The Anatomy of Divine Quickening

[The Biblicist]

Eph. 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

To "quicken" is to make alive something that is dead. In regard to physically alive human beings to be "quickened" (Eph. 2:1) refers to their SPIRITUAL STATUS as "dead in tresspasses and sins."

What does that mean - "dead in tresspasses and sins"? It cannot mean they are PHYSICALLY dead in tresspasses and sins or that they are ANIHILATED in tresspasses and sins.

The key here is the proper understanding of the term "dead" in relationship to "tresspasses and sins." The term "dead" in this context simply means "separated" or "alienated."

Tresspasses and sins SEPARATE a physically alive person from God:

Isa. 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

However, it is more than that! It is a CONDITION of the heart:

Eph. 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

It is a condition of "blindness of...heart" and "understanding darkened" and "ignorance that is in them." This is the NATURAL condition by NATURAL birth as that is where the NATURAL condition of man originates with, their NATURAL birth. That is precisely why the new birth/quickening or SUPERnatural birth is placed in direct contrast to natural birth (Jn. 3:3, 6). Paul contrasts only TWO possible conditions (1) in the flesh - Rom. 8:7-8 versus (2) in the Spirit - vv. 9-10

Thus quickening is the reversal of this NATURAL state of "understanding darkened....ignorance...blindness of heart" and is also described as a "REVELATION" and ENLIGHTENMENT that removes this DARKNESS


"flesh and blood hath not REVEALED this unto thee but my Father in heaven" - Mt. 16:17

"When it pleased God who separated me from my mothers womb...to REVEAL His son in me" - Gal. 1:16

This divine REVELATION reverses the "understanding darkened....ignorance in them.......blindness of heart" and thus reverses "alienation of the life of God" as Paul explicitly states it is this "darkened....ignorance....blindness" that "alienates them from the life of God."

Therefore, "in tresspasses and sins" is EQUAL to being "darkened...ignorance....blindness" and therefore being "dead" equals "being alienated from the life of God." Do you get this defintion?

Thus quickening is reversal of the "darkened.....ignorance....blindness heart" as it is that condition that "alienates them from the life of God.

Hence, divine quickening IS Divine revelation or enlightenment as opposed to "darkness" and "ignorance" and "blindness."

Quickening removes "darkness" and thus quickening is inclusive of ENLIGTENMENT.

Quickening removes "ignorance" and thus quickening is REVELATION

Quickening removes "blindness" and thus quickening is INTERNAL SIGHT or REVELATION

2 Cor. 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

In Genesis 1:3 God by THE WORD OF COMMAND spoke light into existence. Likewise, divine quickening is God by the WORD OF COMMAND speaking the "light of knowledge" which removes "darkened.....ignorance.......blindness" within man.

This is why Paul uses the Greek term "rhema" rather than "logos" in Romans 10:17

"For faith cometh by hearing and hearing by RHEMA [the word of command] of God."

This is why Jesus says that faith is "the work of God" (Jn. 6:29) and that Christ is both the "author and the finisher of faith" (Heb. 12:2). This is why the ability to move from unbelief (Jn. 6:64) to belief must be "given" by the Fahter (Jn. 6:65). This is why EVERYONE whom the Father "draws" does "come" to Christ (Jn. 6:44-45) because divine quickening is being "CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS" which is impossible apart from faith.

This is why the phrase in Ephesians 2:8 "for by grace are ye saved through faith" is the same thing as "For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus" and is a gift of God and not of works.

The perfect tense "saved" in Ephesians 2:8 refers to a completed point of action in the past which continues as a completed state. That completed point of action in the past occurred "THROUGH FAITH" not APART FROM faith and thus "faith" is inseparable from the act of quickening or being "created in Christ Jesus."

The Hardshell superlapsarian is wrong because there is no such thing as a quickened unbeliever and the Arminian is wrong as there is no such thing as a unquickened believer as quickening is INCLUSIVE of faith.

Yes, faith is LOGICALLY subsequent as the hole is subequent to the bullet but there is no chronological order as both are simeltaneous in real time.

 

[Yeshua1]

Eph. 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

To "quicken" is to make alive something that is dead. In regard to physically alive human beings to be "quickened" (Eph. 2:1) refers to their SPIRITUAL STATUS as "dead in tresspasses and sins."

What does that mean - "dead in tresspasses and sins"? It cannot mean they are PHYSICALLY dead in tresspasses and sins or that they are ANIHILATED in tresspasses and sins.

The key here is the proper understanding of the term "dead" in relationship to "tresspasses and sins." The term "dead" in this context simply means "separated" or "alienated."

Tresspasses and sins SEPARATE a physically alive person from God:

Isa. 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

However, it is more than that! It is a CONDITION of the heart:

Eph. 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

It is a condition of "blindness of...heart" and "understanding darkened" and "ignorance that is in them." This is the NATURAL condition by NATURAL birth as that is where the NATURAL condition of man originates with, their NATURAL birth. That is precisely why the new birth/quickening or SUPERnatural birth is placed in direct contrast to natural birth (Jn. 3:3, 6). Paul contrasts only TWO possible conditions (1) in the flesh - Rom. 8:7-8 versus (2) in the Spirit - vv. 9-10

Thus quickening is the reversal of this NATURAL state of "understanding darkened....ignorance...blindness of heart" and is also described as a "REVELATION" and ENLIGHTENMENT that removes this DARKNESS


"flesh and blood hath not REVEALED this unto thee but my Father in heaven" - Mt. 16:17

"When it pleased God who separated me from my mothers womb...to REVEAL His son in me" - Gal. 1:16

This divine REVELATION reverses the "understanding darkened....ignorance in them.......blindness of heart" and thus reverses "alienation of the life of God" as Paul explicitly states it is this "darkened....ignorance....blindness" that "alienates them from the life of God."

Therefore, "in tresspasses and sins" is EQUAL to being "darkened...ignorance....blindness" and therefore being "dead" equals "being alienated from the life of God." Do you get this defintion?

Thus quickening is reversal of the "darkened.....ignorance....blindness heart" as it is that condition that "alienates them from the life of God.

Hence, divine quickening IS Divine revelation or enlightenment as opposed to "darkness" and "ignorance" and "blindness."

Quickening removes "darkness" and thus quickening is inclusive of ENLIGTENMENT.

Quickening removes "ignorance" and thus quickening is REVELATION

Quickening removes "blindness" and thus quickening is INTERNAL SIGHT or REVELATION

2 Cor. 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

In Genesis 1:3 God by THE WORD OF COMMAND spoke light into existence. Likewise, divine quickening is God by the WORD OF COMMAND speaking the "light of knowledge" which removes "darkened.....ignorance.......blindness" within man.

This is why Paul uses the Greek term "rhema" rather than "logos" in Romans 10:17

"For faith cometh by hearing and hearing by RHEMA [the word of command] of God."

This is why Jesus says that faith is "the work of God" (Jn. 6:29) and that Christ is both the "author and the finisher of faith" (Heb. 12:2). This is why the ability to move from unbelief (Jn. 6:64) to belief must be "given" by the Fahter (Jn. 6:65). This is why EVERYONE whom the Father "draws" does "come" to Christ (Jn. 6:44-45) because divine quickening is being "CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS" which is impossible apart from faith.

This is why the phrase in Ephesians 2:8 "for by grace are ye saved through faith" is the same thing as "For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus" and is a gift of God and not of works.

The perfect tense "saved" in Ephesians 2:8 refers to a completed point of action in the past which continues as a completed state. That completed point of action in the past occurred "THROUGH FAITH" not APART FROM faith and thus "faith" is inseparable from the act of quickening or being "created in Christ Jesus."

The Hardshell superlapsarian is wrong because there is no such thing as a quickened unbeliever and the Arminian is wrong as there is no such thing as a unquickened believer as quickening is INCLUSIVE of faith.

Yes, faith is LOGICALLY subsequent as the hole is subequent to the bullet but there is no chronological order as both are simeltaneous in real time.

BOTh Classic cals/Arms hold to us being born in original Sin, being spiritual dead, and MUST have this supernatural act done in order to respond by faith to christ!

MANY claiming non cals here hold that we do not need tht , as we are born either innocent state, or else with enough 'free will" still intact!

 

[The Biblicist]

BOTh Classic cals/Arms hold to us being born in original Sin, being spiritual dead, and MUST have this supernatural act done in order to respond by faith to christ!

MANY claiming non cals here hold that we do not need tht , as we are born either innocent state, or else with enough 'free will" still intact!

If you read my post carefully I refute both. There is no such thing as an unregenerated believer any more than a regenerated unbeliever as faith is INCLUSIVE in regeneration. To be INCLUSIVE means it is inseparable from regeneration. There is no CHRONOLOGICAL order but only a LOGICAL order as there is between the bullet and the hole made by the bullet.

One needs to study the relationship between "understanding darkened" in connection with "ignorance in them." One refers to the CONDITION/CAUSE whereas the other refers to the CONSEQUENCE, however, they are inseparably connected. Likewise, quickening is the reversal of both and is thus inseparable from faith (2 Cor. 4:6).

 

[Tom Butler]

Biblicist, thanks for your essays. Let me ask a question about application.

Let's say that a lost person has been quickened. If I read you right, faith should immediately follow (logically, of course). If there is no chronological order, as you describe it, then it is not possible that one may be quickened now, but exercise faith at some point later. Is that what you're saying?

One further question. Let's say one comes under conviction. What is the order? Quickening, conviction, faith? Or conviction, quickening, faith?

Just asking for clarification.

 

[The Biblicist]

Biblicist, thanks for your essays. Let me ask a question about application.

Let's say that a lost person has been quickened. If I read you right, faith should immediately follow (logically, of course). If there is no chronological order, as you describe it, then it is not possible that one may be quickened now, but exercise faith at some point later. Is that what you're saying?

Thanks Tom for your questions and interest in my post. What I am saying is faith is INCLUSIVE of quickening and it is without time gap without chronology only a logical order in cause and effect relationship. If you are regenerated you are a believer and if you are a believer you are regenerated.

One further question. Let's say one comes under conviction. What is the order? Quickening, conviction, faith? Or conviction, quickening, faith?

Just asking for clarification.

There is a general call by the gospel when it goes out when the gospel comes in "word only" (1 Thes. 1:5). There is general convicting power of the Word of God upon the unregenerated conscience. However, apart from quickening the hearer will "always resist the Holy Spirit even as your fathers" (Acts 7:51). However, there is this PERIOD of general conviction and resistance that occurs in connection with the Word of God apart from the quickening power of the Holy Spirit. This PERIOD could last for minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years. However, the transition between this general period of conviction and INWARD CHANGE from love of sin to hatred of sin and love of darkness to hatred of darkness and from resisting to submission is Divine quickening which is by nature a divnely enacted INTERNAL CHANGE from resistance to submission, from love of sin to love of righteousnes, from unbelief to belief, from hatred of light to embracing light.

 

[Yeshua1]

Thanks Tom for your questions and interest in my post. What I am saying is faith is INCLUSIVE of quickening and it is without time gap without chronology only a logical order in cause and effect relationship. If you are regenerated you are a believer and if you are a believer you are regenerated.



There is a general call by the gospel when it goes out when the gospel comes in "word only" (1 Thes. 1:5). There is general convicting power of the Word of God upon the unregenerated conscience. However, apart from quickening the hearer will "always resist the Holy Spirit even as your fathers" (Acts 7:51). However, there is this PERIOD of general conviction and resistance that occurs in connection with the Word of God apart from the quickening power of the Holy Spirit. This PERIOD could last for minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years. However, the transition between this general period of conviction and INWARD CHANGE from love of sin to hatred of sin and love of darkness to hatred of darkness and from resisting to submission is Divine quickening which is by nature a divnely enacted INTERNAL CHANGE from resistance to submission, from love of sin to love of righteousnes, from unbelief to belief, from hatred of light to embracing light.

isn't the bible model though that one logical precedes the other as first God regenerates the sinners and the sinner receives jesus by God granted faith, so would happen basically at same time?

A sinner is quickened by the Spirit and as he hears the Gospel, he than receives jesus by faith?

No long time between 2?

As have read some hold that God could regenrate an infant, and yet not have faith until adulthood?

When is one save dby god? Aregeneration , or when receiving jesus by faith?

 

[The Biblicist]

isn't the bible model though that one logical precedes the other as first God regenerates the sinners and the sinner receives jesus by God granted faith, so would happen basically at same time?

A sinner is quickened by the Spirit and as he hears the Gospel, he than receives jesus by faith?

No long time between 2?

As have read some hold that God could regenrate an infant, and yet not have faith until adulthood?

When is one save dby god? Aregeneration , or when receiving jesus by faith?

If you will reread my OP you will see that the spiritual "dead" condition is a cause and effect condition consisting of the cause whic is a state of being "darkened....blindness" which produces the consequence of "ignorance in them."

Regeneration is the reversal of that condition and consequence. Instead of a state of "darkened....blindness" there is a state of Revelation and Enlightenment which replaces the alternative "ignorance" with "knowledge" (2 Cor. 4:6). Here is the bottom line - where one condition exists so does the consequence as they cannot exist apart from each other. It is like walking into a dark room and flipping the light switch. You cannot flip the light switch without light removing the darkness and you cannot be quickened without revelation and knowledge co-existing 2 Cor. 4:6

 

[Yeshua1]

If you will reread my OP you will see that the spiritual "dead" condition is a cause and effect condition consisting of the cause whic is a state of being "darkened....blindness" which produces the consequence of "ignorance in them."

Regeneration is the reversal of that condition and consequence. Instead of a state of "darkened....blindness" there is a state of Revelation and Enlightenment which replaces the alternative "ignorance" with "knowledge" (2 Cor. 4:6). Here is the bottom line - where one condition exists so does the consequence as they cannot exist apart from each other. It is like walking into a dark room and flipping the light switch. You cannot flip the light switch without light removing the darkness and you cannot be quickened without revelation and knowledge co-existing 2 Cor. 4:6

So the "quickening' and the "Faith in jesus" are like s flip sides of the same coin so to speak , as one cannot exist without the other?

 

[The Biblicist]

So the "quickening' and the "Faith in jesus" are like s flip sides of the same coin so to speak , as one cannot exist without the other?

That is correct. Likewise, repentance and faith are flip sides of the same coin, as one cannot exist without the other. If you turn FROM darkness you have turned to light, if you have turned FROM unbelief you have turned to faith, if you have turned from loving darkness you have turned to hating darkness, if you have turned from hating light you have turned to loving light, etc.

Now to put the whole thing together. Just interpret the term "turn" as regeneration/quickening and thus "from" versus "to" co-exist inseparably from "turn" as "turn" means nothing without them.

 

[The Biblicist]

Biblicist, thanks for your essays. Let me ask a question about application.

Let's say that a lost person has been quickened. If I read you right, faith should immediately follow (logically, of course). If there is no chronological order, as you describe it, then it is not possible that one may be quickened now, but exercise faith at some point later. Is that what you're saying?

One further question. Let's say one comes under conviction. What is the order? Quickening, conviction, faith? Or conviction, quickening, faith?

Just asking for clarification.

Tom, there is a "worldly sorrow" (2 Cor. 7:10) seen in the repentance of Judas, who went out and hanged himself. There was true conviction of sin, true regret. However, it ended in death instead of removing guilt and providing peace.

When anyone confronts or exposes your faults there is a measure of conviction and guilt that is immediate. The Word of God is a light that exposes fault and there is a measure of conviction and guilt as a result which continues until either the conscience is seared and/or silenced. It can be silenced as in the case with the action took by Judas - death.

The difference between godly versus worldly sorrow is that godly sorrow always works salvation (solution). The transition between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow is quickening. Quickening TURNS worldly sorrow into godly sorrow as it turns love for darkness into love for light and hate for darkness and as it turns unbelief into belief, etc.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I will have to review your post again & then interrelate this with my own recent regeneration experience. Hard to believe though that an enemy of Christ could flip/ turn to a believer just like that. If Im understanding you, I always had this yearning to believe inside me? Am I correct or off base?

 

[The Biblicist]

I will have to review your post again & then interrelate this with my own recent regeneration experience. Hard to believe though that an enemy of Christ could flip/ turn to a believer just like that. If Im understanding you, I always had this yearning to believe inside me? Am I correct or off base?

Better reread what I said!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Better reread what I said!

Yes.... Ive been up since 3 am .....my powers of comprehension have taken a considerable nose dive.

However what your suggesting is theoretical, correct?

 

[The Biblicist]

However what your suggesting is theoretical, correct?

I based it entirely upon the Scriptures not mere theory.

 

[The Biblicist]

Eph. 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

To "quicken" is to make alive something that is dead. In regard to physically alive human beings to be "quickened" (Eph. 2:1) refers to their SPIRITUAL STATUS as "dead in tresspasses and sins."

What does that mean - "dead in tresspasses and sins"? It cannot mean they are PHYSICALLY dead in tresspasses and sins or that they are ANIHILATED in tresspasses and sins.

The key here is the proper understanding of the term "dead" in relationship to "tresspasses and sins." The term "dead" in this context simply means "separated" or "alienated."

Tresspasses and sins SEPARATE a physically alive person from God:

Isa. 59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

However, it is more than that! It is a CONDITION of the heart:

Eph. 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

It is a condition of "blindness of...heart" and "understanding darkened" and "ignorance that is in them." This is the NATURAL condition by NATURAL birth as that is where the NATURAL condition of man originates with, their NATURAL birth. That is precisely why the new birth/quickening or SUPERnatural birth is placed in direct contrast to natural birth (Jn. 3:3, 6). Paul contrasts only TWO possible conditions (1) in the flesh - Rom. 8:7-8 versus (2) in the Spirit - vv. 9-10

Thus quickening is the reversal of this NATURAL state of "understanding darkened....ignorance...blindness of heart" and is also described as a "REVELATION" and ENLIGHTENMENT that removes this DARKNESS


"flesh and blood hath not REVEALED this unto thee but my Father in heaven" - Mt. 16:17

"When it pleased God who separated me from my mothers womb...to REVEAL His son in me" - Gal. 1:16

This divine REVELATION reverses the "understanding darkened....ignorance in them.......blindness of heart" and thus reverses "alienation of the life of God" as Paul explicitly states it is this "darkened....ignorance....blindness" that "alienates them from the life of God."

Therefore, "in tresspasses and sins" is EQUAL to being "darkened...ignorance....blindness" and therefore being "dead" equals "being alienated from the life of God." Do you get this defintion?

Thus quickening is reversal of the "darkened.....ignorance....blindness heart" as it is that condition that "alienates them from the life of God.

Hence, divine quickening IS Divine revelation or enlightenment as opposed to "darkness" and "ignorance" and "blindness."

Quickening removes "darkness" and thus quickening is inclusive of ENLIGTENMENT.

Quickening removes "ignorance" and thus quickening is REVELATION

Quickening removes "blindness" and thus quickening is INTERNAL SIGHT or REVELATION

2 Cor. 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

In Genesis 1:3 God by THE WORD OF COMMAND spoke light into existence. Likewise, divine quickening is God by the WORD OF COMMAND speaking the "light of knowledge" which removes "darkened.....ignorance.......blindness" within man.

This is why Paul uses the Greek term "rhema" rather than "logos" in Romans 10:17

"For faith cometh by hearing and hearing by RHEMA [the word of command] of God."

This is why Jesus says that faith is "the work of God" (Jn. 6:29) and that Christ is both the "author and the finisher of faith" (Heb. 12:2). This is why the ability to move from unbelief (Jn. 6:64) to belief must be "given" by the Fahter (Jn. 6:65). This is why EVERYONE whom the Father "draws" does "come" to Christ (Jn. 6:44-45) because divine quickening is being "CREATED IN CHRIST JESUS" which is impossible apart from faith.

This is why the phrase in Ephesians 2:8 "for by grace are ye saved through faith" is the same thing as "For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus" and is a gift of God and not of works.

The perfect tense "saved" in Ephesians 2:8 refers to a completed point of action in the past which continues as a completed state. That completed point of action in the past occurred "THROUGH FAITH" not APART FROM faith and thus "faith" is inseparable from the act of quickening or being "created in Christ Jesus."

The Hardshell superlapsarian is wrong because there is no such thing as a quickened unbeliever and the Arminian is wrong as there is no such thing as a unquickened believer as quickening is INCLUSIVE of faith.

Yes, faith is LOGICALLY subsequent as the hole is subequent to the bullet but there is no chronological order as both are simeltaneous in real time.

The above evidence completely repudiates SBM's position that saving or justifying faith is works.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Hmmm! What got my attention was the Holy Spirit convicting me of having no belief. Naturally then I would reje Arminian claims to any faith prior to.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

Hmmm! What got my attention was the Holy Spirit convicting me of having no belief. Naturally then I would reject Arminian claims to any faith prior to.

 

[The Biblicist]

Hmmm! What got my attention was the Holy Spirit convicting me of having no belief. Naturally then I would reject Arminian claims to any faith prior to.

Unbelief is the essence of sin, as it is utter rejection of God (Heb. 11:6; Jn. 16:10; 3:18).

The Scriptures are the product of the Holy Spirit and they have power to convict but don't confuse conviction with repentance.

Repentance refers to actual CHANGE or transition point from unbelief to belief, from love of darkness to love of light. Of course conviction precedes and accompanies repentance, as conviction without repentance leads to death and is only worldly sorrow (2 Cor. 7:10). It is true repentance that changes worldly sorrow into godly sorrow. That is why Judas never had "godly sorrow" nor true repentance. True repentance transforms conviction of sin into forgiveness and peace rather than dispair and hopelessness. until you have found forgiveness and peace you have not repented, because forgiveness and peace is found only through faith in Christ. Thus godly sorrow effectually worketh repentance unto salvation (2 Cor. 7:10). This is another proof that repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin and one cannot exist without the other.

 

[The Biblicist]

Unbelief is the essence of sin, as it is utter rejection of God (Heb. 11:6; Jn. 16:10; 3:18).

The Scriptures are the product of the Holy Spirit and they have power to convict but don't confuse conviction with repentance.

Repentance refers to actual CHANGE or transition point from unbelief to belief, from love of darkness to love of light. Of course conviction precedes and accompanies repentance, as conviction without repentance leads to death and is only worldly sorrow (2 Cor. 7:10). It is true repentance that changes worldly sorrow into godly sorrow. That is why Judas never had "godly sorrow" nor true repentance. True repentance transforms conviction of sin into forgiveness and peace rather than dispair and hopelessness. until you have found forgiveness and peace you have not repented, because forgiveness and peace is found only through faith in Christ. Thus godly sorrow effectually worketh repentance unto salvation (2 Cor. 7:10). This is another proof that repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin and one cannot exist without the other.

Eph. 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Again, the CONDITION of spiritual death or "alienated from the life of God" is the condition of understanding being "darkened" and "blindness" of their heart and thus alienation from God is "through ignorance that is in them."

This CONDITION includes both CAUSE and EFFECT and the reversal of it also includes contrary CAUSE and EFFECT.

The reversal of "ignorance" (effect) is through "knowledge" (2 Cor. 4:6) and the reversal of "darkness" and "blindness" (Cause) is Divine Revelation. It is that reversal of cause and effect that brings UNION instead of alienation with the life of God.

The combination of the reversal of this cause and effect condition is spelled out by Paul:

2 Cor. 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

1. To give light = revelation - the reverse cause of darkness and blindness
2. give the light of knowledge = reverse of consequence of ignorance.

Hence, Jesus tells Peter that "flesh and blood hath not REVEALED this unto thee but my Father in heaven" - Mt. 16:17

Hence, Paul says that "when it pleased God...to REVEAL his Son in me" - Gal. 1:15-16.

Moreover, note that "God, who COMMANDED the light to shine" demonstrates the new birth is not of the will of man but of God (John 1:13; James 1:18; etc.). Thus faith cometh by hearing but hearing by THE RHEMA of God - Rom. 10:17.

Significantly Paul does not use the term "logos" in Romans 10:17 but the Greek term "rhema." The subtle difference between the two terms is that rhema is used to describe the WORD OF COMMAND. Thus "For God, who COMMANDED the light to shine hath shined" by the same Word of Command in the case of the beleiver. Hence, in regard to the elect the gospel did not come to them "in word only" but "in power and in the Holy Spirit" as the word of command - 1 Thes. 1:4-5.

This brings us to the inseparable truth that 2 Cor. 4:6 is the CREATION OF FAITH inside of the elect as the light of knowledge is "IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST" as presented in the gospel (2 Cor. 4:5,7).

Hence, the new birth is the giving of a BELIEVING HEART and that is why all whom are given a new heart KNOW GOD (Jer. 31:34; Heb. 8:10-11) and this knowledge is eternal life:

Jn. 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Hence, we have come full circle. The cause and consequence of the unregenerate CONDITION (darkness....blindness) that produces only "ignorance" which ALIENATED them from the life of God = spiritual death is reversed by regeneration so that "darkness....blindness" is reversed by REVELATION and ignorance is reversed by "the light of knowledge" and unbelief is reversed by faith or "the light of knowledge of the glory of God IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST" or "this is eternal life that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ" thus a full circle from "alienated from the life of God" to knowing God through Jesus Christ which is eternal life occurs.

 

[Yeshua1]

Eph. 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Again, the CONDITION of spiritual death or "alienated from the life of God" is the condition of understanding being "darkened" and "blindness" of their heart and thus alienation from God is "through ignorance that is in them."

This CONDITION includes both CAUSE and EFFECT and the reversal of it also includes contrary CAUSE and EFFECT.

The reversal of "ignorance" (effect) is through "knowledge" (2 Cor. 4:6) and the reversal of "darkness" and "blindness" (Cause) is Divine Revelation. It is that reversal of cause and effect that brings UNION instead of alienation with the life of God.

The combination of the reversal of this cause and effect condition is spelled out by Paul:

2 Cor. 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

1. To give light = revelation - the reverse cause of darkness and blindness
2. give the light of knowledge = reverse of consequence of ignorance.

Hence, Jesus tells Peter that "flesh and blood hath not REVEALED this unto thee but my Father in heaven" - Mt. 16:17

Hence, Paul says that "when it pleased God...to REVEAL his Son in me" - Gal. 1:15-16.

Moreover, note that "God, who COMMANDED the light to shine" demonstrates the new birth is not of the will of man but of God (John 1:13; James 1:18; etc.). Thus faith cometh by hearing but hearing by THE RHEMA of God - Rom. 10:17.

Significantly Paul does not use the term "logos" in Romans 10:17 but the Greek term "rhema." The subtle difference between the two terms is that rhema is used to describe the WORD OF COMMAND. Thus "For God, who COMMANDED the light to shine hath shined" by the same Word of Command in the case of the beleiver. Hence, in regard to the elect the gospel did not come to them "in word only" but "in power and in the Holy Spirit" as the word of command - 1 Thes. 1:4-5.

This brings us to the inseparable truth that 2 Cor. 4:6 is the CREATION OF FAITH inside of the elect as the light of knowledge is "IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST" as presented in the gospel (2 Cor. 4:5,7).

Hence, the new birth is the giving of a BELIEVING HEART and that is why all whom are given a new heart KNOW GOD (Jer. 31:34; Heb. 8:10-11) and this knowledge is eternal life:

Jn. 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Hence, we have come full circle. The cause and consequence of the unregenerate CONDITION (darkness....blindness) that produces only "ignorance" which ALIENATED them from the life of God = spiritual death is reversed by regeneration so that "darkness....blindness" is reversed by REVELATION and ignorance is reversed by "the light of knowledge" and unbelief is reversed by faith or "the light of knowledge of the glory of God IN THE FACE OF JESUS CHRIST" or "this is eternal life that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ" thus a full circle from "alienated from the life of God" to knowing God through Jesus Christ which is eternal life occurs.

That is why General revelation of God cannot save we sinners, that takes the special revelation of God in the scriptues, and most of all in the person of Jesus , and the Holy Spirit making us able to 'see" him as Saviour'Lord!