Four cardinal virtues that constitute our original nature:
- Reverence for all life. Unconditional love and respect for ourselves and other beings. We want people to be who they are instead of what they are not. We admire nature and mother nature.
- Natural sincerity. Honesty in our daily lives. Letting others know you without your fear of how you will be perceived. As Dr. Seuss says, "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind."
- Gentleness. Kindness and consideration for others.
- Support. Service to others without expectation of reward or even a thank you.
Hmm, call me going against the grain here, but I'd say that isnt what our nature is like. Possibly our nature before the fall, but living after the fall Saul of Tarsis (Paul) makes a very good point about the idea of justification and the reasoning for why we do what we do in the book of romans.
ReplyDeleteThe book of romans could be considered the suma theologica before the one by Tomas Aquinas was written (of course being form the bible I'd take it over Tomas's version).
The start of the book defines the nature of all human beings. Sin nature. All of us are depraved, all of us are capable of murder, rape, adultery, lieing, stealing, etc, etc. The line that separates the best of us from the worst of us is a very thin one indeed. And in God's eyes, is irrelevant. The punishment for all of them is equal. Accepting that you're broken is the first step in being fixed. As Christ states He is the completion of the law, and the purpose of the law is DEATH. The law is so demanding that EVERYONE falls short, therefore EVERYONE deserves death.
This is the part of the message that everyone seems to get stuck on. So many people get angry and call it unfair and ignorant. But they forget that all the law is doing is identifying the problem. You have to see and accept the problem before you can solve it. That is the purpose of the law. Many street preachers only preach the law, which is the same as only preaching death... no wonder so many people get so mad. But it is a necessary step, we just have to remember to preach the 2nd half.
Christ is the completion of the law. Without Him the law is DEATH. But he COMPLETED the law through GRACE. The purpose of the law is to show you that you CANT do it your self, that you are broken, and deserve eternal separation from God for what you've done. But by dieing in your place, sinless, without having broken the law, taking what you deserve though He didnt deserve it, Christ completed the law. Christ brings the life that the law shows you you dont have.
Now THAT is unfair. You have a price to pay, yet you got away scott free. The very nature of grace is UNFAIR. People always ask for fairness thinking the law is unfair, but asking for fairness is asking to be judged by the law rather than by Christ.. HOW FOOLISH!!!! Do people really think them selves so arrogant as to dictate what is fair in this case? I'm sorry, but I'll take unfair grace over fair ANY DAY!
Look at romans chapter 5: (continued below)
1(A)Therefore, having been justified by faith, (B)we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
ReplyDelete2through whom also we have (C)obtained our introduction by faith into this grace (D)in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.
3(E)And not only this, but we also (F)exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about (G)perseverance;
4and (H)perseverance, (I)proven character; and proven character, hope;
5and hope (J)does not disappoint, because the love of God has been (K)poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6For while we were still (L)helpless, (M)at the right time (N)Christ died for the ungodly.
7For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
8But God (O)demonstrates (P)His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, (Q)Christ died for us.
9Much more then, having now been justified (R)by His blood, we shall be saved (S)from the wrath of God through Him.
10For if while we were (T)enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved (U)by His life.
11(V)And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received (W)the reconciliation.
12Therefore, just as through (X)one man sin entered into the world, and (Y)death through sin, and (Z)so death spread to all men, because all sinned--
13for until the Law sin was in the world, but (AA)sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned (AB)in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a [a](AC)type of Him who was to come.
15But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of (AD)the one (AE)the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by (AF)the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.
16The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned; for on the one hand (AG)the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.
17For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned (AH)through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will (AI)reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
18So then as through (AJ)one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one (AK)act of righteousness there resulted (AL)justification of life to all men.
19For as through the one man's disobedience (AM)the many (AN)were made sinners, even so through (AO)the obedience of the One (AP)the many will be made righteous.
20(AQ)The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, (AR)grace abounded all the more,
21so that, as (AS)sin reigned in death, even so (AT)grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(continued below)
Look at versus 3-9.... We rejoice in our hardships because they build character and we know that character brings hope because God loves us and we KNOW He is good to His word? WOW.
ReplyDeleteI struggled with that for a long time, but found it to be true. The NATURE of perseverance, the NATURE of GOOD in your life comes ONLY from Gods LOVE. Without it all our work is in vein.
Later paul goes on to explain that the LOGOS (logic, or reason in greek) for why we do good and why we do everything we do is BECAUSE Christ died for us! If He was willing to do that for you (re-read verse 8), then what should you be willing to do for/to all the other people in this world that He loves just as much as you? Even if they have wronged you, even if they hate you, even if everyone thinks your crazy for doing what goes against common sense... You treat them as Christ does because of what He DID FOR you. You are justified, therefore be sanctified. (you are forgiven, therefore work hard to show thanks for something you could never have earned) GRACE!
Remember when I said the only thing that brings value to ANYONE is the fact that God loves them? The above is the exact proof. Basing your value in that is the only thing that will never fail, never fall short, and always bring you back when you go astray.
That is why it is imperative to learn that the nature of all humans is DEATH, the nature of humans is SIN NATURE. Not that people are generally good, but that people are generally bad! Yet despite that God LOVES us, DIED for us, and thus knowing that we are all bad, we can act like Christ in any situation. But to forget that means you no longer NEED Christ, which is an affront to EVERYTHING He did for you!
So again, sorry to go against the grain of the book here, but I just cant think the way Wayne is suggesting here.
I will note however, that the "values" or "virtues" that Wayne is talking about above (the be-attitudes) are a fruit of the spirit. Meaning that when you accept the above, and live to it daily, what will grow out of you is exactly what Wayne is suggesting. Those are good values, and good things to seek and remember. But we must remember that they come out of Grace, not by a selfish attempt to return to an "original nature" that is not possible without grace.
ReplyDeleteSo in the end, the goal is the same, I'm just saying "remember what our real nature is, why we need grace, and that living in grace will get you what Wayne is suggesting, rather than thinking it is the original nature and seeking to achieve it our selves (which WILL result in failure)".
Nice argument. I see what you are saying that we can only achieve this original nature through grace because Jesus died for our sins. Otherwise we cannot. I think Wayne D. strays away from speaking about Jesus, although I have heard him talk about Jesus in a good way.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comments! I enjoyed reading all of them!