just going to respond on a few points.
The value of doing the right thing is its immediate benefits to our life, especially our ability to experience everything God has for us right now rather than waiting until heaven. Not only that but there is a greater reward for us in eternity if we start cooperating with God now, because God put us here for a reason.
I would say it's more than a rope, it is an exploration of the strength and grace of god to make perfection in our weakness, as well as the extent of God's love and mercy and our need for it, which helps us to exercise the same toward others. Some times I think it holds onto us more than we hold onto it.
Going from your phrasing of these positions, I think Paul is right that the faith must be kept, but that it is not all up to us to keep it, but it is upheld through our relationship with God.
And I think the Calvinist position is correct that God's grace and mercy is that rich, that it handles every possibility for the sake of the willing heart; however for us to experience that richness, our hearts will have to grow in openness and willingness toward God.
Not really, because the faith causes a change, even if it's not easily seen. It's true some people may not bear much fruit after initially accepting Christ, and in heaven they may not have as much to show for it as someone who bore more fruit. They will be around the most incredible individuals to have existed (the trinity) and wish they had more to offer them from the testimony of their lives. But they will still be there, and we should all be glad God is merciful enough to wipe the slate clean like that.
I believe Jesus' position is deeper than that.
Behavior works together with identity and perspective. And relationship empowers them all, and is in turn strengthened by them. To love someone is to become so close and intertwined that you share an identity or a status with them. For instance Jesus considers us family. From this perspective of us, Jesus pours out the love of the Father and unites us with them. This revolutionizes our identity so that we can return love. As that love flows back and forth between us we are moved to act on it and express it by doing things that are wise and right for the relationship. This means cooperating with God's lordship and kingdom purposes so that we can rest to the fullest extent in the friendship and love. What is built up in us by this shared experience, holds the power to change our lives. Our hearts become reservoirs for the power of that love between us. I believe that is where holiness comes from.
So yes, choices are involved, our choices, God's choices, but I think there's more than that.
The question then becomes morality, of what value is it and how are we righteous or in fellowship with God in our walk?
It appears our behaviour is not deemed as righteousness or acceptable, but our faith in Christ.
We are in the process of sanctification, changing from the inheritence of sinful behaviour, a distorted body and often natural impulses, into a child of God. Our failures are very real, but the rope that holds us tight is the faith we hold on to.
We are in the process of sanctification, changing from the inheritence of sinful behaviour, a distorted body and often natural impulses, into a child of God. Our failures are very real, but the rope that holds us tight is the faith we hold on to.
Now Calvanism resolves this issue with saying you are saved through accepting Christ which means from then on all your future sins are forgiven, you have the righteousness of Christ and so are perfect forever in Gods eyes. Even if you loose faith you are still saved. So the focus is on this declaration of faith and nothing more.
Paul would say rather keeping faith is what matters above all.
Paul would say rather keeping faith is what matters above all.
And I think the Calvinist position is correct that God's grace and mercy is that rich, that it handles every possibility for the sake of the willing heart; however for us to experience that richness, our hearts will have to grow in openness and willingness toward God.
If one accepts Jesus's righteousness is given as a gift to us, then it does not matter what we do. If you hold that once you have faith you are counted as perfect before God, then you can enter heaven with no change.
Jesus believed in changed behaviour because of choice.
Now if Jesus is into this I am into this because I follow Jesus. Jesus did not say I will change you being so will just do these things automatically by some mystical intervention. He said because you love me, you will do these things and I will love you too.
Now if Jesus is into this I am into this because I follow Jesus. Jesus did not say I will change you being so will just do these things automatically by some mystical intervention. He said because you love me, you will do these things and I will love you too.
Behavior works together with identity and perspective. And relationship empowers them all, and is in turn strengthened by them. To love someone is to become so close and intertwined that you share an identity or a status with them. For instance Jesus considers us family. From this perspective of us, Jesus pours out the love of the Father and unites us with them. This revolutionizes our identity so that we can return love. As that love flows back and forth between us we are moved to act on it and express it by doing things that are wise and right for the relationship. This means cooperating with God's lordship and kingdom purposes so that we can rest to the fullest extent in the friendship and love. What is built up in us by this shared experience, holds the power to change our lives. Our hearts become reservoirs for the power of that love between us. I believe that is where holiness comes from.
So yes, choices are involved, our choices, God's choices, but I think there's more than that.
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