Upon reading the comments on this article I am still amazed at the amount of backlash against the idea of pleasing God by maintaining good works and obedience. A child obeying or not obeying his parents doesn’t make him any more or less a son or daughter. That relationship never changes despite the child’s disposition. A child obeys his parents first and foremost because it is expected and the correct/moral thing to do, but it is also the highest expression of love for one’s parents.
Likewise, a believer once justified becomes an adopted son and has a lawful right/inheritance to all the priviledges that come with that sonship. That relationship never changes despite our disposition in maintaining obedience. We obey God as His children because it is expected and it is the correct/moral thing to do. Plus, it is commanded in scripture (“keep [observe/remember/guard] my commandments”) But it is also the highest expression of love for our God. In doing so, we are changed more and more into the image of Christ. We look and behave more like Him. We become salt and light in a world of darkness. We become more different from the world. We become more “set-apart”. We become more of a “peculiar people”. This is what brings glory to God!
paulspassingthoughts said, on November 30, 2012 at 9:58 AM
Andy,
Lord willing, I will post the Luther section of chapter 2 today and then you will completely understand where these guys are coming from. “Obedience” is what we do, and therefore part of the “glory story” and not the “cross story.” This is the whole enchilada my friend–the Heidelberg Disputation makes it all clear.
trust4himonly said, on November 30, 2012 at 1:27 PM
Paul what I would like to know is since these guys came out of the Catholic Church and since they were “REFORMERS” meaning they did not come out to be separate, but to reform the church they were in, what are the ties maybe that they were still a part of the Catholic system? I know that Ignatius of Loyola and Calvin both studied at the same Jesuit school and Calvin was an Augustinian supporter- maybe I am trying to be far reaching with this, but the fruit does not fall far from the tree in my opinion and there are a lot of similarities connected to the Catholic Church in the sense that justified work still is a major theme in both beliefs.
paulspassingthoughts said, on November 30, 2012 at 3:29 PM
T4H,
Two different doctrines designed for the same purpose and goal. The Reformers and the Popes had/have the exact same metaphysical world view: Plato’s Republic.
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Upon reading the comments on this article I am still amazed at the amount of backlash against the idea of pleasing God by maintaining good works and obedience. A child obeying or not obeying his parents doesn’t make him any more or less a son or daughter. That relationship never changes despite the child’s disposition. A child obeys his parents first and foremost because it is expected and the correct/moral thing to do, but it is also the highest expression of love for one’s parents.
Likewise, a believer once justified becomes an adopted son and has a lawful right/inheritance to all the priviledges that come with that sonship. That relationship never changes despite our disposition in maintaining obedience. We obey God as His children because it is expected and it is the correct/moral thing to do. Plus, it is commanded in scripture (“keep [observe/remember/guard] my commandments”) But it is also the highest expression of love for our God. In doing so, we are changed more and more into the image of Christ. We look and behave more like Him. We become salt and light in a world of darkness. We become more different from the world. We become more “set-apart”. We become more of a “peculiar people”. This is what brings glory to God!
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Andy,
Lord willing, I will post the Luther section of chapter 2 today and then you will completely understand where these guys are coming from. “Obedience” is what we do, and therefore part of the “glory story” and not the “cross story.” This is the whole enchilada my friend–the Heidelberg Disputation makes it all clear.
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Paul what I would like to know is since these guys came out of the Catholic Church and since they were “REFORMERS” meaning they did not come out to be separate, but to reform the church they were in, what are the ties maybe that they were still a part of the Catholic system? I know that Ignatius of Loyola and Calvin both studied at the same Jesuit school and Calvin was an Augustinian supporter- maybe I am trying to be far reaching with this, but the fruit does not fall far from the tree in my opinion and there are a lot of similarities connected to the Catholic Church in the sense that justified work still is a major theme in both beliefs.
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T4H,
Two different doctrines designed for the same purpose and goal. The Reformers and the Popes had/have the exact same metaphysical world view: Plato’s Republic.
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T4H, People miss the “political” aspect of both doctrines. You cannot separate them.
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