Too bad. What I do, does make a difference. Not for my righteousness sake (we’ve already beaten that horse to death), but for my neighbor.

After all, that is why God put me here on earth…to serve my neighbor.

“Now my question to you is, does what you do in this life make any difference at all?”

Obviously not.

You could commit murder 1,000 times each day, and adultery 5,000 a day, a kick puppies all day long…and still be forgiven by Christ.

Does that answer your question?

Now my question to you is, does what you do in this life make any difference at all?

Follow your logic Steve. If Christ took care of it, and this world isnt what its about, then it doesnt matter how I “get along” in it. If it is not based on my actions then it doesnt matter what I do here. Now if you are saying that what I do here affects my outcome then were talking a different ball game. So which is it, my doing, or Christs.

I think you’ve got something there.

When it comes to His forgiveness and His acceptance of us…you are absolutely right. We need no map.

When it comes to our being able to get along in this world…we do. And I think we need the map to show us how lost we are.

I really love your comment though, when looking at how we can be ‘good enough’ for God. No map will work on that score for we wouldn’t follow it anyway. Because Christ is the driver when it comes to our righteousness…we do not need the map.

Nice one, John!

- Steve

“And we need to keep the map and refer to it often to realize that we are lost (because of our unwillingness to trust the map maker), lest we delude ourselves that we are headed in the right direction.”

Obviously if you really believe Christ is the driver, then you dont need your map. Now on the other hand, if your faith is not that strong, by all means get yours out.

If I were to wear a black wet suit there would be whale sightings and the fingers would be pointed at me!

I’m not kidding. A baloney sandwich may be a good thing!

Steve, don’t wear a black wet-suit! Have fun.

No, I didn’t hear about that. No kidding? Maybe I’ll just stay home tomorrow and have a baloney sandwich and watch some old Andy Griffith re-runs!

Today I was wading out into the high tide to get some better shots.

I could not imagine being in the water next to a shark.

Every now and then dolphins cruise fairly close to the surfers. They are cute and cuddly, I think I could handle being in the water with one of those guys.

Thanks or the link to ‘A Puritan’s Mind’ (it’s about as close as I’ll ever come).

I’m not sure wheher any of the Church Fathers exegeted the RYR or the SOM using the law/gospel paradigm. I’ll ask around and see if I can get some info. on that.

On the not getting past square 1 (1st commandment) question, I do think you correctly understand the Lutheran view.

I think those laundry lists of sins that Paul sites are just a way of showing what the life of the unbeliever (in the groups he was addressing) does indeed look like. Not that the believer does not commit one or all these sins after he is converted, but that He does not live in them. He does not give himself over to them, the way that an unbeliever does. Also, Paul uses the law in such a fashion as to kill off the ‘old Adam’, so that the gospel might be heard.

In Romans 7 Paul lays it on the line and tells us exactly how well he is doing at keeping the law. I don’t really think he would call for other believers to do what he fully knew he could not.

The works we perform that are accepted by God as truly ‘good’ are not our works. They are the works of the Spirit in us. ” He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.” The gifts of the Spirit are just that, gifts that come from Him. “All our righteous deeds are as filthy rags.” Any good work done apart from the Holy Spirit is a mortal sin…for it is tainted by ‘the self’ (even if it is imperceptable).

Our progression (and we really have no way of judging it) is really the work of the Spirit and not our doing whatsoever.

Anyway, that’s my take on it. It’s what I’ve learned in Bible study. I may be totally off base (it certainly wouldn’t be the first time…today!)

Thank you John!

- Steve