I've just come across an excerpt from a wonderful book I have, The Divine Forbearance or The Dynamics of Forgiveness (2001) by Paul T. Harrison1. I want to focus on some points he makes from Rom 5.1-11 concerning the love of God.
In Romans ch 4, the subject is faith: 'the means by which we are rightwised2 to God' (Harrison, p. 52). But what, Harrison asks, arouses faith; what 'has Christ revealed about God that makes us able to trust Him?'
And to that question he answers, God's forgiving love. God's love is so faithful and true that we may depend on it absolutely.
Why is that so? That is explored in Rom 5.6-11.
Our status before God as ungodly sinners (Rom 5.6, 8) in the past meant that we were the 'enemies of God' (Rom 5.10).
Think of that! Being an enemy of God means to be subject to his wrath (Rom 5.9) and displeasure.
People don't give their lives up easily even for those who have been just or good towards them!
But what about their enemies?? To sacrifice one's life for one's enemy is unthinkable.
Nevertheless, God has done this for us. God shows the depth of his love towards us, says the apostle, in that though we were enemies, 'Christ [still] died for us' (Rom 5.8).
And from this amazing act more follows for if Christ's death reconciled to God (Rom 5.10a) then Christ's [resurrection] life has saved us [from the dominion of sin].
1. He was born in the UK but grew up in Australia where he pastored Baptist churches in Victoria and Queensland. He also pastored and studied in the UK.
2. Although 'rightwised' is an obsolete word it is a pity we no longer use it in English because we are forced to use the word 'justified' which leads to the problem of whether justified means 'declared righteous' or 'made righteous' (the classical difference that arose at the 16th C Reformation between the Roman and Protestant/Reformed Churches).
In Romans ch 4, the subject is faith: 'the means by which we are rightwised2 to God' (Harrison, p. 52). But what, Harrison asks, arouses faith; what 'has Christ revealed about God that makes us able to trust Him?'
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Why is that so? That is explored in Rom 5.6-11.
Our status before God as ungodly sinners (Rom 5.6, 8) in the past meant that we were the 'enemies of God' (Rom 5.10).
Think of that! Being an enemy of God means to be subject to his wrath (Rom 5.9) and displeasure.
People don't give their lives up easily even for those who have been just or good towards them!
But what about their enemies?? To sacrifice one's life for one's enemy is unthinkable.
Nevertheless, God has done this for us. God shows the depth of his love towards us, says the apostle, in that though we were enemies, 'Christ [still] died for us' (Rom 5.8).
And from this amazing act more follows for if Christ's death reconciled to God (Rom 5.10a) then Christ's [resurrection] life has saved us [from the dominion of sin].
1. He was born in the UK but grew up in Australia where he pastored Baptist churches in Victoria and Queensland. He also pastored and studied in the UK.
2. Although 'rightwised' is an obsolete word it is a pity we no longer use it in English because we are forced to use the word 'justified' which leads to the problem of whether justified means 'declared righteous' or 'made righteous' (the classical difference that arose at the 16th C Reformation between the Roman and Protestant/Reformed Churches).
If we were God's enemies, then it was He that made us so.
ReplyDeleteHow can God be thought of as loving and just to regard all humankind as sinners because Adam sinned?
Our innate sense of justice ought tell us this is wrong.
I don't understand the psychology of the scriptual authors that led them to write those words. That notion of self-loathing is beyond me.
Of course, no one born into this world is "perfect". How unreasonable for any one to think we could be.
Thanks for your comment Garry. Obviously the first two chapters of Genesis spell out how Adam became God's rebellious creature. The issue of how Adam's fall affects all humanity is hotly debated but the idea of present generations being held responsible for past generations wrongs is well known. For example, the German nation stills pays reparations to the Jews for WW2 actions. I don't think self-loathing is Paul's focus at all and I honestly can't see the self-loathing to which you refer. But we are all guilty before God for the sin of putting some idol in the place of God (who is our maker and sustainer) and in not loving our neighbours as those like ourselves.
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