One thing I have observed about us human beings is that we always want to have ourselves painted in the best possible light. Even when we may point out our shortcomings, sins, and failings, we do so in a way, quite often, that seeks to show why we couldn't have done it any other way, or even, to make ourselves look better because we're the one who is asking forgiveness, and not the other person. I've seen this play out in little personal conflicts between people all the way up to how a couple interacts prior to something as devastating as a divorce.
For a moment, I'd like to ask you to read Ephesians 1:1-14. There is one thing in there that St. Paul writes that kind of bugs me as I read this short section. He says that God chose us, that we should be holy and blameless before Him (Him being God). Now, I think this warrants a little attention, as this can easily lead us to misunderstand exactly what Paul is writing here.
There are generally two prevailing truths that fall upon us as we consider God's words and commands concerning our behavior and life. In Jesus, God has fully and completely made us perfect and sinless in His eyes. When God sees us, He sees the blood-washing of Jesus on us, and since Jesus is perfect and sinless, that's what God sees.
At the same time, God also sees the reality that exists for us as we still inhabit the body with the sinful nature attached. That body of sin doesn't line up with God's will and design and commands. So, when Paul writes something like, be holy and blameless, it serves as a reminder to us in two ways.
First, we are perfect and right in God's eyes because of Jesus. In our lives, though, the struggle with sin keeps us from being such. That is why the life of the Christian is one in which we struggle to live up to God's standards and will and design and commands. We do indeed aim to live perfect and holy lives, realizing that we cannot perfectly do it, and falling on the grace of God in Jesus because of that. But that doesn't diminish our striving to do what God says, to live according to His will and design.
It is only by God's gracious, unmerited love that we are perfect and holy and blameless in His eyes. Because that is how God sees us, that's also what we want others to see in us. We want others to see God's work and grace in us, and so we do try to live according to His will and design. That also means asking for forgiveness when we fail, and seeking to amend our sinful ways. It means that we really do take seriously what God says in His will and design for our lives, and working to bring our lives in alignment with that. We cannot do it perfectly, but our resting place is that Jesus has done it for us. We're forgiven, even as we strive to live according to God's will and design.
So, in answer to our question, we can all raise our hands, because Jesus has made us perfect, and we can all keep our hands down, because none of us live according to God's will perfectly. But may we strive, in our Christian lives, to be in line with God, and always be rejoicing that God has taken care of that which we cannot do, in Jesus.
For a moment, I'd like to ask you to read Ephesians 1:1-14. There is one thing in there that St. Paul writes that kind of bugs me as I read this short section. He says that God chose us, that we should be holy and blameless before Him (Him being God). Now, I think this warrants a little attention, as this can easily lead us to misunderstand exactly what Paul is writing here.
There are generally two prevailing truths that fall upon us as we consider God's words and commands concerning our behavior and life. In Jesus, God has fully and completely made us perfect and sinless in His eyes. When God sees us, He sees the blood-washing of Jesus on us, and since Jesus is perfect and sinless, that's what God sees.
At the same time, God also sees the reality that exists for us as we still inhabit the body with the sinful nature attached. That body of sin doesn't line up with God's will and design and commands. So, when Paul writes something like, be holy and blameless, it serves as a reminder to us in two ways.
First, we are perfect and right in God's eyes because of Jesus. In our lives, though, the struggle with sin keeps us from being such. That is why the life of the Christian is one in which we struggle to live up to God's standards and will and design and commands. We do indeed aim to live perfect and holy lives, realizing that we cannot perfectly do it, and falling on the grace of God in Jesus because of that. But that doesn't diminish our striving to do what God says, to live according to His will and design.
It is only by God's gracious, unmerited love that we are perfect and holy and blameless in His eyes. Because that is how God sees us, that's also what we want others to see in us. We want others to see God's work and grace in us, and so we do try to live according to His will and design. That also means asking for forgiveness when we fail, and seeking to amend our sinful ways. It means that we really do take seriously what God says in His will and design for our lives, and working to bring our lives in alignment with that. We cannot do it perfectly, but our resting place is that Jesus has done it for us. We're forgiven, even as we strive to live according to God's will and design.
So, in answer to our question, we can all raise our hands, because Jesus has made us perfect, and we can all keep our hands down, because none of us live according to God's will perfectly. But may we strive, in our Christian lives, to be in line with God, and always be rejoicing that God has taken care of that which we cannot do, in Jesus.
I believe we are predestined due to Jesus Christ. What about our ancestors who lived before the time of Christ. In those days GOD chose the Jewish people as His own. What about the Europeans (Germans, English, etc.) (Gentiles)?
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