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| Author | Topic: Athanasian Creed |
| Karen |
posted 5/23/05 4:51 AM
How did I get so old and never know that the Athanasian Creed existed? I liked it because it explained Trinity so clearly. However, at the end it said that those who have done good will enter eternal life and those who have done evil will enter eternal fire. What happened to saved by grace? |
| Pastor |
posted 5/25/05 6:38 PM
Many people are pt off by the length of the Athenasian creed so it is not used often. We try to say it each year on Trinity Sunday, but we have neglected to do so when it has conflicted with confirmation or another celebration.The statement at the end about the good receiveing reward and the bad being punished is an affirmation of the very real judgement of God and the existence of heaven and hell.Grace is very real and necessary for any of us to be saved, but what we gaurd against is a "cheap grace" that says I can do whatever I want because God forgives me.Essentially for me I believe this says that what we believe, and choose to believe matters. Good is still defined as believing not being perfect. |
| Anonymous |
posted 7/28/05 5:54 PM
Karen,John 5:24-29 might help. Jesus says "without Me you can do nothing". Good works follow faith, but do not earn salvation. Having good works is a quality of Christians because we are created in Christ Jesus for good works (see Eph. 2:8-10). That's what John means when he says "he who is born of God does not sin." But we're still carrying around our sinful natures and so we struggle and fight until the grave and joyfully say every Sunday that we believe in the forgiveness of sin, in the resurrection from the dead and the life everlasting, where there will be no sin (or tears for that matter - you know what God's going to do with those!) |
| Trish |
posted 7/29/05 4:27 PM
I'm reading a book on Martin Luther called "Luther The Reformer" by James M. Kittelson which covers the process Luther went through while struggling with grace and righteousness.The author says that Luther began a lecture on Romans by stating: "In the presence of GOD it is not by doing just works that one becomes just, but, having been made just, one does just deeds".I think that says it all quite well! |
| Karen |
posted 7/31/05 3:35 AM
I guess this how I wanted it to be. When I was in college it used to bother me how people could go crazy all week and then go to confession each week and have it all "erased." We should at least be trying to do good even though we're still going to sin. But, thank God for grace. |
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