*These items are not mutually exclusive and this entry is not exhaustive of the content of each notion.*
What is is what is given to us by God of his own creative power and grace. God was not lonely, not seeking an outlet because he was bursting with creative juices. He simply extended his grace in the creative speech act of saying all things into existence.
Of existence it was apparent that man was enable to remain faithful. God could not have created himself totally in us, but made us a reflection, flawed and dependent on his illustrious grace, discipline and blessing. We find the scripture, at the beginning that we did not die instantly, as though once our parents ate all creation went back to nihilo. Rather perimeters for death were set so that sin could not be immortal (H. Bavinck quoting Irenaeus, Reformed Dogmatics, III, 200 (#343).
In an increasingly disconcerting time, the Christian needs the work and promise of the covenant all the more preached to him, in love. Against the dogmas of science, philosophy, secularism and radical Islam, the whole of the Christian Worldview is in question. It is in stark opposition to the nothing as something supposed by agnostic/pop-atheistic thinking and the diligent militantism and viol-igion of Radical Islam (Robert Webber's book "Who Gets to Narrate the World" for more). We are also then poised to love our enemy and neighbor more than ever. Let us not fall short of our obedience in and Christ, given to us freely that we may carry on in his spirit of righteousness responsibly.
That Creation is groaning is of no small coincidence, either. That christians are as if not more highly persecuted since the time of the early church, should not be a surprise. This covenant of grace also is no surprise, but a relief. It allows us to rest fully in the Lordship of the trinitarian God, gives us hope in future glory and equips us with understanding to reach the heathen, lost and weary.
Grace flows from the fountainhead of Christ. He is our great priest, mediator and sustainer. He is triumphant over sin and death alone, bestowing his riches of life everlasting from his inestimable love and mercy. We sit at a time where right doctrine, right belief, right action and self-control (over emotions) are of the utmost to our witness and testimony.
I hope this encourages you, perplexes you (but does not lead to despair) and brings understanding to you wherever you are.
Grace and Peace.
What is is what is given to us by God of his own creative power and grace. God was not lonely, not seeking an outlet because he was bursting with creative juices. He simply extended his grace in the creative speech act of saying all things into existence.
Of existence it was apparent that man was enable to remain faithful. God could not have created himself totally in us, but made us a reflection, flawed and dependent on his illustrious grace, discipline and blessing. We find the scripture, at the beginning that we did not die instantly, as though once our parents ate all creation went back to nihilo. Rather perimeters for death were set so that sin could not be immortal (H. Bavinck quoting Irenaeus, Reformed Dogmatics, III, 200 (#343).
In an increasingly disconcerting time, the Christian needs the work and promise of the covenant all the more preached to him, in love. Against the dogmas of science, philosophy, secularism and radical Islam, the whole of the Christian Worldview is in question. It is in stark opposition to the nothing as something supposed by agnostic/pop-atheistic thinking and the diligent militantism and viol-igion of Radical Islam (Robert Webber's book "Who Gets to Narrate the World" for more). We are also then poised to love our enemy and neighbor more than ever. Let us not fall short of our obedience in and Christ, given to us freely that we may carry on in his spirit of righteousness responsibly.
That Creation is groaning is of no small coincidence, either. That christians are as if not more highly persecuted since the time of the early church, should not be a surprise. This covenant of grace also is no surprise, but a relief. It allows us to rest fully in the Lordship of the trinitarian God, gives us hope in future glory and equips us with understanding to reach the heathen, lost and weary.
Grace flows from the fountainhead of Christ. He is our great priest, mediator and sustainer. He is triumphant over sin and death alone, bestowing his riches of life everlasting from his inestimable love and mercy. We sit at a time where right doctrine, right belief, right action and self-control (over emotions) are of the utmost to our witness and testimony.
I hope this encourages you, perplexes you (but does not lead to despair) and brings understanding to you wherever you are.
Grace and Peace.
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