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Seldom have I read a theological work which understands the power and deity of our Lord and Savior as the author does. He was a contemporary of George Fox who traveled in the ministry. He, too, along with other early propagators of Truth suffered inhuman imprisonments for waiting on the Lord with other believers in Jesus’s spirit. Particularly arresting is Shewen’s understanding of Jesus’s function as the True Word of God. He reminds us that Jesus proclaimed that He was with the Father before Abraham’s birth, functioning as His Spirit which called all people into obedience. In other words, Jesus communicated into believers' hearts before He took on human form. Small wonder the author cites scriptural verses that confirm Christ’s deity but calls on us to be faithful consistently in reverence of His everlasting presence. He, the author, mentions Psalm 37:31. The law of his God is in his heart none of his steps shall slide. This confirms God’s efforts to instruct His people inwardly. In addition to proclaiming the psalmist’s discernment, Shewen reminds his readers of Isaiah’s discernment in proclaiming “hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people whose heart is my law.” (Isaiah 51:7) Yes, God does not stop instructing His people, provided that they listen and obey. Of course, the author elaborates on the scriptural passages from the New Testament that emphasize Christ communicating with His people in the love that overcomes the spirit of arrogance. Naturally the author avails himself of the opportunity of identifying himself with excerpts from the writings of Paul and John, his letters to delineate our dependence on Jesus. His last two citations are important for us who are discovering and adhering to the Son of Man. 1 John 4,16 "And we have known, and believed that love that God hath to us God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” And 1 John 5:20 teaches “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding that we know him that is true; and we art in him that is true, especially in His Son Jesus Christ. This is true God, and eternal life.” Equally consistent in the author’s elaborations is his inward knowledge that Jesus does not communicate with His flock only in periods of community worship but at other times as well, that is if we are opening our hearts to His endearing love. Shewen does not deny that Jesus requires us as a community to seek His guidance but emphasizes that Jesus is present and available to His people. May I recommend and applaud this power of William Shewen who speaks to us today.
Arthur Berk |