I cringe when I hear the common contemporary saying, "It's not about us. It's all about Him."
He has made it about both Him and us.
To deny that is a cheap form of self-abasement that dishonors the Lord by denigrating His bride whom He died for, and desires to fellowship with.
Should we boast in ourselves? Of course not. It's His doing.
But He has done it. He has elevated us to a very honored place, F.O.J., Friend of Jesus.
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9 comments:
Thanks Phil.
I wish we said "aye" in the States.
What part of the UK are you from?
I'm not understanding why it upsets you to say....it's all about Him.....isn't that grace?
Ike,
"isn't that grace?
Grace for WHOM? See my point?
Grace without a recipient isn't grace at all.
There's Him...the Bridegroom & Savior...
...and us...the Bride & saved...
Beautiful.
The thing is..."we" can only claim from him justice-and justice, for us, means certain condemnation. God does not owe it to anyone to stop jutice taking its course. He is not obliged to pity and pardon...if he does so it is an act done...as we say, "of "HIS" own free will," and nobody forces his hand. "It does not depend on man's will or effort, but on God's mercy" (Rom 9:16). Grace is free, in the sense of being self-originated and of proceeding from One who was free not to be gracious. Only when it is seen that what decides each individual's destiny is whether or not God resolves to save him from his sins, and that this is a decison which God need not make in any single case, can one begin to grasp the biblical view of grace.
Ike,
1. You, my friend, are a victim of "self-abasement" theology.
2. You are putting words into my mouth totally without warrant.
3. You wrote, "we can only claim from him justice-and justice, for us, means certain condemnation.
This is a totally unbiblical statement. We can claim whatever God SAYS we can claim, and there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (John 8:1).
The Bible teaches, for example, that we can BOLDLY come before His throne. Why? Because He has justified us, declared us righteous, through Christ Jesus.
4. You wrote, "God does not owe it to anyone to stop jutice taking its course. He is not obliged to pity and pardon."
Who said He did owe it? Who said He was obliged? See how you put words in my mouth, Ike?
You wrote, "nobody forces his hand."
Who said they do? See how you put words in my mouth?
5. You've wandered far off the subject, which is my contention that it's unbiblical to parrot the absurd saying that "It's all about Him", as though He were the Author of graciousness (which He is), the Initiator of grace (which He is), but that there was no one to receive His grace (that's us, Ike).
6. Ike, why don't you just face it joyfully...it's about Him (the grace-giver) AND us (the grace-receivers)?
And yet I already know the answer to that question, which brings me full circle to my first statement: You are a victim of "self-abasement" theology, denying the wonder that you are a part of His great plan, even though you (and I) never deserved it.
We are the Body and Bride of Christ, HIS BELOVED...whom He even calls friends.
I thought I left a comment to your last comment....maybe I didn't. Anyway....I want you to know that I am not putting "words" in your mouth. What I am saying is what "I" believe. Perhaps its: "All about Him, yet it also involves us making much of Him"? Would you be in agreement with that statement?
I like your blog and would be interested in a dialogue...even if "we" don't agree with everything....but you certainly seemed to be very defensive with your answer. If you just want people to comment who agree with you....just say so:)
I welcome disagreement. I'm just not sure what you are disagreeing with. You seem to be disagreeing with things that I didn't say.
What specifically that I actually said are you disagreeing with?
My simple thesis is that it's not ALL about Him, because He has brought us into the picture big time, entirely by grace.
If you don't agree with that, then we'll have to agree to disagree.
Of course, anyone who is honest would admit that they prefer the whole world would agree with them, but I'd rather have disagreement expressed here than not expressed. Only then can we shed light on it.
My great interest is in helping to set people free from politically correct legalism, false humility, and self-abasement, wherein they experience condemnation and a feeling of distance from Jesus.
Blessings,
Terry
Terry, when I have heard this phrase used "It's all about Him" it is usually in the context of man-centered vs God centered preaching. Or in the context that we must do something to earn our salvation vs grace through faith alone. I don't think that any true believer would deny the wonder that we are a part of His great plan. The fact that He called us when we were dead in trespasses and sins to become children of God is astounding and is the cause for great joy and praise. I think you and Ike really believe the same thing.
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