Galatians 2:19-21
For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
It's an interesting piece but I may differ with Francis in that, when Paul laid out his case before the Romans that all have sinned (i.e. both Jew and Greek) he first spoke of the wrath of God (Rom 1.18). Paul believed Law (Torah) was to awaken the conscience of the sinner. Yes, God's love is proactive and necessarily first; if it weren't all would sin and all would go to hell, end of story. But this society doesn't seem to have a problem believing God loves them. They do, however, seem to have a problem that God is just. Perhaps I see things through the lens of an uber conservative Protestant and not a Roman Catholic. But I think I have Romans on my side. ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt is far worse for an employee who has his employer's trust and key to the door to shoplift than it is for a customer off of the street to do it. Pope Francis knows better.
ReplyDeleteChrist died for me and for you and for everyone, but I know the law and I will live it -- all the while living as a perpetually forgiven sinner. I will not ignore the law or the Word of God. I know better and so does Pope Francis. The Pope is trying to change the curve; to provide a God that he knows today's youth are looking for: a God who loves everyone and embraces everyone and will judge them on their decency toward others and not how they personally abide by his commandments. Moses was a decent man, but he didn't follow God's instructions as he was ordered to and God punished him.
We are saved by Jesus Christ, but God tells us that if we truly love him, we will keep his commandments. Jesus was born under the law to free us all from being under the law -- but the law is still there.
Paul articulated the deepest points of the very early Christianity from a Pharisee scholar's point of view. But Jesus himself said: "...Go and sin no more".
ReplyDeleteWhat excellent comments. I'm so delighted that this elicited such thoughtful and thought provoking debate. I hope that God is using me to provide such a forum. I love Him so and to His Glory I offer up my soul my pain and my dedication to obedience. Though I am clearly not successful, I attempt to 'sin no more.'
ReplyDelete