Subject: Finding 'Act as though you have faith' |
Bible Note: "The original point to this thread was that faith is a granting. That you have to do nothing but belive. Jesus went to work. So must we. By your fruits (works) you are known." Yes, by our fruits we are known by MEN to be Christ's disciples: "So then, you will know them by their fruits." --Matthew 7:20 True Christians will work, but we do not become Christians by working or maintain a state of being a Christian by working. "The words of Jesus about the Roman Centurion says much. First you have to have faith in yourself , (that you have seen, heard and understand) what Jesus is saying about the Roman Centurion ( a man of responsibility) are in the words spoken by Jesus." I don't see believing in yourself mentioned at all here. I see a Genile, a Roman centurion, expressing his unworthiness to have Jesus come to his house (an understainding of his own sin) and faith that Jesus can heal the servant. When Jesus offers to go to his house, the centurion demonstrates a God-given, deeper faith by saying that just as he says the word and those subordinates follow his command, so Jesus has authority over the health and sickness of the centurion's servant, even from a great distance. Look at the comparison: The centurion merely gives the order, and it is done; likewise, Jesus just says the word, and it is done. He recognizes the sovereign authority Jesus Christ possesses. "Next Jesus says (in my understanding) that blind belief is not enough. You have to think, look at the proof and then judge if someone or something is good or evil, by their actions." What part of this passage gives you the impression that Jesus is saying that here in Matthew 8:5-13? You wrote: "Seems to me the children Jesus speaks of that are cast into darkness have not thought things out in the search for truth, or upon finding truth have done little to advance the truth. And yet at first they sit down with the families in the Kingdom." What we see in verses 11-12 is a contrast: "I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." The first group Jesus describes are clearly the Gentiles (like the centurion), who will dwell in heaven with the patriarchs. By contrast, the sons of the kingdom most likely refers to the Jews, the physical sons and daughters of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The vast majority of Jews are still going to hell, having rejected their Messiah and dying in their sins. This makes sense both because this is a Gentile expressing such faith and because this statement immediately follows Jesus comment that "I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel." --Joe! |