Philippians 2:5
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
Colossians 1:9-10
9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
I'm having an interesting reading schedule these days. I continue to read through John Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian Religion"; and at the same time I'm enjoying the posthumous publishing of Dallas Willard's "The Allure of Gentleness - Defending the Faith in the Manner of Jesus".
I've come to Book 2 in Calvin's great work where he deals with the most fundamental of human issues - the innate sinfulness, or original sin - that defines our condition before God.
Here's a summary of Calvin's thoughts:
"We must, therefore, hold it for certain, that, in regard to human nature, Adam was not merely a progenitor, but, as it were, a root, and that, accordingly, by his corruption, the whole human race was deservedly vitiated (corrupt). This is plain from the contrast which the Apostle draws between Adam and Christ, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned; even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord,” (Rom. 5:19–21)...
and then later adds, "Original sin, then, may be defined a hereditary corruption and depravity of our nature, extending to all the parts of the soul, which first makes us obnoxious to the wrath of God, and then produces in us works which in Scripture are termed works of the flesh."
For some, the idea of original sin is the stuff of theologians; but they would be wrong. Calvin reminds us that everyone - ourselves included - are in the words of Paul, "dead in our trespasses and sins". There is an incapability on any human's part to understand who God is, what God has done, and what we are asked to receive without the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.
When we get to the place where Christ's righteousness is in us we have the opportunity - perhaps even obligation - to let that righteousness works its way into us and take over the way that we think about life in Christ.
Ephesians 4:17-24
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!—
21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,
22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
I think it is rather clear. We, who come from a state of deadness - living apart from God, without hope and the righteousness that we need to stand before God - have been given life through the work of Jesus. His righteousness becomes our righteousness.
NOW...what do we do with this infused righteousness...this new life...this new understanding...and new truths?
It's important to realize that the knowledge of Christ - knowing His mind - is not just a matter of belief, but of learning, growing, thinking, pondering, seeking to follow in his ways.
Dallas Willard makes the point that we want knowledge of Christ's mind, not just beliefs. Knowledge, Dallas says, is "being able to deal with things as they are on an appropriate basis of thought and experience."
We learn about ourselves - our innate selfishness, sinfulness, pride - and we take on the righteous character of Jesus, and we have the ability to learn, grow in learning how to take on the life of Christ as the character of our own life.
How?
This type of knowledge of self and Christ can only happen as we engage our minds on a daily basis through God's word, prayer, and reflection on our own motives, attitudes and behavior. This continuous engagement can yield real knowledge of our own needs for growth and change...or if you will, change and growth.
Philippians 2:5
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
Peace
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
Colossians 1:9-10
9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
I'm having an interesting reading schedule these days. I continue to read through John Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian Religion"; and at the same time I'm enjoying the posthumous publishing of Dallas Willard's "The Allure of Gentleness - Defending the Faith in the Manner of Jesus".
I've come to Book 2 in Calvin's great work where he deals with the most fundamental of human issues - the innate sinfulness, or original sin - that defines our condition before God.
Here's a summary of Calvin's thoughts:
"We must, therefore, hold it for certain, that, in regard to human nature, Adam was not merely a progenitor, but, as it were, a root, and that, accordingly, by his corruption, the whole human race was deservedly vitiated (corrupt). This is plain from the contrast which the Apostle draws between Adam and Christ, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned; even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord,” (Rom. 5:19–21)...
and then later adds, "Original sin, then, may be defined a hereditary corruption and depravity of our nature, extending to all the parts of the soul, which first makes us obnoxious to the wrath of God, and then produces in us works which in Scripture are termed works of the flesh."
For some, the idea of original sin is the stuff of theologians; but they would be wrong. Calvin reminds us that everyone - ourselves included - are in the words of Paul, "dead in our trespasses and sins". There is an incapability on any human's part to understand who God is, what God has done, and what we are asked to receive without the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit.
When we get to the place where Christ's righteousness is in us we have the opportunity - perhaps even obligation - to let that righteousness works its way into us and take over the way that we think about life in Christ.
Ephesians 4:17-24
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.
18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!—
21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus,
22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
I think it is rather clear. We, who come from a state of deadness - living apart from God, without hope and the righteousness that we need to stand before God - have been given life through the work of Jesus. His righteousness becomes our righteousness.
NOW...what do we do with this infused righteousness...this new life...this new understanding...and new truths?
It's important to realize that the knowledge of Christ - knowing His mind - is not just a matter of belief, but of learning, growing, thinking, pondering, seeking to follow in his ways.
Dallas Willard makes the point that we want knowledge of Christ's mind, not just beliefs. Knowledge, Dallas says, is "being able to deal with things as they are on an appropriate basis of thought and experience."
We learn about ourselves - our innate selfishness, sinfulness, pride - and we take on the righteous character of Jesus, and we have the ability to learn, grow in learning how to take on the life of Christ as the character of our own life.
How?
This type of knowledge of self and Christ can only happen as we engage our minds on a daily basis through God's word, prayer, and reflection on our own motives, attitudes and behavior. This continuous engagement can yield real knowledge of our own needs for growth and change...or if you will, change and growth.
Philippians 2:5
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
Peace
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