Thursday, June 22, 2006

There is therefore...

I’ll never understand those people who think they can earn a relationship with God by doing more good than bad. Do they not have the kind of thoughts I have on a fairly consistent basis? Thoughts of anger, lust, frustration, pride, et.al. Do they not do the things I do on a fairly consistent basis? Get even, put people down, talk behind their backs, consider myself more important than they, et.al. G.K. Chesterton wrote, “Sin is the only major Christian doctrine that can be verified empirically.”

As Paul wrote to the Christians at Rome, “It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge. I've tried everything and nothing helps. I'm at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn't that the real question? The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different. “ [Romans 7:21-25 The Message] The next sentence is the key: “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” [Romans 8:1 ESV]

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

And your book is coming out when Paul????? God has things to say through that heart of yours!!!

Paul Schliep said...

Thanks, Heather, for the encouragement. I actually have written a book entitled, "I Know Where I'm Going, I'm just not sure how to get there." It was self-published and we gave copies to the folks at SMCC. I think that was before Bob and Mar started attending. We ran out of the first printing, but we haven't had the cash to do a second. I can loan you a copy if you're interested.