Date: 20 Mar 2000
Time: 20:37:56
With this text I always have a struggle between verse 6-sitting-which implies that we are resting in Christ and verse 10 that we are "Created in Christ Jesus for good works.." Can anyone give me some help here. Joy in IL
Date: 22 Mar 2000
Time: 14:12:25
Could it be that with the death and resurrection of Christ, we have salvation secured, that it is an accomplished act that results in being seated with Christ in glory? The dying thief is promised, "Today, you will be with me..." In glory we "sit" with Christ, even though the tense in past, Paul speaks of a future event. The grammatical term, I think, is prophetic past. Then Paul refocuses the reader on what we are to be here and now, created for good works. Just a thot. Army Chaplain E, Ft Belvoir.
Date: 22 Mar 2000
Time: 21:17:46
In response to Joy's question re: the contrast between v.6 and v.10: Perhaps it is that we are saved by grace, a gift from God that isn't earned (v.8), and in gratitude we respond with good works (v. 10)? MN
Date: 23 Mar 2000
Time: 03:05:15
Perhaps if we go back to the book of Romans and see how Paul explains our death to our sinful nature by ouf faith in Jesus Christ, we can begin to see how all that we now do must be good works for the master. Remember Jesus said we can do nothing without Him!! Therefore, what we do through Him must be good. Also Paul said that " God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose". Romans chapters 7-8 will help you with this. oeh
Date: 25 Mar 2000
Time: 20:55:23
This is the old Grace and Works tension. One is not saved by works, but by Grace which cannot be purchased or won. Such a rich gift to ones so poor causes us to go out and reflect the grace we are given through faith works, acts of love in response to the great love we are given. James 2:14-26 confronts the same issue. The grace of Christ who paid our admission into heaven, seems very pleased when we act like we belong there.
C.D. from Va.
Date: 27 Mar 2000
Time: 11:03:53
Joy I am a very visual person. This is how I see it.I keep seeing Jesus setting at the right hand of God interceding for us. Each day we are here Jesus is being the vine dresser and care taker saying, "Just one more year Father, Just one more year." The grace of God is shown in his love and patients through the gift of the Holy Spirit working in our lives. LPinPA
Date: 27 Mar 2000
Time: 22:13:18
Joy, I have struggled with this question, too, but it helped me not to stop reading at the comma. We are created in Christ Jesus for good works WHICH GOD PREPARED, and likewise in the first part of the verse, WE ARE WHAT HE HAS MADE US. This says to me that it is no longer a matter of me striving and trying to do good on my own, but a matter of me resting in Christ, and letting God work in me and through me. I see it as a matter of trusting that God who changes my heart will also change my life.
sharon
Date: 29 Mar 2000
Time: 01:57:34
Saved By Grace, Through Faith, For Service.
Born of our parents through no work of our own, our relationship grows in appreciation and love as we hear them call us 'Beloved'. We seek to model them and respond to their love with our words and deeds of love,, not to try to make them love us,, but rather, BECAUSE they love us. Their love becomes our motivation for response.
Since God has done it all, we dare not boast, only celebrate the joy of our salvation since God has worked faith in our hearts. Hank in Texas
Date: 29 Mar 2000
Time: 03:41:00
Great comments from all of you. Sharon, that is especially insightful that the works are also done in and thru God rather than us. When you look at it that way, we human beings can do less busy-ness and more of God's business. Joy
Date: 29 Mar 2000
Time: 18:06:03
"Alive together." We can't be Christians alone. While the Lenten season might emphasize personal acts of piety for many people, we still have to keep in mind that we are a community, not an aggregate of individuals.
Jay in Alabama
Date: 30 Mar 2000
Time: 17:13:16
Jay in Alabama... I agree with your comment about the need to be in community, but I think the "together" here refers to Christ...We are alive together/with/alongside (and because of) Christ. Check out a few other translations and see what you think. Again, there's no argument about being created for and called to be in community...I just don't think that's the meaning here. We are to be alive just as Christ is (and because Christ is).
Just my thoughts.
jim in iowa
Date: 31 Mar 2000
Time: 07:13:15
I'm taking a little different approach to this passage. There will still be the elements of grace & faith included, but I'm going to emphasize God's richness in mercy, and title my sermon "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." Any comments about this approach? Ken in WV
Date: 31 Mar 2000
Time: 07:14:05
I'm taking a little different approach to this passage. There will still be the elements of grace & faith included, but I'm going to emphasize God's richness in mercy, and title my sermon "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." Any comments about this approach? Ken in WV
Date: 31 Mar 2000
Time: 15:34:55
I have titled my sermon "Lifestyles of the Rich and Faithful", so I'm taking a similar tact looking at the riches of GOd's mery and the riches of God's grace.
In regard to being "seated" with Christ, the Greek word for "heavenly realms" may refer to the beings or things that pertain to God and dwell with him in heaven, but it may also refer to things that belong there by nature. That then makes sense because the first part of the text shows our nature before Christ and this shows our nature after. The catalyst for change is the riches of God's mercy and grace.
Date: 31 Mar 2000
Time: 15:36:53
Let me add to my comment (and give my name)
I need a rags to riches illustration, do you know any good ones?
Mike in TX
Date: 31 Mar 2000
Time: 22:45:04
To Mike in TX...This may not be the rags to riches story you had in mind, but there is one called "Ragman" where the Christ figure is a ragman going about the inner city trading new rags for old ones. As he takes the old rag from each person, he takes with it the sorrow, or pain, or wounds of that person, leaving in its place a new clean cloth. Don't know where you can find the story on the net because I don't have an author. clw (snowed in) in CO
Date: 01 Apr 2000
Time: 05:51:12
Mike in TX and clw in CO
Ragman is by Walter Wangerin, Jr. from "Ragman and Other Cries of Faith" You can find it at http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/1200/ragmanstory.html (and probably a bunch of other places)
Jim in Iowa
Date: 01 Apr 2000
Time: 18:55:23
Another word on "Ragman" - one of my lectionary friends reads that story every year as part of his Episcopalian Good Friday noontime service. Every Christmas he reads a story by the same author, "The Manger is Empty". Both powerful. kbc in sc