|
Post by sarah on Feb 7, 2007 22:00:26 GMT -8
11/05:
"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God" "Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation;the old has gone, the new has come."
"So that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life"
Ok so on the first point I find this absolutely amazing. Talk about grace and a definite example of only possible through God. Which brings me to the next phrase, why can't it be as simple as it is written, it seems too often the old is not gone, but very much present and in no way resembling righteousness.
The final verse is just because I love the thought of death bringing true life, and I think the verbiage is beautiful.
|
|
|
Post by Josh on Feb 7, 2007 22:21:07 GMT -8
11/05:
Often in the doctrinal stress on grace and free salvation we forget that we will face a judgment of our actions (deeds) and will in some way suffer a consequence for all our poor decisions. We need to remember this now. If our motivation not to sin is simply that we don't want to have it broadcast on the day of judgment, that's motivation enough at times.
|
|
|
Post by Josh on Feb 7, 2007 22:22:05 GMT -8
11/05:
Yep, I think Paul must have also sensed the tension between what he's saying and reality, but perhaps it's that tension that moves us forward.
|
|
|
Post by Josh on Feb 7, 2007 22:22:41 GMT -8
11/05:
2 Corinthians 5:16: "From now on we do not know anyone in a purely human way" (or, as stated elsewhere, in my tagline) has been perhaps the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT verse for me in regard to interpersonal ministry. I'll go so far as to say that this idea of seeing each other as much as possible as God sees them is the MAKE IT OR BREAK IT principle in Pastoral ministry, and, more general, in the healthy life of the community of believers. Almost all petty schisms in the Church start with not doing this. Several times God has brought me back to this verse (one time in a miraculous way) to drive this home.
|
|
|
Post by michelle on Feb 7, 2007 22:23:47 GMT -8
11/05:
I think Paul was specifically addressing accountants when he wrote this!!! Thanks, Paul. This is just about the most clear thing that you've written!! 18"All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God."
If you know what the point of a reconciliation is (those of you who balance your checkbook may know) it makes these verses extremely significant. The point of reconciling two things is to make the difference between them be zero. There should be no unknown "outstanding balance" when two things are reconciled. God has gotten rid of oustanding items (through Christ) so that we can have a zero balance (or clean slate). Ooh, I have goosebumps!!
|
|
|
Post by Josh on Feb 7, 2007 22:24:16 GMT -8
11/05:
Wow, you've gone from 'completely uninspired' to 'goosebumps' because of an accounting metaphor. That's hilarious! No, seriously, I can see how it would be a tremendous metaphor to the math-minded. It almost giving me chills thinking about what it would be like to be a math-minded person reading about reconciliation.
Weird.
|
|
|
Post by Josh on Feb 7, 2007 22:25:05 GMT -8
|
|