I’ve read it before. But just tonight it came home to me in a way more significant. I suppose this may be due to some threatening disloyalties I’ve experienced over the past few years.
“I have said all this to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you of them.” (John 16:1-4)
Jesus’s words resonate with Luke’s account of Stephen’s death in Acts 7—Saul the Pharisee standing nearby in smug approval. These words smack of Paul’s recollections in Philippians where he includes his persecuting of the church right alongside the rest of his blameless pedigree. Is it not suggestive that in Romans 7 Paul says that he desires to do what is right but has been deceived by sin such that he does what leads to death? Ah, to be deceived by sin such that what was intended for life brings death. Unwittingly to be deceived by sin such that the good is wielded for the death of the undeserving. Theology or thanatology?
“He will think he is offering service to God.” What deception that would be. What deception that was. What deception it is. The sinfulness of sin. Enough to give us great pause in cleansing the church. Theology as thanatology.
Father, forgive them for them know not what they do…and grant us strength do endure the disloyalties of our covenanted siblings.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12)
Oh, that it could not be…
I’ve read it before. But just tonight it came home to me in a way more significant. I suppose this may be due to some threatening disloyalties I’ve experienced over the past few years.
“I have said all this to you to keep you from falling away. They will put you out of the synagogues; indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do this because they have not known the Father, nor me. But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you of them.” (John 16:1-4)
Jesus’s words resonate with Luke’s account of Stephen’s death in Acts 7—Saul the Pharisee standing nearby in smug approval. These words smack of Paul’s recollections in Philippians where he includes his persecuting of the church right alongside the rest of his blameless pedigree. Is it not suggestive that in Romans 7 Paul says that he desires to do what is right but has been deceived by sin such that he does what leads to death? Ah, to be deceived by sin such that what was intended for life brings death. Unwittingly to be deceived by sin such that the good is wielded for the death of the undeserving. Theology or thanatology?
“He will think he is offering service to God.” What deception that would be. What deception that was. What deception it is. The sinfulness of sin. Enough to give us great pause in cleansing the church. Theology as thanatology.
Father, forgive them for them know not what they do…and grant us strength do endure the disloyalties of our covenanted siblings.
“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12)
Be blessed as you carry your cross.
But, but, we can’t take any advice from Pascal…he was a Roman Catholic and that trumps all!
Jansenist, right? Then he passes muster with me.
OK, I swear I’m not trying to cause trouble. But I am suddenly curious as to what Jansenists wrote/believed about justification….
Mark,
They could be WRONG about justification, and yet RIGHT about other things.
Just not salvation 😉
Tell me you’re not causing trouble!!!