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This is very good, John. I like it when you think
out loud.
Bill
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Friday, April 01, 2005 2:02
AM
Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] Eph
4:20-24
NKJV "
But you
have not so learned Christ. If indeed you have heard Him and have been
taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus; that you put off concerning your
former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful
lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new
man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and
holiness.
"
Not so
learned Christ: a correction is in the offing and it is
centered in the person of Christ Jesus, Himself. "learned" is an
aorist ind. active -- there's your favorite tense, Billy
T. Their "education" in Christ was fully revealed. They know
the "truth." But they have moved away from same.
Have been taught by Him: aorist pass --
He teaches and we receive. We don't consent; we don't evaluate; we
receive the teaching ------- an action that
reveals a degree of faith, of conviction on our part
...................... so we receive.
As the truth is
in Jesus : "truth" is perceived or realized in
Jesus. It is relational in nature and declares our partnership
with Him. It is not truth as found in a legal statement or an
equation; rather, it is attached to the relationship we have with the
Incarnate God. If truth is so attached (to the relationship we
have with Jesus), it's revelation is an ever increasing one
----- growing as our relationship grows; understanding
more and more.
That you put off .....
the old man which grows corrupt: "to put off" --
to remove as one removes clothing. This is to be done at once
(Barth) because of the growing danger the old man is to our revealed
purpose. This "corrupting" (pres. pass. part.) is something that
happens to us (hence "passive") and is a current and ever present
danger.
Be renewed in the spirit of your
mind: "renewed" reads "make new again" ( pres. pass.
inf.). The renewal is a renewing -- a continuing
event (present tense) done by another (hence "passive). In the
context, the renewing is done by Christ, hence the importance of the
relationship we are having with Him.
Which
was created: (aorist pass) -- "having been
created [by another]." The true man which was created in
righteousness and holiness................................perhaps a call by
Paul for us to cloth ourselves in the holiness and righeousness of the already
created, completed, fully realized New Man ---------
Jesus. do you think ??? Perhaps Paul is not talking about
action, right activity, but of becoming
Him.
I lost my brother, years
ago. Twenty years my senior -- he was like a second
Dad. And the more I was in his presence, the more I became like
him -- the more I wanted to be like him.
I WANTED to be like him because of my association with
him. That, it seems to me, is the benefit of
Community................the exchange of the bad for the good, especially in
the Community of the Divine. Faith unto faith.
It is
clear from this reading, that the conflict of the old and the new
continues. One is decreasing and the other is
increasing. Gal 3:27 could very well be a theme (in
part) passage for this Ephesian text: "know ye not that as
many of you as have been immersed into Christ have put on Christ."
Just thinking out loud.
Jd
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