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I like listening to you think out loud. Just keep
it down to a whisper as it's quite early.
----- Original Message -----
Sent: April 06, 2005 23:56
Subject: Re: [TruthTalk] Narrow way not "
loving"?
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. 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. 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.
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. 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? " 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.
Thinking out
loud
Jd
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