*Gospel-driven Disciples

"God is not the God of the dead

but of the living; for all live to Him."

Luke 20:38

The emanation or communication of the divine fullness, consisting in the knowledge of God, love to him, and joy in  him, has relation indeed both to God and the creature: but it has relation to God as its fountain, as the thing communicated is something of its internal fullness. The water in the stream is something of the fountain; and the beams of sun are something of the sun. and again, they have relation to God as their object; for the knowledge communicated is the knowledge of God; and the love communicated is the love God; and the the happiness communicated, is joy in God. In the creature's knowing, esteeming, loving, rejoicing in, and praising God, the glory of God is both exhibited and acknowledged, his fullness is received and returned. Here is both an emanation and remanation. The refulgence shines upon and into the creature, and is reflected back to the luminary. The beams of glory come from God, are something of God and refunded and returned to their original. So the the whole is of God, and in God, and to God; and his the beginning, and the middle, and the end.

Jonathan Edwards

The End for Which God Created The World