Thursday, 30 January, 2003

We continue with selections from The Justification Reader by Thomas C. Oden.

My advice on this reading is simply to settle into it and reread it if necessary. It is a very important clarification.



Doe the continuation of our justification depend on faith alone, or upon our personal righteousness? Justification is completed at once, upon having faith. Believers, upon their justification, are called to complete obedience. The continuation of our pardon, and thereby of a justified state, depends on the faithfulness of God, upon whose promise we depend. From our side, the continuation of justification depends on faith alone. Nothing is further required except the application of righteousness imputed, that is, faith, taking seriously what God gives.



Taking God seriously. I think many folks are afraid to do that. It is much easier to hold onto the way we see things and the way we want things to be or the way we were taught they should be than to simply take what God says about us seriously. We are justified. Trust it. Do not try to put conditions on what has been declared by the Lord God as the way it is. Remember, when God speaks, God creates...out of nothing. So, when God says we are justified...that's the whole story. Reality has it that everyone of us is a natural born scorekeeper...bean counters who live as though we must stack up points in order to win something. I would call this Skeet ball theology. When I would go to an amusement park, I'd play skeet ball and win those tokens so that I could eventually have enough to cash in on a prize. Well, in the reign of God, when we walk in the door God gives us the prize and says play as much as you like the prize is already in hand. God will not take that away or say...you didn't score enough points to keep it or win something else. We need to help one another trust this amazing promise of our God.



Connection: We keep score too much already...when will we begin to be more graceful to ourselves and one another. This doesn't mean we can't have goals or work hard, it means our worth is already guaranteed...we are the children of God...beloved. That is what makes the day!



Precious Lord, how wonderful it is that your treat us to the fullness of you gracious reign when you invite us to live as though your word of love and life for us is the whole story and we are able to begin each day and each moment within your abiding presence and embrace. Amen.