In Matthew 16:17, Jesus praises Peter for recognizing Him as the Christ, highlighting that this intuitiveness is a divine revelation rather than human deduction. Jonathan Edwards delves into this concept, indicating the integral role of divine illumination in perceiving spiritual truths. He differentiates between natural and spiritual knowledge, maintaining that while humans can learn practical skills, spiritual knowledge—like recognizing Jesus as the Son of God—is a direct gift from God. Also, Edwards clarifies that divine illumination is distinct from natural conviction, imaginative impressions, new doctrinal revelations, or simple religious emotions. It involves a serious sense of the divine excellence of biblical truths, molding the soul’s perception and appreciation of these truths. This spiritual light enables a richer realization and hearty conviction of God's glory, surpassing the limitations of human intellect. Moreover, Edwards disputes that divine illumination is both scriptural and rational, giving believers a unique, direct knowledge of God and Christ. This spiritual sight forms the bedrock of true, saving faith by displaying an immediate, experiential conviction of divine truths. He argues that recognizing the inherent excellence of divine things is reasonable, even though it goes beyond natural reason and applies to the heart directly. Furthermore, the practical connotations of divine illumination for believers are consequential. Edwards points out that this spiritual awareness is accessible to all, regardless of intellectual capacity, and often hidden from the learned. It is vital for true faith and assurance, extending thorough wisdom, joy, transformation, and holiness. This divine light leads to a strong, inherent change, aligning one’s inclinations with heavenly things and promoting a genuine contact with God. To sum up, Edwards reiterates that divine illumination is crucial for a genuine and fruitful Christian life. It is the source of true spiritual knowledge, reconstructing believers' souls and lives in ways that surpass human recognition. This divine light supplies a weighty sense of God's glory, enabling believers to accept gospel truths with honest conviction and joy. This summary is made by Eleven Labs AI audio generated platform: elevenlabs.io/?from=partnerhall9106 Reformed Theologian GPT: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-XXwzX1gnv-reformed-theologian If you want to support this podcast's operational cost, you can do so here: venmo.com/u/edisonwu --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edison-wu/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/edison-wu/support