From the last section of Thomas Oden's book The Justification Reader
God is not a visible object of sense. But by grace believers are made inwardly certain of what they cannot see or quantify empirically.
Faith is distinguished from sight on the one hand, and doubt on the other. Believers walk by faith, which is distinguishable from both empirically certain sight and spiritually uncertain doubt. "We live by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). Faith "sees" that which is mostly concealed from the sensory apparatus. It is "a trust in the unseen as though it were seen, in that which is hoped and waited for as if it were present.
Some outcomes of God's promise will always remain partially obscure until the end . Nonetheless, faith relies on the trustworthiness of God's providential love for the right ultimate unfolding of these outcomes.
"Trust in the unseen as though it were seen, in that which is hoped and waited for as if it were present." We trust in a promise. We have faith in that which we are assured will be the end of all things...and therefore the beginning of all things today and every day. The one who makes those assurances is the the God who is the creator of all things and the one who raised Jesus from the dead. I'm sure we all have many things within our lives that we like to trust. And for the most part, it is well placed trust. Trusting that our partner will be faithful has an impact on who I am and how I go about living right now. Trusting that our parents will provide for and protect us as we was grow up shapes how we grow up and how we interact with our world. How much more is our life shaped when we are told that the end of the stories of our lives are secure in God's loving hands...no doubt about it! And yet, we all choose to trust the security of what is concrete and visible and touchable over that which is promised and not visible completely. God invites us to take the leap and see how life is when we are moved to see the promises of God unfolding within our lives to make all things new.
Connection: Trusting in our God and what God does through the liberating presence of Jesus, how is our seeing changed? How are the perceptions of the day altered? What difference does it make for us when we look at our world through the lens of God's saving promise?
Lord of the Present and the Not Yet, we await your loving presence within each of our days. You have given us the gift of life and you bid us to walk forward into what is not yet known completely, trusting that you will indeed be the source of our strength and courage. Praise to you blessed Lord. Amen.
Tuesday, March 11, 2003
Monday, March 10, 2003
Monday, 10 March, 2003
From the last section of Thomas Oden's book The Justification Reader.
Faith is distinguished from hypothesis, conjecture, supposition, fantasy, or imagination, because it is based upon the evidences of faith - revelation in history. The task of faithful reasoning is to assess the quality of evidence. To believe without evidence is gullibility. Faith is not gullible, since it does not require belief without evidence.
Faith looks for evidence in the actual fulfillment in history of God's promises. God teaches us by making promises and keeping his promises. This in part is an empirical search, but more profoundly a search for evidence in the flow of history. The evidence sought is more historical than laboratory or scientific in the narrow sense. Hebrews 11 provides a long list of such evidences in biblical prototypes of persons of faith.
Among us, the record of events in the bible give us that "something" upon which faith is built. We could argue that whether a story is meant to be a "historically" recorded event or a metaphorical image, both can be events that provide evidence for our faith. The stories from the book of Daniel, for example, may not be the retelling of events that happened as told...but they are stories of the faithfulness of God for a community caught within days of trial and tribulation. The God who delivers Israel out of the clutches of imperial power is brought to us from a people who did indeed find life and security in what appeared to be an impossible situation. I think what we are also saying is that we must look back. We must look to what has happened so as to be strengthened for what is about to happen or what is presently upon us. So often, during the unfolding of events in which we live, we cannot see God's hand at work among us.
Connection: I would recommend that sometime during the day you read Hebrews 11. It is a wonderful unfolding of the journey of faithfulness. It is also a good way to consider how we as individuals, might add to the "evidence" that is presented there.
Lord of Every Age, you are faithful to your promises and from your faithfulness we are empowered and encouraged to face the days at hand. Let your reign of peace settle our hearts and keep us forever trusting in your alone. Amen.
Faith is distinguished from hypothesis, conjecture, supposition, fantasy, or imagination, because it is based upon the evidences of faith - revelation in history. The task of faithful reasoning is to assess the quality of evidence. To believe without evidence is gullibility. Faith is not gullible, since it does not require belief without evidence.
Faith looks for evidence in the actual fulfillment in history of God's promises. God teaches us by making promises and keeping his promises. This in part is an empirical search, but more profoundly a search for evidence in the flow of history. The evidence sought is more historical than laboratory or scientific in the narrow sense. Hebrews 11 provides a long list of such evidences in biblical prototypes of persons of faith.
Among us, the record of events in the bible give us that "something" upon which faith is built. We could argue that whether a story is meant to be a "historically" recorded event or a metaphorical image, both can be events that provide evidence for our faith. The stories from the book of Daniel, for example, may not be the retelling of events that happened as told...but they are stories of the faithfulness of God for a community caught within days of trial and tribulation. The God who delivers Israel out of the clutches of imperial power is brought to us from a people who did indeed find life and security in what appeared to be an impossible situation. I think what we are also saying is that we must look back. We must look to what has happened so as to be strengthened for what is about to happen or what is presently upon us. So often, during the unfolding of events in which we live, we cannot see God's hand at work among us.
Connection: I would recommend that sometime during the day you read Hebrews 11. It is a wonderful unfolding of the journey of faithfulness. It is also a good way to consider how we as individuals, might add to the "evidence" that is presented there.
Lord of Every Age, you are faithful to your promises and from your faithfulness we are empowered and encouraged to face the days at hand. Let your reign of peace settle our hearts and keep us forever trusting in your alone. Amen.
Thursday, March 6, 2003
Friday, 7 March, 2003
From the last section of Thomas Oden's book The Justification Reader.
Today's reading has quotes from Augustine, Chrysostom, Wesley, Calvin & scriptures!
In the classic Christian inquiry into faith one first prays for the grace to inquire rightly into faith. Only if one is willing to risk following Christ by doing what he says will one then learn his doctrine. Without choosing to follow in the Way, to hold to the Truth, and to live the Life, it is not likely that there will be sufficient readiness that saving grace will be rightly received and understood. The meaning of faith is learned only through the obedience of faith.
The religious professionals were astonished that Jesus had such extraordinary learning "without having studied." Jesus made this extraordinary response: "If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching come from God or whether I speak on my own" (John 7:17). The implication: Active, risk-taking trust is the required teaching arena in which one learns what faith in Christ is.
Trusting in Christ is not a mere mental exercise. Trusting, having faith, has a life to it. What we have found over the centuries of life in the Church is that we each take a risk to follow Jesus in our own day. To love enemies and trust that this is the way God's shalom/peace comes among us, is not a way of life that is well received. We risk when we love. We risk when we do not turn our backs to the suffering and injured in our world...for we are pulled out of our way of living and called into another way that may not be the most comfortable nor the most popular. To seek truth and to live truthfully means risking what can happen in a world where untruth and half-truths seem to have the advantage and the power. Faith...is life. Faith is love...active in life. Risky business.
Connection: We are told that we have a place of rest and security within all the travails of our day. That is a promise because when we have faith in Christ and move within this day as trusting what God has done and is doing in Christ, our faithful lives may be met with something less than kisses. At those times, we have been promised a place of rest and a rock, a fortress that will never abandon us.
Faithful Lord, be with us when we walk into this day trusting in your promises for we are often pushed and pulled into other ways of living even as we long to trust in you alone. Amen.
Today's reading has quotes from Augustine, Chrysostom, Wesley, Calvin & scriptures!
In the classic Christian inquiry into faith one first prays for the grace to inquire rightly into faith. Only if one is willing to risk following Christ by doing what he says will one then learn his doctrine. Without choosing to follow in the Way, to hold to the Truth, and to live the Life, it is not likely that there will be sufficient readiness that saving grace will be rightly received and understood. The meaning of faith is learned only through the obedience of faith.
The religious professionals were astonished that Jesus had such extraordinary learning "without having studied." Jesus made this extraordinary response: "If anyone chooses to do God's will, he will find out whether my teaching come from God or whether I speak on my own" (John 7:17). The implication: Active, risk-taking trust is the required teaching arena in which one learns what faith in Christ is.
Trusting in Christ is not a mere mental exercise. Trusting, having faith, has a life to it. What we have found over the centuries of life in the Church is that we each take a risk to follow Jesus in our own day. To love enemies and trust that this is the way God's shalom/peace comes among us, is not a way of life that is well received. We risk when we love. We risk when we do not turn our backs to the suffering and injured in our world...for we are pulled out of our way of living and called into another way that may not be the most comfortable nor the most popular. To seek truth and to live truthfully means risking what can happen in a world where untruth and half-truths seem to have the advantage and the power. Faith...is life. Faith is love...active in life. Risky business.
Connection: We are told that we have a place of rest and security within all the travails of our day. That is a promise because when we have faith in Christ and move within this day as trusting what God has done and is doing in Christ, our faithful lives may be met with something less than kisses. At those times, we have been promised a place of rest and a rock, a fortress that will never abandon us.
Faithful Lord, be with us when we walk into this day trusting in your promises for we are often pushed and pulled into other ways of living even as we long to trust in you alone. Amen.
Wednesday, March 5, 2003
Thursday, 6 March, 2003
From the last section of Thomas Oden's book The Justification Reader.
In apostolic teaching, faith is utterly simple and direct. Christian teaching cannot do better than to convey that profound simplicity. Salvation comes through grace-enabled faith, not the absolute clarity of faith's attempts to define itself. "God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21).
The simplicity of faith makes it almost unbelievable. That may seem odd...but look around. When we speak of God's grace and how our God is eternally for us and that nothing can separate us from the Love of God in Christ, Jesus, just listen to the "Yeh, buts" that will be lifted up all around you. It is as though we cannot let God be the one who makes the move and acts and redeems and rescues and saves and delivers and embraces us...without one bit of action on our part. It is utter foolishness. Yes, but it is the way God works...it is the way of the cross...it is the empty tomb that defies all the rules of life and death.
Connection: K.I.S.S.* and yet let it be for you the most powerful and profound word onto which you hang all day long. (*Keep It Simple Stupid)
Lord of the Promise, you give and you give and you give and you...then find it within your loving grace to give more so as to keep us eternally under your loving care and alive within your gracious reign. Praise be to you. Amen!
In apostolic teaching, faith is utterly simple and direct. Christian teaching cannot do better than to convey that profound simplicity. Salvation comes through grace-enabled faith, not the absolute clarity of faith's attempts to define itself. "God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21).
The simplicity of faith makes it almost unbelievable. That may seem odd...but look around. When we speak of God's grace and how our God is eternally for us and that nothing can separate us from the Love of God in Christ, Jesus, just listen to the "Yeh, buts" that will be lifted up all around you. It is as though we cannot let God be the one who makes the move and acts and redeems and rescues and saves and delivers and embraces us...without one bit of action on our part. It is utter foolishness. Yes, but it is the way God works...it is the way of the cross...it is the empty tomb that defies all the rules of life and death.
Connection: K.I.S.S.* and yet let it be for you the most powerful and profound word onto which you hang all day long. (*Keep It Simple Stupid)
Lord of the Promise, you give and you give and you give and you...then find it within your loving grace to give more so as to keep us eternally under your loving care and alive within your gracious reign. Praise be to you. Amen!
Tuesday, March 4, 2003
Wednesday, 5 March, 2003
From the last section of Thomas Oden's book The Justification Reader.
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1).
By our living faith we demonstrate in life the reality of the things we cannot see. Our faith brings us to a kind of moral certitude in relation to what lies beyond physical sight. Faith requires laying hold of that which cannot be attained by sense perception or logic alone, but by trusting the person of Christ alone.
Faith is our active, working confidence in and assurance of the truth of what we hope for. Faith itself elicits the evidence and conviction of that which cannot be seen. If revelation is the window to grace, faith is the eye that beholds it.
I have always thought the word "Behold" was such a biblical word. Really, who uses that word in everyday language. But here it is used in way that brings it to life for me. "Faith is the eye that "beholds" (grace)." When angels say, "Behold!" it is an invitation to see what is not visible...to all. It is an invitation to begin to see the world and the life and the truth of God's gracious reign all at once. It is one of those words that introduces what God is and has and will do. Some may see nothing. And yet, there is always much to see. Faith is that eye that may not be quite certain of what is being announced and yet we continue to look and move toward that which is revealed. Through the window of revelation, we begin to see the life that is before us...it is a way that includes a bright view of a just and peaceful creation in which our God brings all things into being for the welfare of all.
Connection: Behold, this is the Lord's day, rejoice and be glad in it. It may be like nothing you have ever seen.
Lord of New Life and Ruler of all that is and will be, you set us within this day and call us to trust what you lay before us. No matter what will try to distract us from trusting in you, let your Holy Spirit be our strength and courage to follow you alone. Amen.
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see" (Hebrews 11:1).
By our living faith we demonstrate in life the reality of the things we cannot see. Our faith brings us to a kind of moral certitude in relation to what lies beyond physical sight. Faith requires laying hold of that which cannot be attained by sense perception or logic alone, but by trusting the person of Christ alone.
Faith is our active, working confidence in and assurance of the truth of what we hope for. Faith itself elicits the evidence and conviction of that which cannot be seen. If revelation is the window to grace, faith is the eye that beholds it.
I have always thought the word "Behold" was such a biblical word. Really, who uses that word in everyday language. But here it is used in way that brings it to life for me. "Faith is the eye that "beholds" (grace)." When angels say, "Behold!" it is an invitation to see what is not visible...to all. It is an invitation to begin to see the world and the life and the truth of God's gracious reign all at once. It is one of those words that introduces what God is and has and will do. Some may see nothing. And yet, there is always much to see. Faith is that eye that may not be quite certain of what is being announced and yet we continue to look and move toward that which is revealed. Through the window of revelation, we begin to see the life that is before us...it is a way that includes a bright view of a just and peaceful creation in which our God brings all things into being for the welfare of all.
Connection: Behold, this is the Lord's day, rejoice and be glad in it. It may be like nothing you have ever seen.
Lord of New Life and Ruler of all that is and will be, you set us within this day and call us to trust what you lay before us. No matter what will try to distract us from trusting in you, let your Holy Spirit be our strength and courage to follow you alone. Amen.
Tuesday, 4 March, 2003
From the last section of Thomas Oden's book The Justification Reader.
Saving faith is personal trust - trust in a person, Jesus Christ, the one mediator between God and humanity. The Greek terms that translate faith imply reliance upon, trust in another who is experienced as trustworthy... Faith is less about Christ than in Christ. "Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness" (Acts 10:43).
This personal trust is grounded in the conviction of the credibility of the apostolic testimony to him. "Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his(her) heart" (1 John 5:10). This testimony is the history of his coming, life, teaching, death, and resurrection. Faith in God assumes that God's disclosures about and of himself in the history of Jesus are true and sufficient for faith.
The distinction between "about" and "in" may seem small but they are quite important. We do not simply believe in the various stories that are told about Jesus. That is, we believe that they "happened" or that the events did occur in somewhat the manner in which they are recorded. Rather, we believe that the story has power for our lives. For example, we trust that the word of forgiveness, as is noted above, is a word that comes to us and has a saving impact on our lives. We are not simply agreeing with some data, we are trusting that what happens in the story of Jesus as the the Christ of God has an impact on my life. We have faith that our lives are shaped and moved and renewed through that story. So...when we "testify" we are speaking of what life believing in Christ has been for us.
Connection: It is good to share with other what has come to life from our trusting in Christ has done and is doing within our lives. It may be the most simple word to share.
Lord, as you are present with us this day, remind us of the power of your love for us and make us a courageous witness to that power so that others may come to trust in you. Amen.
Saving faith is personal trust - trust in a person, Jesus Christ, the one mediator between God and humanity. The Greek terms that translate faith imply reliance upon, trust in another who is experienced as trustworthy... Faith is less about Christ than in Christ. "Everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness" (Acts 10:43).
This personal trust is grounded in the conviction of the credibility of the apostolic testimony to him. "Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his(her) heart" (1 John 5:10). This testimony is the history of his coming, life, teaching, death, and resurrection. Faith in God assumes that God's disclosures about and of himself in the history of Jesus are true and sufficient for faith.
The distinction between "about" and "in" may seem small but they are quite important. We do not simply believe in the various stories that are told about Jesus. That is, we believe that they "happened" or that the events did occur in somewhat the manner in which they are recorded. Rather, we believe that the story has power for our lives. For example, we trust that the word of forgiveness, as is noted above, is a word that comes to us and has a saving impact on our lives. We are not simply agreeing with some data, we are trusting that what happens in the story of Jesus as the the Christ of God has an impact on my life. We have faith that our lives are shaped and moved and renewed through that story. So...when we "testify" we are speaking of what life believing in Christ has been for us.
Connection: It is good to share with other what has come to life from our trusting in Christ has done and is doing within our lives. It may be the most simple word to share.
Lord, as you are present with us this day, remind us of the power of your love for us and make us a courageous witness to that power so that others may come to trust in you. Amen.
Monday, March 3, 2003
Monday, 3 March, 2003
From the last section of Thomas Oden's book The Justification Reader.
Faith is the firm conviction of the grace of God. Such faith is accompanied inwardly by the Spirit's assurance, and outwardly by works of love in relation to the neighbor. It is a firm "confidence (fiducia) of the heart, by which we securely acquiesce in the mercy of God promised to us through the gospel"(Calvin). Faith elicits a sense of trusting respose in God who enables this conviction.
Faith is the primary condition set forth in scripture for receiving justification.
In other words, faith is like buying it "hook, line, & sinker." We hear of the gracious reign of God and we hear God's invitation to come and live within this gracious domain...and we trust that what we hear from our God is something we can trust - completely. In the above quote it says that "faith is the primary condition set forth in scripture for receiving justification." This does not make God's justification a conditional matter. Before faith can even come into being within our lives, God has already acted for us...even to the point of creating the faith that enables us to trust what God has said and done. If someone serves you a meal and places it in front of you, it does you no good if you don't trust the cook and dig in. The only "condition" on being fed and nourished is whether or not you take fork and knife in hand and begin the feast.
Connection: Be confident that our God makes things new and is always the merciful Lord of all even if it doesn't appear to be the case within our day. From that point we begin to face all that comes our way.
Merciful God it is your will that we would come and stand within your Reign and begin to live as though your love for us can create new life and bring us peace. Let the Spirit of Life pull us into the Good News we hear in Christ, Jesus, that we may have rest and peace and be ones who courageously face this day. Amen.
Faith is the firm conviction of the grace of God. Such faith is accompanied inwardly by the Spirit's assurance, and outwardly by works of love in relation to the neighbor. It is a firm "confidence (fiducia) of the heart, by which we securely acquiesce in the mercy of God promised to us through the gospel"(Calvin). Faith elicits a sense of trusting respose in God who enables this conviction.
Faith is the primary condition set forth in scripture for receiving justification.
In other words, faith is like buying it "hook, line, & sinker." We hear of the gracious reign of God and we hear God's invitation to come and live within this gracious domain...and we trust that what we hear from our God is something we can trust - completely. In the above quote it says that "faith is the primary condition set forth in scripture for receiving justification." This does not make God's justification a conditional matter. Before faith can even come into being within our lives, God has already acted for us...even to the point of creating the faith that enables us to trust what God has said and done. If someone serves you a meal and places it in front of you, it does you no good if you don't trust the cook and dig in. The only "condition" on being fed and nourished is whether or not you take fork and knife in hand and begin the feast.
Connection: Be confident that our God makes things new and is always the merciful Lord of all even if it doesn't appear to be the case within our day. From that point we begin to face all that comes our way.
Merciful God it is your will that we would come and stand within your Reign and begin to live as though your love for us can create new life and bring us peace. Let the Spirit of Life pull us into the Good News we hear in Christ, Jesus, that we may have rest and peace and be ones who courageously face this day. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)