Spiritual blindness refers to the inability to perceive and understand spiritual truths. This condition is often depicted in Scripture as a barrier to recognizing God's presence and accepting His truth. The removal of spiritual blindness is a transformative process, often illustrated through miraculous healings and divine interventions in the Bible.

Biblical Illustrations of Removal:

1. Healing of the Blind Man (John 9:1-41): One of the most vivid illustrations of the removal of spiritual blindness is found in the account of Jesus healing the man born blind. In John 9:6-7 , Jesus "spit on the ground, made some mud, and applied it to the man’s eyes. Then He told him, 'Go, wash in the Pool of Siloam' (which means Sent). So the man went and washed, and came back seeing." This physical healing serves as a metaphor for spiritual enlightenment. The man’s journey from physical blindness to sight parallels his spiritual journey from ignorance to faith in Jesus as the Messiah.

2. Paul’s Conversion (Acts 9:1-19): The conversion of Saul, later known as Paul, is another powerful example. Saul, a zealous persecutor of Christians, experienced a dramatic encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus. Acts 9:3-4 describes, "As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?'" Blinded by the light, Saul's physical blindness mirrored his spiritual state. After three days, Ananias, a disciple, laid hands on him, and "immediately something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again" (Acts 9:18). This event marked the removal of Saul’s spiritual blindness, leading to his transformation into a devoted apostle of Christ.

3. The Disciples on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35): After Jesus' resurrection, two of His disciples were walking to Emmaus, discussing the recent events. Jesus joined them, but they were kept from recognizing Him. As they walked, Jesus explained the Scriptures concerning Himself. It was not until He broke bread with them that "their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him" (Luke 24:31). This moment illustrates how spiritual blindness can be removed through the revelation of Christ in the Scriptures and the breaking of bread, symbolizing fellowship and communion with Him.

The Role of the Holy Spirit:

The Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in removing spiritual blindness. In 2 Corinthians 3:16-17 , Paul writes, "But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." The Holy Spirit illuminates the truth of the Gospel, enabling individuals to see and understand spiritual realities.

Faith and Understanding:

Faith is essential in the process of removing spiritual blindness. Hebrews 11:1 states, "Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see." Through faith, believers are granted spiritual insight and understanding, allowing them to perceive the truths of God's kingdom.

Prayer and Intercession:

Prayer is a vital tool in seeking the removal of spiritual blindness. In Ephesians 1:17-18 , Paul prays for the believers, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in your knowledge of Him. I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints." Through prayer, believers can seek divine intervention for themselves and others to gain spiritual sight.

These biblical illustrations and principles highlight the transformative power of God in removing spiritual blindness, enabling individuals to see and embrace the truth of the Gospel.John 9:7,11,25
And said to him, Go, wash in the pool of Siloam, (which is by interpretation, Sent.) He went his way therefore, and washed, and came seeing.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Acts 9:18
And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight immediately, and arose, and was baptized.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Revelation 3:18
I counsel you to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that you may be rich; and white raiment, that you may be clothed, and that the shame of your nakedness do not appear; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

C. The Last Stages. Chs. 17:11 to 19:28
... of to-day is more important than the removal of such ... of the helpless man who because
of his blindness was reduced ... one is brought by the lack of spiritual sight ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/c the last stages chs.htm

The Ministry in Galilee --Its Aim and Method
... first three gospels, began with a removal from Nazareth ... the old, but to realize the
spiritual idea for ... local, showing itself in deafness, or blindness, or both ...
/.../rhees/the life of jesus of nazareth/iii the ministry in galileeits.htm

The Land and the People.
... and the stupendous monstrosity of the removal of the ... God, but by unfolding its deepest
spiritual meaning and ... compare him with Christ is sheer blindness or folly ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 17 the land and.htm

The Education of the World.
... truth as they find necessary for their spiritual life; and ... the Hebrews clung to their
law; a blindness, provided for ... There is great value in the removal of many ...
/.../essays and reviews the education of the world/the education of the world.htm

Field Hymns.
... Walford save that in his blindness, besides preaching ... The contrast between the spiritual
and the intellectual ... in Passaic, NJ, until their removal to Pasadena ...
/.../brown/the story of the hymns and tunes/chapter xii field hymns.htm

From the Close of the General Conference of 1836 to the ...
... the time is not distant when the "blindness which has ... the surest means of temporal
and spiritual prosperity ... of them were still suffering from the removal of the ...
/.../chapter 14 from the close.htm

And ii.
... everywhere seeks for such a spiritual ally. ... are conditional, referred, in hypocritical
blindness, to themselves ... ever," are thus beautifully illustrated by Calvin ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/chap i and ii.htm

Period iii. The Dissolution of the Imperial State Church and the ...
... divine operation, brings to the blessed beings superior to us a more bright and
at the same time more spiritual light and ... It is illustrated by the career of St ...
/.../ayer/a source book for ancient church history/period iii the dissolution of.htm

Memoir of John Bunyan
... it a being 'shaken continually by the hot and cold fits of a spiritual ague': 'reveries ...
He had no such magnificent idea as the removal of a mountain, for there ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/memoir of john bunyan.htm

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