Bible Question (short): Shouldn't we live as Jesus lived? |
Question (full): Hello, Lion: As always, you offer a sound, biblical answer. But I still sense a gap between salvation and glorification (that is, when we finally enter "heaven"). I agree with your point regarding salvation, but I don't think I completely do with regard to sanctification. I agree that God alone is reponsible for anything of value that comes about through what we do, whether its giving a cup of water to a homeless person or presenting the Gospel to a stadium of God's children. But God is clear in His direction that obedience will result in those who love him. And obedience itself seems to be thing we grow into: Heb 5:7 In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Heb 5:8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. Jesus gave us many examples of what it means to live according to His rule, which is what this thread is about. He summarizes the passage about anger, lust and conflict by saying "be perfect." Are these just pretty words, or does he mean "be perfect"? How does one get to be perfect? Should I chop off my hands and gouge out my eyes? (I am being slightly facetious here. You and I both know we could never have these wonderful exchanges if we had no fingers with which to type!) Nevertheless, Jesus taught and lived the kind of life he wishes for us, I believe, which was one of totally competent love and faith based on a dynamic and living relationship with His (and our) Father. Here is an aspect of our faith I'd like you to consider and let me know what you think. We often look at (and rightly so) what Jesus taught, but don't pay much attention to how Jesus lived. I think a careful examination of how Jesus lived as portratyed in the gospels gives us a picture of how we can best learn to be the citizens He calls us to be; ones who can love our enemies, extricate ourselves from dungeons of lust, and move toward the perfection exemplified by our Lord as well as commanded by Him. Now this is not to suggest that the deepening of our trust and dependence on Jesus that may result from our efforts is to our credit. On the contrary, praise God that He condescends to our base level to finish the work He began in us as we grow closer to Him through a life patterned after our Savior, example and forerunner. As we know from experience and His own Word, apart from Him there is no good thing. What do you think, Lion? |