Tuesday, December 9, 2008

The fact of the matter...

"The fact of the matter is this: Christianity isn’t about what we do. Neither entering nor living the Christian life revolves around doing. It has only to do with Jesus Christ and nothing else. I didn’t say we won’t do anything so please don’t read into my words something I haven’t said. Of course Christians do, but we don’t do to be good Christians. We do precisely because we are good Christians. We’re good Christians, not because of anything we may do or not do, but because our good God has put His good Spirit in us where He lives and defines us, giving us our very identity. Your goodness has nothing to do with anything you do. It’s because of what He has done. "

Steve McVey

I love the way Steve puts it and I suppose if you think about it really hard, good Christians SHOULD inveriably KNOW they are sons...maybe one day we wont really be called Christians but sons of God...now wouldnt that be awesome...all Christains KNOWING they are sons...

6 comments:

dan lewis said...

now that would be awesome- we would see such a secure bunch of christians (sons) that know that they know that they know, without being judged or told what someone else thinks they don't know- know what i mean?

i love mcvey's logic- he correctly shows that the premises is (1)Jesus' finished worked on the cross and (2) when we believe this, his spirit lives in us and gives our identity which leads to the conclusion that what we do is a natural (dare i say involuntary)result of what has already been done in us

good stuff bru- you're a blogger of note

Craig Glenn said...

Dan The Man !!!!!!!!!!! are you going on leave at all?

Jim Hoag said...

Craig,
This is a fairly discombobulated comment but I hope you can make some sense out of it! I came across this quote from Steve Mcvey. At least what he has to say IS clear! He said, “Many people are worried about the effect of UNRIGHTEOUSNESS in the church. But the fact is that it isn't unrighteousness, but SELF righteousness that presents the greatest threat”.

It’s true. When we look at someone’s UNrighteousness, we can get SELF righteous and forget about our common need of CHRIST’S righteousness! What a vicious cycle! But what does this have to do with sonship? Well, sonship begins, in part, by realizing our love and acceptance from the Father is not based on OUR righteousness. As a result, it becomes more difficult to condemn others (in our self-righteousness) for THEIR unrighteousness. We no longer focus on what others DON’T have, but now we want to tell them what they ALREADY have as sons and daughters of God! We want to show them that they can rest in the ALREADINESS of Jesus Christ! True, “full assurance of sonship” will help demolish the stronghold of self righteousness that plagues the church.

Craig Glenn said...

AWESOME Jim, just awesome...keep up the good work...son of the Most High!

dan lewis said...

i'll have to put a leave form in :) i plan to work as long as people are willing to meet with me- but won't be working much (if at all) from 19th-4th.

Craig Glenn said...

coolsie...i'll meet with you!!