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That's an important point.We need to understand that references to 'works' especially by Paul refer to Torah keeping, the works of the law, not good deeds or self effort as such.
John
NZ
That doesn't contradict that.It is. But it's one you seem to not necessarily agree with since you characterize doing what's right when one's heart isn't in it as hollow works.
I guess for me?My conslusion ?I want NOTHING to do with let alone to be married with someone who is "doing the works" with NO REAL FEELINGS of LOVE behind it..ZERO..
Others can live that way ..I can NOT..not with joy and true intimacy...
So...We are created in Gods image..I can ONLY 'assume' he wants my EMOTIONS of love towards HIM..not for me to dutifully recite a prayer that I dont really mean ..I just do "it" to be obedient..He wants me to "love' Him..not 'act' like I do..Period..
That my PERSONAL beleif and Im happy that way...
Dallas
I hear you... Just going through the works is ... boring but doing it becuse you really mean it is something else.
If we are following the "spirit of the law".....we are automatically keeping the "letter of the law".It does in the very definition of works. Doing the right thing when one's heat isn't in it has nothing to do with keeping the Old Testemant law.
Without faith, it's IMPOSSIBLE to please God. ~Hebrews 11:6
Yet he (Abraham) did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, 21 being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised. 22 This is why “it was credited to him as righteousness.”~Romans 4:20-22
Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. ~Romans 4:23-25
Every word of God is pure;
He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him~Proverbs 30:5
I hear you... Just going through the works is ... boring but doing it becuse you really mean it is something else.
It's a decision of what we WANT more.....a parting of two ways. Do we want to indulge in our own sleep over the care of a helpless baby, that's dependent upon us? Can we even enjoy that sleep....hearing the screaming of a hungry baby? Is our own conscience able to ignore the baby? Bottom line....do we want to be a responsible parent....or would we rather live selfishly, ignoring the needs of our child?
A baby is utterly reliant upon its parents/adults to get its needs meet -and I mean needs, such as hunger. A fully able adult can shift for him or herself. A baby doesn't understand not being fed. It can't be reasoned with. An adult should be able to think just a little bit above that.What makes the needs of a hungry baby different than the needs of a spouse though? Or to put it in terms closer to what you just said, do we want to be a responsible spouse or would we rather live selfishly ignoring the needs(or desires) of our spouse?
A baby is utterly reliant upon its parents/adults to get its needs meet -and I mean needs, such as hunger. A fully able adult can shift for him or herself. A baby doesn't understand not being fed. It can't be reasoned with. An adult should be able to think just a little bit above that.
True, but also not at all the point. You do what needs to be done for the baby simply because it's what you are supposed to do. The fact that you may not want to at a particular time doesn't make it any less an act of love. Same thing with what we do for our spouse or for God.
I think you're misunderstanding my posts, HW. I'm not suggesting that we should expect that our wants will always align with God's. You are right....that *is* unrealistic.
What I am saying is....when it comes to that point, where we sense His direction in one way...and we *want* to go another...(or ignore it all together)...then, IMO, based on Scripture....I believe He is more interested in us changing our beliefs (which is repentance---changing our mind)....believing HIS promises to us......allowing Him to help us with our unbelief, instead of just us acting. That's doing something on our strength......and it will eventually circle back to where we were......where we believed.
mkgal1 said:Using your food example......it's similar to what I said earlier.....you are wanting to feel better & look better more than you hate the hassle of eating right. As long as that remains your belief...IMO....you will probably be able to keep it up. If, on certain days, you believe it *isn't* worth the hassle.....that one day won't matter...or even a weekend won't matter, then you probably won't go through the hassle on those days---because that's what you believe.
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