In continuing the search for godliness I cam to both 2 Corinthians chapter 1 and chapter 7 but the word 'godly' wasn't in either one. I was confused in reading Chapter 1, mainly because I was looking for the specific word and missed much of the message, but in Chapter 7 I gleaned a couple of things.
"Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it - I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while - yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death" (2 Corinthians 7:8-10).
The difference between being sorry in the world and sorry in Christ is twofold. Being sorry in the world's terms leaves one feeling regret and on the road to death. But being sorry in Christ brings about repentance and salvation. In my recent struggles with alcohol I could easily be sorry because of the way my drinking has affected things externally. But in taking the approach of tackling it by going for God I do not go down the path of regret, but down the one to repentance and salvation. Hear my prayer God. I repent to you of my sin. I feel sorrow for the pain I've inflicted, especially on my wife. Lead me not into temptation and help me to stay on the straight path to you. Help me find godliness (and another passage that actually has the term in it). Amen.
Showing posts with label Repentance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Repentance. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Brief Notes on Ignatius of Antioch (A)
(Originally Written June 1, 2008 in the Journal)
Ignatius of Antioch
Ignatius was the third bishop of Antioch. He wrote seven letters on the way to his martyrdom in Rome. Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, preserved the letters of Ignatius and spread them through the Church. Ignatius' letter to the Romans was the most widely known letter of his to the early church. The other six were to fight against Jewish heresy and the heresy of Docetism, which denies the trueness of Christ's humanity. Ignatius focuses heavily on martyrdom, drawing from the book of the Maccabees, which was included in the Septuagint. Ignatius has Gnostic tones, but heavily denies the Docetism that is used in Gnostic teaching. Ignatius attacks the Judaizing of Christianity.
Ignatius' Epistle to the Ephesians
Ignatius looks forward to his martyrdom in Rome for "the name and the Hope we all share". He states, "trusting through your prayers to be granted an encounter with the wild beasts at Rome - a boon that will enable me to become a true disciple" (Early Christian Writings, 61).
He tells the Ephesians that because Jesus Christ has granted such glory to them they must in turn give glory to Christ.
He tells them to be sanctified by submitting to their bishop and clergy. He tells them that this submission is not an order because he does not have the authority. He claims his lack of authority is on account of him being a beginner in being a disciple.
We can have no life apart from Christ.
Christ represents the mind of the Father. The bishops represent the mind of Christ. The bishops are sent by God. Our actions to them are actions to God himself.
He warns them to guard against heresy.
Carnal men are incapable of acting spiritually. Likewise, spiritual men are incapable of acting carnally.
We must pray for mankind unceasingly so that repentance can lead them to God.
We can show the unbelieving crowd their error by repaying malice with kindness. They will know our brotherhood by our forbearance.
Corporate faith causes Satan's interference to crumble.
Life begins with faith and ends in love.
We must practice what we profess if we are to instruct others.
The cross offends the unbelievers, but is salvation and eternal life to us.
Ignatius of Antioch
Ignatius was the third bishop of Antioch. He wrote seven letters on the way to his martyrdom in Rome. Polycarp, the bishop of Smyrna, preserved the letters of Ignatius and spread them through the Church. Ignatius' letter to the Romans was the most widely known letter of his to the early church. The other six were to fight against Jewish heresy and the heresy of Docetism, which denies the trueness of Christ's humanity. Ignatius focuses heavily on martyrdom, drawing from the book of the Maccabees, which was included in the Septuagint. Ignatius has Gnostic tones, but heavily denies the Docetism that is used in Gnostic teaching. Ignatius attacks the Judaizing of Christianity.
Ignatius' Epistle to the Ephesians
Ignatius looks forward to his martyrdom in Rome for "the name and the Hope we all share". He states, "trusting through your prayers to be granted an encounter with the wild beasts at Rome - a boon that will enable me to become a true disciple" (Early Christian Writings, 61).
He tells the Ephesians that because Jesus Christ has granted such glory to them they must in turn give glory to Christ.
He tells them to be sanctified by submitting to their bishop and clergy. He tells them that this submission is not an order because he does not have the authority. He claims his lack of authority is on account of him being a beginner in being a disciple.
We can have no life apart from Christ.
Christ represents the mind of the Father. The bishops represent the mind of Christ. The bishops are sent by God. Our actions to them are actions to God himself.
He warns them to guard against heresy.
Carnal men are incapable of acting spiritually. Likewise, spiritual men are incapable of acting carnally.
We must pray for mankind unceasingly so that repentance can lead them to God.
We can show the unbelieving crowd their error by repaying malice with kindness. They will know our brotherhood by our forbearance.
Corporate faith causes Satan's interference to crumble.
Life begins with faith and ends in love.
We must practice what we profess if we are to instruct others.
The cross offends the unbelievers, but is salvation and eternal life to us.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Brief Notes on Clement of Rome (A)
(Originally Written May 31, 2008 in the Journal)
Praise the Lord for today because this is the day that the Lord has made. May all of heaven and earth proclaim your holy name and may your glory be acknowledged throughout all time! There is no God but the one true God, the God of Jacob! Praise the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Praise you for the beauty of the earth, the birds of the sky and the fish of the deep. Praise you for all things good and praise you for even the troubles that have befallen me because they have drawn me nearer to you.
I was thinking on the words of Rob Bell in Velvet Elvis. He talked of faith like a trampoline vs. faith like a wall. When you have faith like a trampoline then doctrine is the springs that propel you upwards toward God. When you have faith like a wall each doctrine fits in a certain place and if you remove one, the wall starts to crumble. He talked of a man who said if you deny the literal seven day creation you deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This seems false and destructive. But, I believe doctrine is vital to Christianity.
To deny the literalism of creation is not to deny the resurrection of Christ. But to deny the validity of any passage of the Bible is to reject the Word of God. You cannot deny any part of the Bible as valid and be Christian. A passage may be taken as poetic or figurative or literal, but it is valid always. You cannot make piecemeal of the Scriptures. Doctrine is man's interpretation of Scriptures and thus, fallible, where the Scriptures are not. But the Lord has endowed us with reason and we must make proper use of it.
Thank you Lord for today! I picked up the Penguin Classics Early Christian Writings today and will be reading it in conjunction with Bible readings.
Notes on Early Christian Writings
Clement of Rome
Clement seems to have been the fourth bishop of Rome, following Peter, Linus and Anencletus. The date of Clement's epistle to the Corinthians seems to have been written around 96 A.D. The letter shows Clement's extensive knowledge of the Scriptures, which as a Gentile, meant the Septuagint. He also shows a strong familiarity of the books that became the New Testament. He writes of harmony and draws also on Stoic Philosophy. While he combines the Hebrew Scriptures with Stoic philosophy, he subordinates Stoic Philosophy to Christian vision. Clement also uses strong Trinitarian language, much stronger than found in the New Testament.
1 Clement
Clement praises the Corinthian church for how they used to act. "Always you were ready for any deed of goodness...whatever you did was done in fear of God" (Early Christian Writings, 24).
The Clement extols them for having fallen back to their evil ways. They have traded folly for wisdom. "All have fallen back into the horrid sin of envy - the sin that brought death into the world" (Early Christian Writings, 24).
He encourages them to turn from envy and follow the examples of Peter and Paul. He reminds them that many of the elect have been tormented by envy and had to fight it unto their very deaths. He warns them that envy has ruined marriages and overthrown cities and nations. He tells them to turn from envy and reflect on the preciousness of the Blood of Christ, which is an outpouring of salvation and has opened grace of repentance to mankind.
The Lord always opens up the chance for man to repent. It is never too late.
The Lord never forsakes those who place their hope in Him, but puts pain and penalty on those who rebel against Him.
He calls on them to be humble and show forgiveness.
"Christ belongs to the lowly of heart" (Early Christian Writings, 29).
He tells them that humility is always found in the great men of God: in Elisha, in Elijah, in Job, in Ezekiel, in David and even in Christ, all of whom had reason to be proud.
He encourages them to aim to achieve the tranquility of which we were made to be in. He states even nature operates in harmony with itself: night and day, the seasons. These fulfill God's plans for them.
He tells them to respect those who God has set over them. He says to teach the children in Christian thought.
He reminds them that mercy will be shown to those who set their hopes on the Lord.
He warns them not to doubt the resurrection because there is evidence of the resurrection all around them.
He tells them that, "untruth is the only thing that is impossible to God" (Early Christian Writings, 34).
He reminds them that there is nothing that the Lord does not see or hear.
He calls on the Corinthians to give up everything that is opposed to God because they are God's chosen portion.
He reminds them that God rewards faith and that they are justified by faith.
He tells us that though we are justified by faith we ought to strive to good works because the Lord himself delights in working.
The Lord has mad man in His own image and blessed him, commanding man to increase and multiply.
We must put forth all our effort into the work of righteousness.
We must wait in patience for the Lord and He will bestow the greatness and beauty of His gifts upon us.
Men who do things that are detestable are held in detestation by the Lord. Not only this, but men who consent to these things are held in detestation.
Praise the Lord for today because this is the day that the Lord has made. May all of heaven and earth proclaim your holy name and may your glory be acknowledged throughout all time! There is no God but the one true God, the God of Jacob! Praise the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Praise you for the beauty of the earth, the birds of the sky and the fish of the deep. Praise you for all things good and praise you for even the troubles that have befallen me because they have drawn me nearer to you.
I was thinking on the words of Rob Bell in Velvet Elvis. He talked of faith like a trampoline vs. faith like a wall. When you have faith like a trampoline then doctrine is the springs that propel you upwards toward God. When you have faith like a wall each doctrine fits in a certain place and if you remove one, the wall starts to crumble. He talked of a man who said if you deny the literal seven day creation you deny the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This seems false and destructive. But, I believe doctrine is vital to Christianity.
To deny the literalism of creation is not to deny the resurrection of Christ. But to deny the validity of any passage of the Bible is to reject the Word of God. You cannot deny any part of the Bible as valid and be Christian. A passage may be taken as poetic or figurative or literal, but it is valid always. You cannot make piecemeal of the Scriptures. Doctrine is man's interpretation of Scriptures and thus, fallible, where the Scriptures are not. But the Lord has endowed us with reason and we must make proper use of it.
Thank you Lord for today! I picked up the Penguin Classics Early Christian Writings today and will be reading it in conjunction with Bible readings.
Notes on Early Christian Writings
Clement of Rome
Clement seems to have been the fourth bishop of Rome, following Peter, Linus and Anencletus. The date of Clement's epistle to the Corinthians seems to have been written around 96 A.D. The letter shows Clement's extensive knowledge of the Scriptures, which as a Gentile, meant the Septuagint. He also shows a strong familiarity of the books that became the New Testament. He writes of harmony and draws also on Stoic Philosophy. While he combines the Hebrew Scriptures with Stoic philosophy, he subordinates Stoic Philosophy to Christian vision. Clement also uses strong Trinitarian language, much stronger than found in the New Testament.
1 Clement
Clement praises the Corinthian church for how they used to act. "Always you were ready for any deed of goodness...whatever you did was done in fear of God" (Early Christian Writings, 24).
The Clement extols them for having fallen back to their evil ways. They have traded folly for wisdom. "All have fallen back into the horrid sin of envy - the sin that brought death into the world" (Early Christian Writings, 24).
He encourages them to turn from envy and follow the examples of Peter and Paul. He reminds them that many of the elect have been tormented by envy and had to fight it unto their very deaths. He warns them that envy has ruined marriages and overthrown cities and nations. He tells them to turn from envy and reflect on the preciousness of the Blood of Christ, which is an outpouring of salvation and has opened grace of repentance to mankind.
The Lord always opens up the chance for man to repent. It is never too late.
The Lord never forsakes those who place their hope in Him, but puts pain and penalty on those who rebel against Him.
He calls on them to be humble and show forgiveness.
"Christ belongs to the lowly of heart" (Early Christian Writings, 29).
He tells them that humility is always found in the great men of God: in Elisha, in Elijah, in Job, in Ezekiel, in David and even in Christ, all of whom had reason to be proud.
He encourages them to aim to achieve the tranquility of which we were made to be in. He states even nature operates in harmony with itself: night and day, the seasons. These fulfill God's plans for them.
He tells them to respect those who God has set over them. He says to teach the children in Christian thought.
He reminds them that mercy will be shown to those who set their hopes on the Lord.
He warns them not to doubt the resurrection because there is evidence of the resurrection all around them.
He tells them that, "untruth is the only thing that is impossible to God" (Early Christian Writings, 34).
He reminds them that there is nothing that the Lord does not see or hear.
He calls on the Corinthians to give up everything that is opposed to God because they are God's chosen portion.
He reminds them that God rewards faith and that they are justified by faith.
He tells us that though we are justified by faith we ought to strive to good works because the Lord himself delights in working.
The Lord has mad man in His own image and blessed him, commanding man to increase and multiply.
We must put forth all our effort into the work of righteousness.
We must wait in patience for the Lord and He will bestow the greatness and beauty of His gifts upon us.
Men who do things that are detestable are held in detestation by the Lord. Not only this, but men who consent to these things are held in detestation.
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