Thanks for your response, let me try and clarify. My comment, "...Don't think that because the gift of eternal life is free that it comes without a daily cost to you..." wasn't meant to mean that our suffering brings salvation to our lives. You are quite correct. What I meant was that everyday we choose to submit ourselves to the Lordship of Jesus in our lives. The context to which this was embedded is one that is dealing with finding fulfillment. And the important thing to remember is that God is faithful to provide - despite our sin and rebellion. The cost I am referring to has to deal with the choices we make regarding in what or in whom we seek fulfillment and the cost associated with putting those desires under the captivity of Christ. I also want to emphasize that seeking fulfillment is not sinful in itself. However, seeking fulfillment in Jesus is to be primary. All other fulfillments (careers, spouses, family, knowledge, relationships) are secondary to Him.
Also, I hope that I understood your comment correctly and if I am wrong - sharpen me. Your comment about our sin and God's design; sin was never God's design for changing us into more like Jesus. Paul emphasizes this in Romans 6 - "...as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?" Our sin can and sometimes is used by God for His glory and purpose. And of course God works all things together for good - for His purpose. Maybe I'm just being nit-picky but sin is never God's design in changing us - revealing Himself through Scripture, coupled with our humility and submission and obedience to Jesus' Lordship through the Holy Spirit's power is what changes lives.
ISI
ps. RPGMB stands for Richmond Pacific Grace Mennonite Brethren and the name of the church of which I am privileged to preach in once a month.
2 comments:
I suppose I wasn't very clear. Sin is definitely not God's design for changing us. But our sin, once confessed and covered by the blood of Jesus, amazingly brings Him glory and does affectively change us to be more compassionate - to those who also have sinned as we have - and humble, so that we may not become self righteous (and when we do take out our "I'm better than you" shield, God has a way of reminding us of our sinful nature that we still battle with; and also that we too once walked in darkness).
That's why I love Ephesians 5:13-14! (in the ESV) If the light shines on anything, it becomes light! Only Jesus, only our Heavenly Father can take our filthy lives and do that! Not only does he do that, he uses our big mistakes and big weaknesses to show how He is powerful and mighty to save.
That's what I meant. This does require a heart of submission to Jesus and a deep hearts desire to obey His word and confess when we don't. God does his part, we do ours.
Despite our sin committed and our sin that we will still commit; God is faithful to work it out for our good and for His glory. We have no hope if that's not true.
Oh, and thanks for posting the sermon and for your response to my response... he he.
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