We continue with selections from The Justification Reader by Thomas C. Oden.
The power of his resurrection is known faith. "Knowledge therefore comes through faith, and without faith there is no knowledge. How so? It is only through faith that we know the power of the resurrection. For what reasoning could demonstrate the resurrection to us? None, but it is through faith. And if the resurrection of Christ in the flesh is known through faith, how can the nativity of the Word be comprehended by reason?" (Chrysostom)
We trust that God's word that is eternally for us...is indeed true. Therefore we are invited to act in accordance to that Word. Now, can I prove to you...can I make a reasonable argument that God is eternally for us? Some may not care to hear it. Some may say "So what." Some may wonder if we are a bit lost in our grasp of reality. And yet, we say we are brought into new life everyday by the God who raised Jesus from the dead. We have stories we can tell of people who have lived their lives within the promise of that Good News. We can witness to our own faith in such a resounding Word of life. And yet, the knowledge we have of the promise of the Reign of God among us is a part of what I like to call faithful imagination. That does not make it less real. That does not make it anti-knowledge. Instead, the world - as it is - becomes transformed by people and powers that trust that the power of new life in the resurrection does indeed move mountains and shake foundations. That's the truth.
Connection: Stay the course. Walk in faith. Trust what has been, is being, and will be the Word of life for us. My what a day is at hand.
Comforting Lord, you sweep us up within the broad movement of your grace. How wonderful it is that we are grasped by your Spirit and made to stand tall and walk along the way of your beloved, Jesus. Thanks and praise to you this day. Amen.
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