Quote:
Originally Posted by OBW
micah6v8, I think you are over-analyzing it..
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I agree with you that Christians are to trust and obey God even when they do not understand. After all, we are men with finite knowledge and understanding. We do not see the big picture as God does.
I also believe that when we understand what God has done for us, we will have the ability to carry out God's commands.
Eg if I am merely asked to love my neighbour, it would be a burdensome command.
But if I know that I have been loved much by my Saviour, loving my neighbour is no longer burdensome.
We love because we have been loved.
Similarly, it is easier to forgive others when we know how much we have been forgiven.
As mentioned in my earlier posts, Paul's words are often phrased in terms of telling us what God has done for us before telling us how to live in light of what God has done.
As to whether it is possible to believe without obeying, I have not formed any firm thoughts on this. I have friends who smoke, but I believe that if I asked them, they would agree that smoking is harmful to your body.
I think some theologians believe that it is possible to have intellectual assent without being convicted in the heart.
Even if we are convicted in our heart, sometimes the flesh is weak
What do you make of the verse "For I
do not do the good I want, but the evil I
do not want is what I keep on doing."?