It's another difference in emphasis , I guess. I'm not in the confessional, in the pew, before the Sacrament, saying my prayers, studying my Bible, writing checks to charities, restraining myself from reaching right down through the phone wires and strangling the solicitation-caller or (in the real world) being nice to him before I hang up in order, or WHATEVER in order to be saved or to skew the odds or because I'm worried about being saved, or because being saved, as such, is in my mind at all.
I also don't praise the sunset or the emerald spring grass to get on God's good side.
If I have a moment of doubt or a temptation, and as soon as I'm aware of it, I cross myself and mutter "In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." This is Catholic-speak for,"Take over, God, you have the conn."
Maybe, in terms of objective, so to speak, theology, I am just assuming that I am "saved". But, suppose I get angry and misbehave somehow. As soon as I "notice" I tell God that I know I did it and I'm sorry and ask for help to avoid messing up like that again AND I talk about it the next time I make a private confession. I just don't "worry" about being saved.
Okay: here's an image: Life is a war. I'm like a colonel. I'm doing my best to win and I'm doing my best with my troops. Sometimes I make a heck of a misjudgment -- could be for any number of reasons. That's terrible. Good soldiers died, and it's my fault -- terrible! MY failure led to horrible outcomes. BUT the war is not over. I have to take seriously how severe the mistake was, I have to understand it and to learn what I can to keep from doing it again. But I don't have time to indulge in a severe case of the dithers, to wring my hands, to get into a funk about whether this will cost us the war. It would be an even greater failure if I did do those things. So, instead, I turn back to the battle, resolved to do better next time.
I try, in the paradoxical way of working with Him who works in me both to will and to do, to hold up my end of the relationship -- which mostly means begin grateful for it.
It's the whole "hag-ridden" think again. Evidently some are hag-ridden and draw no comfort from their relationship with God. So far, since I "got" in 1971 that it was for me that He died, it has not been that way at all for me.
But that is not what the Scriptures say. Men feel a lot better and think more clearly if and when they actually read the words of God. By knowing the truth, the truth itself sustains us, as God intends.
"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." -- Philippians 2:13
... I'm not in the confessional, in the pew, before the Sacrament, saying my prayers, studying my Bible, writing checks to charities, restraining myself from reaching right down through the phone wires and strangling the solicitation-caller or (in the real world) being nice to him before I hang up in order, or WHATEVER in order to be saved or to skew the odds or because I'm worried about being saved, or because being saved, as such, is in my mind at all.
I know. :) I was just referring to what the works-based salvation model implies as I interpret its description to me. Your saying that you do good works because of your love for God rather than to rack up points does not give me pause or cause for disbelief. To change the subject I wish my side could get some similar consideration from the Apostolics. Not YOU mind you, you are not in the group I am talking about. It's just that I have been told many times, in essence, that Reformers don't do good works "on purpose" because we don't "need" to given our belief in Jesus' work on the cross. But, I digress.... :)
If I have a moment of doubt or a temptation, and as soon as I'm aware of it, I cross myself and mutter "In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." This is Catholic-speak for,"Take over, God, you have the conn."
From your lips to God's ears. Going directly to God is the way it should be done. We know for certain that He hears all of our Godly prayers.
BTW, are you a Navy man? If so, then thank you so much for your service. (I'm just a Star Trek freak, so I knew to ask from your comment. :)
Maybe, in terms of objective, so to speak, theology, I am just assuming that I am "saved". But, suppose I get angry and misbehave somehow. As soon as I "notice" I tell God that I know I did it and I'm sorry and ask for help to avoid messing up like that again AND I talk about it the next time I make a private confession. I just don't "worry" about being saved.
That's perfect. Even if we know we are saved, that doesn't mean we should not seek forgiveness of sins as believers. Heart-felt confession with the knowledge of God's promised forgiveness sanctifies us to His glory.
I try, in the paradoxical way of working with Him who works in me both to will and to do, to hold up my end of the relationship -- which mostly means being grateful for it. It's the whole "hag-ridden" thing again. Evidently some are hag-ridden and draw no comfort from their relationship with God. So far, since I "got" in 1971 that it was for me that He died, it has not been that way at all for me.
AMEN, MD, AMEN. :)