That the sharing of your faith may become effective
by the acknowledgment of every good thing
which is in you
in Christ Jesus. Philemon 1:6 NKJV
New creation is not refurbished...it is not a remodel. The foolish notions of people like Calvin that Jesus Christ came to actualize some pre-programmed goodness in semi-divine humans is not what the Bible is talking about when it describes new creation. New creation is done like old creation wherein Jesus (Jesus is God) takes raw material that is in abundance and invests His life and love and joy and strength into it. The reason that it is new is because the raw material is able to say yes to the process and ask for it as a gift. The old dirt out of which Adam was made was not asked or expected to cooperate. The new Adam could have said no to the temporary promise of salvation in the animal skin and its shed blood (Genesis 3:21...the calvinist nonsense that "dead is dead and cannot choose for itself" is biblically annulled here since God is talking to the dead Adam and Eve...). The new Adam could have said no to the cross when Jesus visited captivity to lead them home (Ephesians 4:8-10).
Paul is telling Philemon that every good thing in him is also in Christ Jesus. Philemon is not a robot with no capability of understanding right and wrong. Right and wrong is precisely the subject of this letter from the apostle. Paul asks that Onesimus be returned to him as a gift, even though the slave has offended his master. Paul asks for grace on the basis of the work of Jesus in all of their lives. New creation takes the raw material of sinful flesh and blood and makes it something new. Jesus is able to do this because He has taken sin upon Himself and is now Master over it. We, as willing servants, have an opening in time to have our sins forgiven and the prospect of lives that are truly new.
Jesus makes the loving offer to leave open the path of forgiveness that leads to the cross so long as humans can draw breath. The ministry of reconciliation does not go on furlough or take vacations. Jesus is a 24/7 savior.
Come to Jesus.
Come to the Cross.
by the acknowledgment of every good thing
which is in you
in Christ Jesus. Philemon 1:6 NKJV
New creation is not refurbished...it is not a remodel. The foolish notions of people like Calvin that Jesus Christ came to actualize some pre-programmed goodness in semi-divine humans is not what the Bible is talking about when it describes new creation. New creation is done like old creation wherein Jesus (Jesus is God) takes raw material that is in abundance and invests His life and love and joy and strength into it. The reason that it is new is because the raw material is able to say yes to the process and ask for it as a gift. The old dirt out of which Adam was made was not asked or expected to cooperate. The new Adam could have said no to the temporary promise of salvation in the animal skin and its shed blood (Genesis 3:21...the calvinist nonsense that "dead is dead and cannot choose for itself" is biblically annulled here since God is talking to the dead Adam and Eve...). The new Adam could have said no to the cross when Jesus visited captivity to lead them home (Ephesians 4:8-10).
Paul is telling Philemon that every good thing in him is also in Christ Jesus. Philemon is not a robot with no capability of understanding right and wrong. Right and wrong is precisely the subject of this letter from the apostle. Paul asks that Onesimus be returned to him as a gift, even though the slave has offended his master. Paul asks for grace on the basis of the work of Jesus in all of their lives. New creation takes the raw material of sinful flesh and blood and makes it something new. Jesus is able to do this because He has taken sin upon Himself and is now Master over it. We, as willing servants, have an opening in time to have our sins forgiven and the prospect of lives that are truly new.
Jesus makes the loving offer to leave open the path of forgiveness that leads to the cross so long as humans can draw breath. The ministry of reconciliation does not go on furlough or take vacations. Jesus is a 24/7 savior.
Come to Jesus.
Come to the Cross.
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