On Wed, 6 Apr 2005 23:56:52 EDT [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Et al:
I have been doing a little thinking about various aspects of my counseling ministry in view of the triune considerations. And I see, almost daily, the value of the teaching. In II Cor 5:21, we are told that Christ became sin (assumed all sin) so that in Him, we might become righteous. Righteousness in II Cor is a gift of grace.
I have been doing a little thinking about various aspects of my counseling ministry in view of the triune considerations. And I see, almost daily, the value of the teaching. In II Cor 5:21, we are told that Christ became sin (assumed all sin) so that in Him, we might become righteous. Righteousness in II Cor is a gift of grace.
"That we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" is how the
verse goes JD. It's a process that does not happen by way of the
incarnation JD. In fact this will never happen without our cooperation in the
process of sanctification..
Such a statement parallels with Romans
4 and the claim that His faith (or "faith"
----- let's not argue on this) is exchanged for our
righteousness. The point being that we are made righteous by
Another.
So whose faith did Abraham have that
was counted to Him for righteousness?
In Col 1:17ff, we find
the fact of reconciliation presented and the purpose of this reconciliation put
forth. We have been reconciled so that we might be holy, blameless
and above reproach in His sight. How can young people benefit from
this teaching -- the full presentation; the fact and the
purpose? Think about it: if we do not approach the effort to
holiness with the view in mind of securing our salvation; if we
understand that our salvation is secured by other influences
---- then the purpose of holiness is for our own health, for
our own good. If we are not saved via
holiness, what, then is the benefit? Sanctification and
spiritual maturity. Our youth need to see the blessing of holy pursuits
and the scandal of selfish impatience.
It's much more than a
'scandal' JD. It's a matter of life and/or death although the way you put
it - it is just all layed on us so who would ever guess "It's a
narrow way that only a few are going to find"
When Christian young people deliberately choose to indulge themselves with no concern for others (and that is exactly what they are doing), they make themselves no different in function from those who hate God and give Him no acclaim. THAT is the scandal, as I see it. It is the scandal in my life, for sure. I was quite the sexual activist in my younger days - me a Christian and forever (it seemed) a leader within our youth group and at Christian college.
When Christian young people deliberately choose to indulge themselves with no concern for others (and that is exactly what they are doing), they make themselves no different in function from those who hate God and give Him no acclaim. THAT is the scandal, as I see it. It is the scandal in my life, for sure. I was quite the sexual activist in my younger days - me a Christian and forever (it seemed) a leader within our youth group and at Christian college.
No fear of God is the result of
believing the lie that there is no consequence for
sin.
One day, I asked myself this question: "how in
the hell am I different from the atheists? I mean,
I am doing these things ON PURPOSE, deliberately IGNORING my own
conscience, just because I don't want to wait. I am insulting the very
authority of God, my loving and patient spiritual Father
- will He run out of patience with me? Will he conclude that I am none of His BECAUSE THAT IS THE WAY I AM
LIVING MY LIFE? "
You wouldn't be in line to inherite
the Kingdom - that's for sure. Fornicators don't make it and under the Old
Covenant
presumptuous sinners were cut
off.
Even a loving and patient father wonders these
things when he sees his own destroying their lives and, after all is said and
done, CANNOT STOP THEM. And so Christ stands over the city and
weeps. He CANNOT COMMAND FAITH. Grace is free but not
cheap and we all have to make that concept a truth in our lives.
So what's the concept JD and
what do you tell the ppl you counsel to aid them in becomeing free
from their misery and addictions? judyt
