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Showing posts from October, 2014

C.S.Lewis on the Fall

The doctrine of the Fall (both of man and of some “gods,” “eldils” or “angels”) is the only satisfactory explanation. Evil begins, in a universe where all was good, from free will, which was permitted because it makes possible the greatest good of all. The corruption of the first sinner consists not in choosing some evil thing (there are no evil things for him to choose) but in preferring a lesser good (himself) before a greater (God). The Fall is, in fact, Pride. The possibility of this wrong preference is inherent in the v. fact of having, or being, a self at all. But though freedom is real it is not infinite. Every choice reduces a little one’s freedom to choose the next time. There therefore comes a time when the creature is fully built, irrevocably attached either to God or to itself. This irrevocableness is what we call Heaven or Hell. Every conscious agent is finally committed in the long run: i.e., it rises above freedom into willed, but henceforth unalterable, union with God, ...

Reflections on the Sermon on the Mount #1 - The Authority of Christ Above All

Paying attention to the way Jesus speaks in the Sermon on the Mount can show us wonderful things: “ You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22   But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother [ c ] will be liable to judgment; whoever insults [ d ] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell [ e ] of fire. Matthew 5:21-22 “ You have heard that it was said , ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28  But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32  But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. ...

"Believe" - The Theme of the Book of John

“Believe” The Theme of Book of John John 1 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. (John 1:7) But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13) John 2  This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him. (John 2:11) When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. (John 2:22) Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. (John 2:23) John 3 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe , how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? (John 3:12) And as Moses...

Empty

"So what seems to be the problem?" "The problem is I already know ..." "What do you mean?" "He is going to tell me my heart is clinging on to idols, to set my worth on Christ, to hope in things eternal, to love others more than self, to carry the weight of the Cross, to rely on the inner workings of the Spirit" "Is he right?" "He is right about everything." "So?" "It still feels horribly empty and void. As if he is describing a world completely different from mine."

We cannot escape his sufferings if we follow him

"When the large crowd of the Jews learned that Jesus was there, they came, not only on account of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to put Lazarus to death as well, because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and believing in Jesus." (John 12:9-11)

Don't joke about this

"You can have the best holiday in the world, all the masters education you want, the best possible job the best possible husband, the best possible friends and yet all these things put together will not even come close to what Jesus Christ gives and does for a person. This is why I tell everyone about Him. Don't joke about this." An admittedly very angry response to a friend. Lord have mercy on me.