Regulars around here
will know that I don't put up many links to other web sites. But this one was just too good to pass up. If this was the only church in town would you show up once a week? And which service you would you pick?
A while back, Mike S. asked a question about Col 1:24. It seems this verse is used by Roman Catholics to defend the re-sacrifice of Christ in the Mass or merely that the atonement is not complete. A very plausible answer to that question first of all is the rule of faith, which is that scripture must be proved by scripture. On that basis alone, we have to conclude that what Paul wrote here cannot possible infer an incomplete atonement.
A second answer for any problems posed by this verse is that Paul was refering to the application of the atonement, not the accomplishment of the atonement. (BTW, a great book on the subject which really opened my eyes to the gospel is "Redemption, Accomplished and Applied" by John Murray). The idea is that the working out of our salvation involves a great deal of trial, tribulation and suffering. In fact, Jesus says that our sufferings (at least those whcih result from persecution) are actually experienced by Jesus directly. Paul knew this because when he was persecuting the church, Jesus asked him why he, Paul, was persecuting him. The church really is the body of Christ.
5 comments:
That's a pretty amazing link. I'll have to share with Brian the concept of venues. Maybe we can get a Sci-Fi worship venue going? Or how about an Early Church venue, where we all wear togas and tunics. Maybe bring in some lions.
Somehow it's hard to picture Jesus line dancing.
What? No Psalms option?
I am going to print it and give it to our pastor tomorrow.
I just read this yesterday and it fits very nicely with both our topics today:
"Although no one would ever admit it, many have attempted to displace the redemptive work of Jesus Christ - wrapping the entire doctrine of redemption in ornate packaging with colorful bows and ribbons in order to make Jesus look as attractive as possible so that He would not be an offense to anyone contemplating religion. However, it does not matter if we dress up Jesus in the most colorful robes of our culture, and it does not matter how we decorate the cross of Christ; it will always be an offense to the umbelieving world. We cannot disguise the cross of Christ, nor can we hide its radiance. For it was upon the cross the Prince of glory died so that we might live, move and have our being coram Deo, before His face and for His glory." "It if finished" by Rev. Buck Parsons, Tabletalk Ligonier Ministries and RC Sproul, September 2005.
...but if Jesus did line dance, I'm sure he'd do it perfectly!
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