----- Original Message ----- From: "Ronn!Blankenship" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Killer Bs Discussion" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, August 06, 2004 6:32 AM Subject: Re: [L3 ] Re: Jesus-anity and the status of women
> >I understand that the idea of double predestination has floated around > >Christianity, but its support in scripture is tenuous at best. In a sense, > >faith is a gift; but one that is freely offered to all. Detrich Bonnhoffer > >gave a great statement about receiving this gift: from obedience comes > >faith. In other words, we should not sit back and wait for God to grant us > >faith, we should work on doing God's will, and that will open our hearts up > >for faith. > > > > Agreed. Which leads to the question, "How does one find out what God's > will is for him/herself in order to do it?" Also a secondary question, > "Should one obey God's will in order to obtain faith (or anything else), or > should one obey God's will because doing so is the right thing to do > because He is God? Can we expect the blessings from Him if the only reason > we obey Him is to get Him to give you particular blessings? Or do the > blessings come after we obey Him with no expectation of reward but because > it is the right thing to do? I'd argue that one might consider doing good in order to obtain God's promised blessing is an intermediate point in spiritual growth. Further along the way, one would tend to do what is right because it is right: doing God's will for its own sake. So, as in therapy, the right actions done simply to obtain a reward can be a useful step. It gets one in the habit of righteousness. Behavior does influence outlook. Gradually, as the habit of doing what is right becomes more natural, one grows spiritually...just as healthy habits can help transform feelings. > >Look at Matthew 25 for one discussion on those who really have faith. > > > > Which of the parables there are you specifically referring to? The end time parable; the last one. Dan M. _______________________________________________ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
