Status Updates From On Being a Theologian of th...

“Works performed on the premise that one was going to become righteous thereby are not good to begin with. They defend us against the goodness of God. They are done not for the neighbor but for the glory of the self. Works that can be called good, however, flow from righteousness as from an overflowing vessel, not into it as an empty one waiting to be filled.”

Probably won't finish before our discussion, but I'll get close.

We're supposed to discuss this book tomorrow morning... I'm a little behind.

Never mind that when we looked at ourselves, we find no sign of good works never mind our fears and anxieties. We are looking in the wrong place. Look to Christ! He has done it all.

It is not like earning, but rather like falling in love page 108 Faith is restored by Grace alone page 109. Christ has already fulfilled all things and dwells in those of faith. Everything has already been done. There is simply nothing to do.

Question is it only in so much suffering that you feel death that you are made new?

We are crucified with Christ and cannot know the truth about God. Sin can only be put to death by the action of God.
95 the law does not work the love of God it condemns everything not in Christ

Totally passive. We suffer because we don’t like to be put out of control..
89 true knowledge of God, therefore does not come on a theological platter… so the only way to know God is through suffering, the suffering of the one who saves us

Utter despair of our own ability, looks to the grace of Christ and leads to life

Passive versus active capacity to. Water as an analogy, active capacity to be heated, but cannot actively heat. (Did I mean capability? lol)

“ when the fallen will sets out to do its best, it commits deadly sin… Will is held captive and thus bound to sin”

The cross is evidence that we did not choose him, but that he chose us John 1516

Pg 41 fear of God is an overwhelming sense of awe and trembling.
Pg 43 if our works stand between us and God- what then is sanctification?

“The righteous…their works, no matter how good are deadly (mortal) sins. when are the words of the righteous not mortal sins? When they dear that they are! Fear of God is the decisive issue.

Ok… I begin to understand. Human works cannot be good. Because I am a sinner. As we always say Saint/Sinner. Human works would separate us from God. So the law separates us from God(obviously) but that means the law is not useful because it would just try to make us do good which we are not capable of because of bondage of the will