Re: [TruthTalk] Unilateral covenant

[David Miller]

John wrote: > You seem to like the idea of a harsh God.      Not exactly.  It makes me tremble to think of how harsh he is.  How is he able to create a hell and execute judgment the way he does?  I am far from being able to do anything like that.   John wrote: > One is not a "passive participant" because he > violates accepted norms set by society.      That was my point.  Society accepts the passive participant, but God does not.  It is a harsh reality taught in Scripture.    Suppose a man is a coward.  Suppose he is just flat out afraid to do anything.  A timid man.  Society has pity on him.  God casts him into hell.  What a contrast!  Anything that does not bear fruit, God casts into hell.  It is a terrible and sobering thought found in Scripture.   John wrote: > You and I are passive participants, as I see it, in that life > comes to us through no effort of our own;  our bodies survive > because, in part, of certain involuntary responses;  age happens;  > our very personalities and many of our emotional and intellectual > concerns are gifts to us;  our (read "my") ravishing good looks > are not indebted to personal effort; whether I am white, black, > yellow or whatever is of no personal effort   -----------   in fact, I > could argue effectively that everything I am as a cultural being > is ultimately the result of influences not  the result of personal > effort.     Good points about those aspects of our lives that are passively attained.  If I understand Scripture correctly, if we leave it at that, we will be cast into hell fire.  Remember the parable of the talents in Mat. 25?  The one who did not produce something extra for his master, the one who was afraid and buried his talents so he could give it back to his master when he returned, what happened to him?  He was cast into outer darkness.  What kind of God is this? John wrote: > So it is with the covenant.    Gal 3:16 tells us that the > covenant promise was given to Abraham and his seed, > Jesus Christ.   Christ has made it possible for God to view > the heart of man, his intentions, his desire to live for others > and be found in participation with the Communal God.    > So Abraham is "saved" in spite of his lack of faith (i.e. > the circumstances involving his wife) and Samson is "saved" > in spite of his continued lust and a vengeful attitude that > resulted in his death.   Did they participate?   Of course.   > Did this participation result in their sanctification.   Absolutely > not.    As high as we can jump  --  we will never look anything > but silly when measured against how high we MUST go to find > ourselves in the heavenly place (think allegory).  Our activity is > dwarfted by the benefits of God's promises as we stand ourside > our tent, left with nothing to do but count the stars and say, > Praise the Lord.    Abraham's lack of faith?  Abraham is the father of faith.  I would be so afraid to say anything like you just said.   Some of the other things you say are good, but you also seem to be missing some important matters in Scripture.  I'm not going to list them right now because you don't like long posts.   Peace be with you. David Miller.