tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30006406.post2471983003578882092..comments2024-03-28T13:07:51.025-07:00Comments on Winging It: Acquiring FaithStanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04523232247971115247noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30006406.post-53161235841302507412012-09-14T12:34:02.993-07:002012-09-14T12:34:02.993-07:00Stan,
Another great topic and good insight. It h...Stan,<br /><br />Another great topic and good insight. It has been such a release of bondage for me personally to really spend time coming to grips with really accepting through study that God is Sovereign. That probably sounds basic but what I have noticed is that although many of us claim to put our faith in God we behave as if we are functional atheists. We are still trying to work things out and make things like faith, salvation, atonement, redemption happen through our efforts. These works-based approaches are not the Gospel message. Gift is the operative word, I believe, that illuminates. Such things are given by God - He shines the light of Truth in our hearts - He does the atoning work - He redeems His people - He makes that which is unrighteous to be seen as righteous - He makes that which was dead to be alive - HE, HE, HE not ME, ME, ME.<br /><br />On a somewhat related note, my wife and I had my daughter at the hospital this morning and she read aloud a description of narcissistic characteristics in people. I don't remeber the exact wording but the three in paraphrase were 1) grandiosity, (2) unwillingness to admit fault, and (3) expectation of exultation of status in society. My comment to her was "that describes every person in the United States."<br /><br />Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of receiving the gift of faith is humility. I don't see how it is possible to really understand even a glimpse of the Truth of the Gospel and allow for boasting, or any semblence of self-aggrandisement. Lord, help us to think afresh daily the serious, obvious and disturbing truth of the accuracy of the Romans 3 description of our hearts - "no one righteous" and "desperately wicked." If the recogintion of that state doesn't first drive us to our knees (face in hands in sincere repentance) and then cause us to rise with utmost confidence because of the unshakable power of the Holy Spirit working in us knowing that God is faithful and has given us this gift such that we can have the opportunity to live in accordance with the purpose for which we have been created; then there may be some good grounds to really question the label "Christian" we assign to ourselves possibly a touch too quickly.<br /><br />Thanks again for the reminder and challenge.Jeremy D. Troxlerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13795574301560174212noreply@blogger.com