Results 1 - 4 of 4
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Pragmatism is of the World | Job 21:15 | Mommapbs | 129519 | ||
Good day Doc! Please take a look at 2 Tim 4:8 - You wrote: "The reason we submit to Christ as Lord and Savior is not because of any benefit we derive. We submit to Him because He IS Lord and Savior." Recently I was told that believers who live for, look for and long for the appearing of Christ will receive a crown of righteousness as a reward. Those who don't do these things will not receive this crown. Is this principle of "rewards" part of the pragmatism that you are talking about? I am being told that it is for my future benefit IF I serve the Lord now . . . this opens up (for me anyway) the whole "motivation" issue. Flawed beings that we are, how can one possibly submit with pure motives? Grace - it is indeed humbling. Comments? mommapbs |
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2 | Pragmatism is of the World | Job 21:15 | DocTrinsograce | 129569 | ||
Hi, Momma... Good question! Scripture does indeed teach that there are rewards for the believer. We can see this in a variety of places from the teaching of Jesus to the revelation of John. I don't know whether to be more puzzled by man's fascination with this (even Peter asked "What's in it for us?") or God's incredible generosity. I guess I puzzle over both these things for the same reason: What gift could possibly come close at all to the incredible gift of salvation? If superman saved an airplane from crashing, would any of the passengers ask for another bag of peanuts? Would a person given a check from Bill Gates for a billion dollars look to see how many cents were after the decimal point? Do you see what I'm trying to say? When the gift of God is the Person of Christ Himself (Col 1:27), absolutely everything else pales to utter insignificance! Another thought: in my very humble opinion, if we need motivation to follow the Lord, then we do not fully understand the depth of our sinfulness, the price of our sanctification, or the awesome holiness of God. The old Puritans used to pray, "Lord Jesus, give me a deeper repentance, a horror of sin, a dread of its approach. Help me chastely to flee it and jealously to resolve that my heart shall be Thine alone. Give me a deeper trust, that I may lose myself to find myself in Thee, the ground of my rest, the spring of my being. Give me a deeper knowledge of Thyself as saviour, master, lord, and king. Give me deeper power in private prayer, more sweetness in Thy Word, more steadfast grip on its truth. Give me deeper holiness in speech, thought, action, and let me not seek moral virtue apart from Thee. Plough deep in me, great Lord, heavenly husbandman, that my being may be a tilled field, the roots of grace spreading far and wide, until Thou alone art seen in me, Thy beauty golden like summer harvest, Thy fruitfulness as autumn plenty. I have no master but Thee, no law but Thy will, no delight but Thyself, no wealth but that Thou givest, no good but that Thou blessest, no peace but that Thou bestowest. I am nothing but that Thou makest me. I have nothing but that I receive from Thee. I can be nothing but that grace adorns me. Quarry me deep, dear Lord, and then fill me to overflowing with living water." |
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3 | Pragmatism is of the World | Job 21:15 | following him | 129573 | ||
Hello DocTrinsograce; Heb 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. From this verse I would say the God requires us to believe that He will reward us for seeking Him. Please dont take me wrong in what I am going to say. I'm not saying that you don't believe this because from what you write it seems you include all this in the term salvation. But I usually divide salvation like this; God did not give us salvation just so that we could be saved. He saved us for something; a relationship with Him. In my view salvation is just the first step. It refers to delivering us from the bondage of sin and the jugdement that comes with it. Being freed from all that we now have access to have and grow in a living, dynamic, powerful relationship with the living God and Creator of the universe and to be who He created us to be. I am thankful for salvation (getting to heaven you might say) but I want more I want to know my God personally. This is what I would consider those rewards are refering to. Blessing to you Aaron |
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4 | Pragmatism is of the World | Job 21:15 | DocTrinsograce | 129641 | ||
Good points, Aaron. Some of our problems are a matter of nomenclature. God rewards His chosen in incredible ways. Ways that simply boggle the mind. I often think of this verse: Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Just take a moment and think about that one! The rewards will never stop! If you look at some of my other posts, you will see that I frequently talk about the intimacy we enjoy and will have with God. I sure don't understand it, but He wants to have fellowship with us. I don't understand it because it is inconceivable what He might get out of such a deal! But that's the way it is. I agree with what you are saying. God frequently talks about such intimacy... and in both covenants! Jer 24:7 And I will give them an heart to know me, that I am the LORD: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God: for they shall return unto me with their whole heart. Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. |
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