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Theological Studies: Sin, Evil, Grace, and God's Justice Week Two Core Competency Project Alvin Shaul 11/19/2006 ANALYSIS x identify the major themes or specific line of argument developed by the author; o Kent Brower begins his first article by arguing for a specific mapping of holiness, with appropriate beginnings and conclusions. He does in fact argue against how I structured my own reflections on holiness earlier this week. I began my analysis of Paul�s Roman Road with the fallen state of man as seen in Romans 3:23. However, as this author points out, Paul begins Romans by stating the solution to our plight. Romans 1:16 states that the Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of all who believe. We should, therefore, honor the power of God�s grace in our lives more so than the power does or did have in our lives. o Brower then emphasizes Paul�s insistence, in response to the teaching of Christ, that the Gospel is not only for the Jews, but also for the Gentiles. (Romans 1:17). This is a new covenant through Christ, who is the fulfillment of the law. o Brower concludes his first article by analyzing justice, specifically Roman justice versus God�s justice. Roman justice was harsh and was meant to bring about punishment. It held no place for repentance, regret, or forgiveness. God�s justice, however, is a justice of reconciliation. God�s just response to our sin and iniquities is not to tear us down, but to rebuild us into his own image as we repent and seek his grace. Indeed, I had a classmate in a recent theology class who used for his atonement theory one �reconciliation theory of atonement�. That is, Christ lived so that we might learn how to live, and he died and was raised so that we might be fully reconciled back to God. o Brower�s second article begins by analyzing the origin of sin. First, sin (or evil) did not simply always exist. Rather, sin was manifested out of a perfect creation (Adam, pre-fall) when that creation chose to be disobedient to its Creator. Thus sin, as the delusion of self-sovereignty, is but a rebellion against God in the form of willful disobedience. o Furthermore, sin represents distorted relationship. Clearing in relation to the statement above, this distortion came about because the perfect image in which mankind was created was marred by willful disobedience. Once this realization of disobedience was understood by Adam, his entire life was changed and he now had to always choose between right and wrong. Each time he chose wrong, his continued disobedience only fed his longing for self-sovereignty, continuing to distort his relationship with God. o Sin is impenetrable save the grace of God. It is a disease that rapidly spreads and has overwhelmed the natural law of the world. For before the fall, there was no realization of evil. Good prevailed in all ways because that is what God intended. It was not an eagerness to disobey God that drove Eve to eat of the fruit; it was rather an ignorance and curiosity to eat of something that looked extraordinary to the eyes. It is not until after she (and Adam) eat of the fruit that they become aware of their sin and transgression. Although they may have had some awareness that eating of the tree was something they were not supposed to do, I do not believe they understood the consequences fully. (For example, a mother might tell her child not to touch a stove because it will burn them, but if the child has never been burned, how is he or she to fully understand what it means to be burned?) This is further magnified because it is difficult to judge just how strong Adam and Eve�s moral judgments were, since they had no knowledge of good and evil. Following the fall, there was a realization of right and wrong, good and evil. Now each decision carried with it better understood consequences. As such, with more opportunity to sin, sin increased in the world and has spread uncontrollably throughout our world. o According to Brower in his third article, �justification� as used in Romans by Paul is nearly synonymous with sanctification. Justification has as its purpose the reconciliation of relationship with God. In turn, this reconciliation brings about a great peace in our lives. Brower writes, �This peace, the peace of the new age of reconciliation, remains despite the circumstances of the continuing present age, giving us hope for the future (5:1-5) (RE-MINTING CHRISTIAN HOLINESS Part 22). o Sin has corrupted the law. However, sin cannot corrupt God�s grace. Grace, therefore, unlike the Law, saves us from the tyranny of a life of sin. o �Paul�s point is clear. If we are really in Christ � and we are � then we have died to sin because our old way of living has ended with Christ�s death, and our new way of living is one which is free from the tyranny of the old life. In 2 Cor. 5:17 Paul calls this existence �the new creation.� The life of holiness is the inevitable corollary of the new covenant relationship with the holy God� (RE-MINTING CHRISTIAN HOLINESS Part 22). o We are a new creation in Christ. Having been saved through his atoning act, we now are no longer slaves to sin, but should offer our bodies whole-heartedly to our new Master, that is, Christ. Furthermore, while sin might be defeated in our lives, it�s presence lingers, waiting for re-entrance. We must continually reapply ourselves in Christ. o Holiness represents a new way of life. We have become �slaves to righteousness.� Our focus changes from the sinful things of the world to the righteous things of the Spirit. o We remain living in a fallen world and must daily battle the forces of evil which seek to separate us from holiness of heart and mind. o We do, however, live in the new age of the Spirit as well. The Spirit is always present to guide us to love and to choose not to sin. x what specific new insights have you gained from this article; o As stated above, God�s saving grace is much to powerful and amazing to let the corruption of sin, both past and present, tear me down. In basic terms, I should be optimistically faithful, not pessimistically regretful. o I greatly appreciated Brower�s section of God�s justice. I have grown up hearing and knowing that God is a just God, but have never really understood what that justice entailed (See below, agree/disagree). o The theme of �not overcoming sin on our own� is common in churches today, but it is more commonly misguided. For much of the emphasis in this thinking is placed upon our own weaknesses. But as weak as we may be, it is not weakness, but God�s strength in grace that deserves attention and to be sought after. x what do you agree and/or disagree with o On God�s justice: I do agree with Brower that God�s justice is one of reconciliation. God judges our hearts here and now so as to convict us and bring us back into holy relationship with himself. My eeriness with this idea comes in thinking about OT stories. God�s judgment and wrath seem prevalent in the OT, often times including death and war. I think for Brower�s idea of reconciling justice to work here, we have to look at the bigger picture, that is, the nation of Israel. God worked throughout history to reconcile the whole of His people back to himself. x what does this article contribute to our understanding of biblical holiness; o Holiness is first and foremost implemented by God when we willfully choose to be obedient to Him. Holiness in achieved chiefly through love for God and neighbor. God�s justice brings about reconciliation, not punishment. The Law, though holy at its moment of creation, became tainted by sin, thereby requiring a holy Sacrifice by which we might be saved. x Pastorally, what are the spiritual lessons to be drawn from this article that might be communicated to others and how would you do this (give an example or two; be specific). o We don�t have to be afraid of God�s justice. Many people are driven away from God because, in their deepest of hearts, are afraid that if He is indeed real, then his judgment will be too harsh for them. However, we have in Christ an Agent of reconciliation which longs to restore holy relationship with the Father. This is a truth which needs to be greatly emphasized. I think it would be easy to give biblical examples of how God used those with the ugliest of histories to change history itself for his kingdom (e.g. Saul/Paul). SPIRITUAL FORMATION EXERCISE Holy God, I confess to you that I am not living a life that is holy as it should be. Although I know your power and love in my life, I sometimes lose sight of it in the midst of the world�s many distractions. I pray that you would give me strength, and that I might seek it, to overcome the decadent desires of my own heart and replace them with the holy desires of Yours. Give me new hope in times of despair as I offer up to you increased faith. I confess my weaknesses and absorb your strength. Holy God, I covenant with you to live a life worthy of the calling I have received. You are my strength and my shield, and onto my frame I place your impenetrable armor of righteousness. Lead me to new hope each and every day as I look for ways to love in your Name. SUMMARY AND APPLICATION This week�s reading has been a great reminder that my own inadequacies are no match for the holiness of Christ. For I believe they will dissolve at the very sight of God�s forgiveness and reconciling love in my life. I think I�ve shown pretty well already in this paper how God�s power applies in my life, but let me conclude with this: There was a day that I ate the entire fruit from the forbidden tree. There have been many days since that day that my appetite has weakened. There is a day coming soon in which I will eat no more, fasting on the all-sustaining grace of my Holy God who sets me free to fly. Word Count: 1,736 |