The Mirror of the Word

[Netchaplain]

The Bible is like a "mirror," and if we want to see how we're supposed to be and look like, we look at Scripture (scriptural mirror)! Paul's statement that "I know in part" means he only has partial knowledge of God 's Word at that time, because the other writers have yet at that time to write their part; and "that which is perfect" has to do with whatever is partial, which is the Word of God incomplete. But when the Bible was completed ("perfect") we could know the entire will and desires of God; coming face to face clearly in the mirror of the Word! The Word can now confirm Itself!

Again, when the Bible was completed, there was no more need to confirm the Word with "signs and wonders": and Christians could now see what they're supposed to look like by the Word--like the Lord Jesus (1Jo 4:17), and more so all the time as we "grow up into Him in all things" (Eph 4:15).

"Which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him . . . God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit" (Heb 2:3, 4).


James also made a comparison between a "mirror" and the Word of God:
Jas 1:22-25 "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."

What’s so important about God discontinuing the signs and wonders? So faith can be at its strongest! Paul said “Jews require a sign.”

 

[Randy Kluth]

The Bible is like a "mirror," and if we want to see how we're supposed to be and look like, we look at Scripture (scriptural mirror)! Paul's statement that "I know in part" means he only has partial knowledge of God 's Word at that time, because the other writers have yet at that time to write their part; and "that which is perfect" has to do with whatever is partial, which is the Word of God incomplete. But when the Bible was completed ("perfect") we could know the entire will and desires of God; coming face to face clearly in the mirror of the Word! The Word can now confirm Itself!

I don't think Paul was speaking of the Scriptures when he wrote that things were "partial" or "imperfect" in 1 Cor 13.

1 Cor 13.8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Paul is here speaking of the temporal world and of our mortal condition within it. We are sort of "blind," being able to sort of see God through the midst of the created world. He is clearly there, but we do not clearly see Him.

Some of this lack of clarity becomes less of an obstacle as we grow in our spiritual maturity. We see God more clearly, and with greater detail. But we remain flawed, and as such, somewhat "blind" still.

Our hope is to see God without obstruction when we become immortals and sinless. Until then we have to struggle and overcome our deficiences by holding on to what is good.

Again, when the Bible was completed, there was no more need to confirm the Word with "signs and wonders": and Christians could now see what they're supposed to look like by the Word--like the Lord Jesus (1Jo 4:17), and more so all the time as we "grow up into Him in all things" (Eph 4:15).

Since we are always somewhat myopic I think we always needs signs and wonders to confirm that God is leading us in the right direction and is in the thing we're doing. These signs do not have to be tremendous miracles, like raising the dead or stopping up a river.

But they should show the hallmarks of Deity, such as ordering our personal history in a way that only God can work it. These are the kinds of signs and wonders I always look for, and often am able to see. I live my life that way.

"Which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him . . . God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit" (Heb 2:3, 4).


James also made a comparison between a "mirror" and the Word of God:
Jas 1:22-25 "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does."

What’s so important about God discontinuing the signs and wonders? So faith can be at its strongest! Paul said “Jews require a sign.”

Well yes. If one is trying to manipulate signs to validate what he wants to believe God is for, it would be wrong to seek a sign. We can read anything we want into something we see. I may pursue an illicit business relationship and then see a pigeon fly overhead, claiming that is a sign of God's approval of this illicit business relationship.

Sometimes the sign can be staring us in the face when we don't really want to believe God is taking us in that direction. What if a brother in desperate need asks for your help while you're in the middle of a football game? Are you going to hear God or not? ;)

 

[Netchaplain]

I don't think Paul was speaking of the Scriptures when he wrote that things were "partial" or "imperfect" in 1 Cor 13.

1 Cor 13.8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

Paul is here speaking of the temporal world and of our mortal condition within it. We are sort of "blind," being able to sort of see God through the midst of the created world. He is clearly there, but we do not clearly see Him.

I like how you see see this issue, but with me I think it's referring to the Word, because it's the only source of revelation (knowledge and prophecy) of God. I don't think it could refer to Heaven because whatever it is refers to that which is partial. "Perfect" can only refer to either Heaven or the Word, and Heaven has always been perfect.