Re: Hi Again...
Submitted by Chris on May 7 2002 15:47:24
In reply to Hi Chris submitted by Bach on May 6 2002 11:27:31
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Hi Bach, It is good to "talk" with you, I'm so looking forward to seeing you this summer. We will have much to talk about in person, I'm sure. Besides, I have to tell you that I really miss everyone I had the pleasure of meeting at the one conferance I attended. It's going to be cool!!! Anyway, to get into what you were saying... Paul WAS a literal "fire-ball" of a person, and in that way so very different from Jesus. He was that way before He began his ministry for Christ, and then maybe even moreso while he was deeply involved with it. Probably the only real difference was in whom he was doing it for and, of course, the way he went about it too. His conversion was the most dramatic of anyone I know of in the Bible. But he certainly is a terrific example of the way God often chooses the most unlikely people for His work, people who you would probably never imagine doing it...(people like us...?!). In fact, one very striking simularity with all of the Apostles was that they are so different from any kind of religious "ideal" image that WE would probably look for in a person to do the job that God had for them to do. But God does this for a very good reason....to show us just how great His salvation is, and how wonderfully it will work (He will work) in our lives if we let Him in. Paul has an answer for us concerning the problem of sin in our lives as believers. I do not have my Bible with me, but try Romans 6,7,8,or9...I believe you will find it in 7, but I could be wrong. Anyway, he says something like,"I do not understand why I do what I do not want to do, and those things I want to do, I do not do." Well, he is talking about sin in his life and how it is so very perplexing why he could never seem to get it all out the way he felt he should. This is a very familiar question for every Christian. Well, a little further on, he answers this question in a very interesting and wonderful way. He says something like,"The sin that is in me is no longer me." I am not sure of the exact wording, but what he is saying is a quality of our new relationship with God that is what makes the Gospel so different from anything else in all of creation! We are no longer a part of sin and no longer related in any way to it. Yes it is still "in our lives", but it is that which belongs to the old, fallen state in which we USED to be a part of, a slave to (if you will), but no longer are. When we choose Christ and He becomes our Lord, we trully are a new crature and no longer belong to the fallen state of this world around us. Thus, we no longer have to relate to sin and death, but life and freedom in God's limmitless love! It is all about relationship! A new relationship with God, and a new way of approaching life...a whole new outlook. Maybe that will give you something of what you are looking for. I hope so. God Bless, Bach. I will be back soon. Love in Christ Jesus, Chris |
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