[HERn]

"I believe that the correct way to understand all those lists of characteristics of Christ and the application of those to us is that they are true. Paul brings them up as underlying facts that do not need to be drummed up. And because of them, we have what it takes to do what is required. Equally love the Jew and Greek; rich, poor, and slave; and so on. Reject the pursuit of OT ritual and dietary laws to obtain or certify your salvation. Live righteously toward everyone. He didn't tell us those things so we would turn inward and consider our life to be about doing a bunch of spiritual things as much of the time as possible.

If our purpose was (and still is) to bear the image of God, then spending all our time shirking the "works" of righteousness and justice (what shows to the world the image of God) and instead just contemplating, and going to more meetings where we get ourselves excited about more of that is missing the point. It is not to worship God constantly. The example in the garden would seem to hint against that. Having that daily "meeting" with God, setting our minds on the Spirit, and then walking out into the world to fulfill the righteous requirement of the law is the mark."


I think this is a great summary of the gospel of Jesus Christ and how to live it out! Thanks OBW for your effort in thinking about and communicating these thoughts.