Caroline wrote: > Would it be fair to say that some people on TT feel that > those who speak about love, grace and forgiveness are > not serious about morality and obeying God?
It seems to me that some here who emphasize grace and forgiveness are offended by those of us who hunger and thirst after righteousness. Just the presentation of the idea that Jesus can truly make us holy in word, thought and deed is considered to be blasphemy by some in this forum. Caroline wrote: > Suppose we put that to rest by saying > 1) Loving God with all that we are and loving one another > as ourselves deters us from breaking the 10 commandment > and sin because to sin is to not love God or another person I agree with what you have just written, but this does not put the problem to rest because the minute someone starts to speak definitively about how we do love God and one another, the doubters will start chiming in about how we cannot do so and anyone who thinks they do is self righteous. Some even argue that the tension created between wanting to love and not being able to love is evidence of salvation (Rom. 7) whereas the one who exercises himself to be perfect in love is self deceived. Caroline wrote: > 2) Obedience is part of a relationship with God. > Rebellion, sin, unforgiveness, anger etc. hinders > that relationship. But obedience is not the sum > total of a walk with God. I don't know what you mean by this last sentence, but I'm not sure you are strong enough in your statement here. For example, rebellion and unforgiveness not only hinders that relationship, it destroys it. Those who are rebellious and unforgiving will have no relationship with God. They have nothing good to look forward to, but only eternal damnation at the hands of an angry God. Caroline wrote: > Someone told me that a similar pursuing of holiness and > righteousness will also make a person more loving. > Can someone explain to me how? I'm not sure what you mean by a "similar" pursuing, but Jesus promised that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled. So you have to start with accepting this as true, then you can begin to understand how it works. It seems to me that righteousness is such an elusive thing that unless one does hunger and thirst after it he will not find it or experience it. Peace be with you. David Miller. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
