously." ~ Alexander Campbell, The Christian System, p. 3

Daily Thought: The Record of Human History

"This is the true spiritual condition of humanity.  The nuances of particulars and intensity might be different in each individual case, but the underlying principles remain true.  Whether ancient times or modern, human history is a record of human depravity.  This is the humbling truth." ~ William Wilberforce, Real Christianity, p. 32

Daily Thought: What Does It Mean to be Human?

"Without an understanding of our nature and purpose, we cannot have a proper understanding of redemption.  You may wonder, what does all this really have to do with our salvation.  Do we really need to know so much about our own nature before we can understand how that nature can change through salvation.  Yes, we do.  What 'salvation' is depends upon what is being saved.  Before something can be saved it must face the risk of being lost. And, essentially, it is the nature of what is being saved that determines how it can be at risk and at loss.  For example, 'saving' and investment is a different kind of project from saving a life, a reputation, or an injured pet, because investments, lives, reputations, and pets are different kinds of things.  So, if we want to know what it is to save a human being, to redeem the human soul or personality, we cannot find a better way to begin than by asking: what did God make when he made us, and how could creatures such as we be at risk and at loss?" ~ Dallas Willard, The Spirit of the Disciplines, p. 45