Posted on 03/30/2002 7:53:37 PM PST by malakhi
| Statesmen may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue. - John Adams |
Looks to me like the writer (Paul) is saying that, in regard to one's salvation, ... God has begun a good work in you that HE will complete until the day of Jesus Christ. In other words, we don't have to worry about finishing this work, for God has said that He will.
Whew. I guess I'll just stay in bed then. God will take care of everything.
Actually, God will take care of the issue of your salvation.
What you do with your salvation, on the other hand, ... is up to you.
Per Paul ...1 Corinthians 3:10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.Let me go on to say that, ... that God has ordained works for us to perform as saved individuals (Ephesians 2:10), and, we, surely should perform this will of God.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
But if we don't, God will do it for us and we'll still slide into Heaven. What a philosophy.
Not a philosophy ... scripture.
You could say the same for Jesus's "once for all time" atoning sacrifice. Still, the church teaches that the re-presentation of this sacrifice in the eucharist is not a "sacrificing again", but instead is a "making present" of the "once for all time" sacrifice.
I'm not sure we're connecting here. I'll try again.
Christ was sacrificed once. In history. To us, here, it is a done deal.
On the other hand, God uses the grace from the sacrifice to affect our lives constantly. The crucifixion happened once, but we can access its merits anytime through the Eucharist.
Likewise, the forgiveness available becasue of Jesus is available constantly. The forgiveness, too, comes from the Crucifixion. It is an effect, the Crufixion is the cause.
The first time I am forgiven sins by God is an effect of the Crucifixion. So is the 2nd, 3rd, and 654th time. They look back to the Cross, as the casue of the forgiveness.
The first time I was forgiven, then, is not an event from which to draw future forgiveness. The Cross is where to draw future forgiveness from.
When I take communion, I am not celebrating my First Communion again. I am celebrating the Event, the Crucifixion.
The pattern is that somethign happened once. But God makes the effects of that Event available to us at all times. I don't reach back to a previous incident of accessing the Event, I reach back to the Event itself.
SD
I know my master voice!
I know when I feel seperated from the Lord and when I am in his presents.
John 14:
27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
2 Thes. 3:
16 Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.
So could knowing that your sins are already atoned for.
My sins are not "already" forgiven. That's my point. The atonement was made, but it is not applied to me until I repent and ask for forgiveness. There is no "already."
That's my point. I don't think it is possible to truly "repent" and to desire wholeness and forgiveness for somethign we have not done yet. It defies experience.
Certainly God didn't give the Israelites a one-shot forgiveness for all sins past and future. Every year they need to examine themselves and desire forgiveness for what they have done.
SD
Becky
And you come up with ideas and talk about using super propane torches to burn people. That makes you, so much better, right?
Meaning that even God could not save them, or that they refuse to be saved?
Yep, right on target!
How was it shown?
18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
Obedience.
If I haven't even done the sin yet, there is no way I can atone for it.
We don't atone for our sins ... God does.
And aren't you (and me) the ones who're always saying that God exists outside of time ?
Knowing that I was "already forgiven" I might be tempted to go ahead and sin ...
... unless you are really "for God", ... rather than "anti God".
I guess you're back at work, A_Thinker:)
Yep!
v.12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearsest God, seeing hou hast not withheld ty son, thine only son from me.
Becky
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