Some brief thoughts on Gospel Experience in a letter to a friend: We mentioned the (hyper) experimentalism of some British Baptists who somehow have figured out a way to make an ax head to swim, II Kings 6:6, which in my thoughts would be equivalent to imagining that a corrupt tree can somehow bring forth good fruit, Matthew 7:18, regardless of how they may label them as ‘gracious’ affections and stigmatize those as ‘dead letter’ calvinists who cannot quite “ascend into” their imaginary heights in bringing ‘Christ’ down to their experience. Romans 10:6-8. I’m fairly certain that the ‘christian’ life is not measured and does not consist in morbid introspection but in the Spirit’s testimony to CHRIST. John 16:15. The Spirit’s work is to exalt Christ, (our identity in relationship to our feelings will decrease, as Christ is lifted up,) not to cultivate self-awareness.
Those thoughts that a ‘spiritual’ man (“ye which are spiritual,” Gal.6:1,) thinks in his mind, those heavenly affections, Colossians 3:2, which at times enrapture his heart, (which David no doubt felt when he “danced before the LORD with all his might,” II Samuel 6:14,) are inseparable and form one experience. It’s called living “by the faith of the SON of GOD,” Galatians 2:20, and not upon our own resources, no matter how we may attempt to spiritualize them by backpedaling the scriptures in order to conform them to our ‘experience’ of Christ. It is the whole of man who thinks, feels, and experiences the grace of Christ, and these things are inseparable! Believers worship & love GOD with their heart, soul, mind & strength, Mark 12:30, in the totality of their being, which forms, as it were, an inseparable unity, and any attempt to isolate or elevate one aspect over another can only lead to error and confusion.
Our ‘lostness’ cannot be overstated! Affections tainted, feelings inverted, desires misplaced and ‘voices’ that sound all too similar like our own, &c. This is no time to be trusting in our feelings or seeking the way of truth through sensory experience. Besides, as believers it’s impossible to be stoic about Christ and the gospel of our salvation! Our love, (the “love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord,” Romans 8:39,) our joys, (our “joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Romans 5:11,) our peace, (our “peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Romans 5:1,) and whatever else may constitute our life in Christ by which the LORD sustains us, John 6:35, in the totality of our being as we abide in HIM. I John 2:24-28.
The believer’s experiences, as delineated throughout the scriptures, consist chiefly, and are always intertwined with the written word, and inextricably linked to the gospel, and the belief of the truth. It’s experience that is fed, governed, and amplified by the word of the Lord as opened to our understanding by the Spirit of Truth, and elevated in the energy that accompanies the power of the gospel, Romans 1:16, unveiling CHRIST as articulated in the word, whilst saturating our hearts in love. John 14:21. MPJ