Quote:
Originally Posted by aron
The other thing I find so interesting about these discussions, is that the verses ----
What I see is a pattern of equivalents: Jesus notes some aspect of his relationship with the Father, then says the believer's relations with him are "Just as" or "even as" his are with the Father. So just as the Lord Jesus obeys the Father, we obey him. Jesus lives on the Father (his food is in keeping his commands, cf John 4:34) so do we live on him. As the Father sent him, so he sends us. How does this not represent a compelling pattern?
The focus in the gospels and Acts is not on us, it's on him. Peter preached this gospel, not of his (Peter's) enjoyment but on Jesus' resurrection. "Know ye that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom ye crucified." Peter didn't get side-tracked by his own "enjoyment" or "experience". He was laser-focused on the resurrected Messiah.
And the epistles didn't leave this - they built on it. Nothing Paul did, that I can see, departed the "right hand of fellowship" of those that preceded him, including their gospels and their testimonies of Jesus.?
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There are verses about many different themes or topics, but if someone talks about one aspect of the truth it does not mean that aspect is wrong because he did not mention the other topics. And yes, Jesus sets the example to obey Him, but He also says as part of that pattern
- Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me
- the Advocate....the Spirit of truth.....you do know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you.
- I have given them the glory You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one—I in them and You in Me
Same in all the rest of the Scriptures. Paul many times refers to the indwelling aspect of Christ and
with very strong emphasis. It is even a test of the christian faith. Should we ignore these truths? Not talk about them?
- My children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you
- Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Can’t you see for yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you—unless you actually fail the test?
- To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
Should we just take these truths and experiences and ignore the rest?, NO. Should we just center improperly on imaginary, subjective experiences of Christ and sin? NO. But then again we should not center improperly on any imaginary thing nor sin either.