Ephesians
written at Thursday, April 29, 2010
For three chapters, Paul has been unfolding for his readers the eternal purpose of God being worked out in history. Through Jesus Christ, who died for sinners and was raised from death, God is creating something entirely new, not just a new life for individuals for a new society. Paul sees an alienated humanity being reconciled, a fractured humanity being united, even a new humanity being created. It is a magnificent vision.
Now the apostle moves on from the new society to the new standards which are expected of it. So he turns from exposition to exhortation, from what God has done (in the indicative) to what we must be and do (in the imperative), from doctrine to duty, ‘from the credenda … to the agenda’, from mind-stretching theology to its down-to-earth, concrete implications in everyday living.
I love the way Stott interprets the Ephesians text, we went through it during the discussion preparation today, I realised the importance of having a balance in the Christian faith. Balance, something which has been ringing in my mind lately. I think it is unhealthy to be veering towards any of the areas that Stott has mentioned and leaving the others out.
Ephesians
written at Thursday, April 29, 2010
For three chapters, Paul has been unfolding for his readers the eternal purpose of God being worked out in history. Through Jesus Christ, who died for sinners and was raised from death, God is creating something entirely new, not just a new life for individuals for a new society. Paul sees an alienated humanity being reconciled, a fractured humanity being united, even a new humanity being created. It is a magnificent vision.
Now the apostle moves on from the new society to the new standards which are expected of it. So he turns from exposition to exhortation, from what God has done (in the indicative) to what we must be and do (in the imperative), from doctrine to duty, ‘from the credenda … to the agenda’, from mind-stretching theology to its down-to-earth, concrete implications in everyday living.
I love the way Stott interprets the Ephesians text, we went through it during the discussion preparation today, I realised the importance of having a balance in the Christian faith. Balance, something which has been ringing in my mind lately. I think it is unhealthy to be veering towards any of the areas that Stott has mentioned and leaving the others out.
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Knowing
What matters supremely, therefore, is not
in the last analysis, the fact that I know God,
but the larger fact which underlies it --
the fact that He knows me.
J. I. Packer
