Christ the revealer.

G. Campbell Morgan on the mind of the Father as divulged by the Son.

Photo by K. Mitch Hodge on Unsplash

It may feel odd to you that I’m re-sharing this passage from G. Campbell Morgan so soon, but I almost can’t help myself the more I think about it. That there is absolutely no difference between the God of the Old Testament and the Christ of the New is, perhaps, one of my favorite topics since any time I come across it, I feel obliged to reflect on it and share those thoughts. Hence, this post, wherein Morgan affirms that the mission of the Christ of God is none other than to reveal the mind of God himself. Notice how Morgan makes his case:

This gospel of the grace of God, which is the gospel of the Son of God, is the declaration of the attitude of God toward men. In this regard Christ is Revealer. Christ did not come into this world of ours in order to create a new attitude on the part of God toward man. He did not come to change the mind of God. He did not come to persuade God to be gracious. He did not come to propitiate God, and turn Him back again to the sons of men. He did not come to reconcile God to man. There is never a note in all the New Testament that declares He did. I care nothing for the casuistries in which you tell me that if I am reconciled to God is the same thing. It is not the same thing. It is a fundamentally false conception of the mission of our Lord and of the terms of the gospel to declare that Jesus Christ came into human history to change the mind of God. He came to reveal to man the mind of God, to reveal the abiding attitude of God toward men. In Him God was unveiled, not changed. Through Him God spoke no new message, but the perpetual message of His heart. The gospel of the grace of God is first of all a declaration on the part of our Lord of the attitude of God toward men. (7.133–34)

This, again, is a remarkable truth to consider — namely, that Christ didn’t die to change God’s mind toward sinners. Indeed, rather, he died to reveal what was within the heart of God all along. The crimson stream of forgiveness that flowed from his head and side was the Son divulging the Father’s redemptive intention from the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4). This, then, changes the way in which we understand God’s words and ways throughout the Old Testament. The eternal tenor and beat of God’s heart towards man is one of perpetual grace. His posture is one of welcome. Come near, then, sinner. Your Heavenly Father awaits you.

Grace and peace to you, my friends.

Works cited:

G. Campbell Morgan, The Westminster Pulpit: The Preaching of G. Campbell Morgan, Vols. 1–10 (Fincastle, VA: Scripture Truth Book Co., 1954).