Post by Admin on Feb 9, 2017 7:33:32 GMT
Tonight’s conversation opened with a general question about how we define “sin,” followed by discussion about whether sin is underemphasized (the feeling was that sin is definitely downplayed in the world at large, where almost anything can be glossed over as “not sin” as human standards shift and change).
The first half of tonight’s scripture was Paul’s admonition that we have no right to judge others, and that our judgements will just come back to condemn us. From there we engaged in lively discussion about self-righteousness and its dangers, including the hurtfulness we risk when pointing out the failings of others, no matter how lovingly motivated. We are better off staying out of any assessment and correction of others, because ultimately that is merely a case of thinking more highly about ourselves than we do about others – and putting ourselves at some kind of peer level with God, when in truth only He is the righteous judge of any of us. On the other hand, in this passage we can see that everyone is a sinner, and therefore we might give ourselves a little slack – I’m just a sinner like everyone else, no better, no worse. That is another danger, that we accept some level of sin as okay, typical, expected.
The second half of the scripture passage seemed to have potential for conflict with Paul’s typical statements that only be faith can we be saved, not by works. In this passage, Paul makes clear that God’s judgement will discern who did evil and who did good, and that rewards will match the behavior. We concluded that this refers to the Final Judgement, not to forgiveness, which is a product of Christ enduring the punishment for our sins so that we could be brought closer to God. A related thought was that, by coming to earth, Christ not only died to paid the price for our sin, but by his life he showed us the way to live to achieve Paul’s ideal of pleasing God through our conduct.
The first half of tonight’s scripture was Paul’s admonition that we have no right to judge others, and that our judgements will just come back to condemn us. From there we engaged in lively discussion about self-righteousness and its dangers, including the hurtfulness we risk when pointing out the failings of others, no matter how lovingly motivated. We are better off staying out of any assessment and correction of others, because ultimately that is merely a case of thinking more highly about ourselves than we do about others – and putting ourselves at some kind of peer level with God, when in truth only He is the righteous judge of any of us. On the other hand, in this passage we can see that everyone is a sinner, and therefore we might give ourselves a little slack – I’m just a sinner like everyone else, no better, no worse. That is another danger, that we accept some level of sin as okay, typical, expected.
The second half of the scripture passage seemed to have potential for conflict with Paul’s typical statements that only be faith can we be saved, not by works. In this passage, Paul makes clear that God’s judgement will discern who did evil and who did good, and that rewards will match the behavior. We concluded that this refers to the Final Judgement, not to forgiveness, which is a product of Christ enduring the punishment for our sins so that we could be brought closer to God. A related thought was that, by coming to earth, Christ not only died to paid the price for our sin, but by his life he showed us the way to live to achieve Paul’s ideal of pleasing God through our conduct.