You and I seem to know each other well and I hope that you know that I do not like confrontations. Being put down scares me and I do not want that so I am sure that you or anyone else would not want to be put down as well. Anyway, moving on to what I'd like to say. I do not consider myself a smart man, honestly I had to look up quite a few words that you used in your points so that I would understand your points. That is nothing against you at all in fact I look up to all the things you do know, it just took me some time to figure out what you were saying.
But I think that you missed the point. We (you and me and everyone else) can take any one passage and try to make it sound good and skew it to 'fit' our lives.
This is not how it 'fits' to my live it is Paul's point for all that read it:
That the Romans knew about the saving power of Jesus Christ and that is the whole reason Paul was writing. They knew the power of God that is at work every day but they did not glorify HIM and thank HIM for all that He does...beginning with the basics of the saving power in Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:16-21). Instead they exchanged the truth of God with a lie. They worshiped and served created things rather than God.
One of God's gifts in His creating us is free will. We have the choice to love God and the things of God or turn our back to Him and love the things of the world. If there was not this wonderful gift of free will then where would the adventure be in loving God? There wouldn't be one. (wow I kinda got sidetracked back to the scripture).
So, instead of forcefully turning some of these Roman people who did this little exchange of truth God gave them the choice to continue in sin or repent and turn back to Him. (I would encourage you to read the rest of Romans, it gives the picture of God's love and redemption quite well. This forsaking the truth for a lie is probably why Paul writes the rest of the letter the way He does by talking about grace and redemption.)
I hope that you would see me as a Lover of Jesus, Kevin. We are all human, Christians are not some lofty people even though many act this way. It is a choice for me each day to consider living in my own way and chaos OR do I live in and consider the great love that He lavishes on all including you and me?
It is a choice with great reward.
Jesus says that eternal life is knowing God. (John 17:3) How did I get to know God? By starting with seeing the love that was displayed on a cross by Jesus. Taking the lies, sins, and mistakes of mine and mankind upon himself. But it gets better. He came back. He is alive. He is the only way (John 14:6-7)
John also received a beautiful Revelation about what Heaven and the Throne room will look like! What a great worship party it's going to be! (Revelation chpts 4, 5, 21) I hope that you want to be a part of it too!
Truth, Redemption and Love
You and I seem to know each other well and I hope that you know that I do not like confrontations. Being put down scares me and I do not want that so I am sure that you or anyone else would not want to be put down as well. Anyway, moving on to what I'd like to say. I do not consider myself a smart man, honestly I had to look up quite a few words that you used in your points so that I would understand your points. That is nothing against you at all in fact I look up to all the things you do know, it just took me some time to figure out what you were saying.
But I think that you missed the point. We (you and me and everyone else) can take any one passage and try to make it sound good and skew it to 'fit' our lives.
This is not how it 'fits' to my live it is Paul's point for all that read it:
That the Romans knew about the saving power of Jesus Christ and that is the whole reason Paul was writing. They knew the power of God that is at work every day but they did not glorify HIM and thank HIM for all that He does...beginning with the basics of the saving power in Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:16-21). Instead they exchanged the truth of God with a lie. They worshiped and served created things rather than God.
One of God's gifts in His creating us is free will. We have the choice to love God and the things of God or turn our back to Him and love the things of the world. If there was not this wonderful gift of free will then where would the adventure be in loving God? There wouldn't be one. (wow I kinda got sidetracked back to the scripture).
So, instead of forcefully turning some of these Roman people who did this little exchange of truth God gave them the choice to continue in sin or repent and turn back to Him. (I would encourage you to read the rest of Romans, it gives the picture of God's love and redemption quite well. This forsaking the truth for a lie is probably why Paul writes the rest of the letter the way He does by talking about grace and redemption.)
I hope that you would see me as a Lover of Jesus, Kevin. We are all human, Christians are not some lofty people even though many act this way. It is a choice for me each day to consider living in my own way and chaos OR do I live in and consider the great love that He lavishes on all including you and me?
It is a choice with great reward.
Jesus says that eternal life is knowing God. (John 17:3) How did I get to know God? By starting with seeing the love that was displayed on a cross by Jesus. Taking the lies, sins, and mistakes of mine and mankind upon himself. But it gets better. He came back. He is alive. He is the only way (John 14:6-7)
John also received a beautiful Revelation about what Heaven and the Throne room will look like! What a great worship party it's going to be! (Revelation chpts 4, 5, 21) I hope that you want to be a part of it too!
Hope it all made some sense.
Mark
P.S. I would encourage you to read Crystal Higginbotham's Testimony too! http://www.mtucrossreference.com/prosepoint/story/unashamed