Walter Lang: 'In Christ the original image of God is restored, by faith in this world and by sight in the world to come.'
In Christ the original image of God is restored, by faith in this world and by sight in the world to come.
In Walter Lang's profound statement, 'In Christ the original image of God is restored, by faith in this world and by sight in the world to come,' we find a thought-provoking perspective on the significance of faith and its impact on our perception of the divine. At a straightforward level, the quote suggests that through our belief in Christ, we are able to regain the likeness of God that was lost due to the fall of humanity. Lang emphasizes that this restoration occurs not only in our present existence but also in the realm of the afterlife. However, to delve deeper into the meaning of this quote, we can introduce an unexpected philosophical concept – the idea of subjective experience shaping one's reality.While the quote by Lang may seem to imply a linear path from faith to sight, there is an underlying philosophical concept that challenges our conventional understanding and invites us to consider multiple layers of perception. Philosophers and scholars throughout history have explored the nature of reality and the extent to which our subjective experiences shape our understanding of the world, often reaching diverse conclusions.In the context of Lang's quote, we can contemplate how faith acts as a lens through which we perceive God's image being restored. As our minds and hearts are aligned with the belief in Christ, our awareness of divine presence deepens, and we begin to see glimpses of the original image of God. This forms the foundation of the restoration process in our current reality – a transformation that occurs through spiritual growth, faith practices, and the pursuit of a Christ-centered life.Interestingly, this restoration does not solely depend on faith alone but can also be observed by sight in the world to come. This notion introduces an intriguing paradox between the subjective experience of faith and the objective reality that lies beyond the realm of our earthly existence. By acknowledging the realm of the afterlife, Lang hints at the possibility that our encounter with God's original image may exceed the boundaries of our current subjective perception.From a philosophical standpoint, this raises intriguing questions about the nature of reality and the limitations of human perception. Can we truly comprehend the restoration of the original image of God without experiencing it firsthand? Might the world to come provide a different vantage point, where our restored perception aligns with an objective reality?These questions challenge us to ponder the interplay between faith and sight, subjective experience and objective truth. While faith helps us restore the divine image within ourselves, it also beckons us towards the unseen realities of the world to come, where our perception may undergo a transformation beyond our current understanding.In conclusion, Lang's quote signifies the profound importance of faith in restoring the original image of God. Beyond its straightforward meaning, this thought-provoking statement opens the door to a fascinating exploration of the interplay between subjective experience and objective reality. By introducing the concept of subjective shaping of reality, we gain a deeper understanding of the transformative power of faith and the potential for our perception to be restored both in the present world and in the world to come. Ultimately, it is through contemplating these philosophical concepts that we can uncover profound truths and broaden our understanding of faith and the divine.