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Comment on Thesis 28 -- The Qualitative Distinctions of Love

Rondi Lauterbach — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 22:51:24 GMT

The final thesis blew me away with a new (to me) definition of love--"It is love, the love of God that creates out of nothing, calls into being that which is from that which is not." (p. 112-113). God's love creates! I have heard that it initiates, confers good, saves, gives...but I had never imagined that it creates me from nothing. I knew I was a new creation in Christ, but I didn't realize that I was "without form and void" before, that this new creation now forms and fills me. Our salvation is even greater than we realized...our Savior is even more wonderful than we have formerly believed!

Comment on Thesis 28 -- The Qualitative Distinctions of Love

Elyse Fitzpatrick — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 15:40:35 GMT

Hi All -- I saw that Tweet, too, and have been thinking about how he said that the gospel is not a help wanted sign. Exactly what we've been saying. Today I'm trying to remember that I going to church so he can serve me. Thanks for posting all of this.

Here's a post from Michele,

"Therefore the sinner must be reduced to nothing in order to be saved. The presupposition of the entire Disputation is laid bare. It is the hope of the resurrection. God brings life out of death. He calls into being that which is from that which is not. In order that there be a resurrection, the sinner must die. All presumptions must be ended. The truth must be seen" (pg. 114).

This is my favorite quote for the day because it helps me to understand suffering in a way that glorifies God. It takes the focus off my suffering, as far as that can actually be done, and puts my focus back on the hope of the resurrection. The hope of an eternal good, a good that is worth waiting for, a good where I actually "stretch my neck out" as it were and look for this hope with the expectation of God bringing life out of death.

Comment on Thesis 28 -- The Qualitative Distinctions of Love

Kristen — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 02:12:34 GMT

John Piper just linked this article on Twitter. It reminded me of all we have been talking about here:

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Articles/ByDate/1995/1564_Brothers_Tell_Them_Not_to_Serve_God/

Comment on Thesis 28 -- The Qualitative Distinctions of Love

Kristen — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 01:54:14 GMT

"....That is the point of the language here and its exuberance. To the theologian of the cross the language of grace and faith must be pushed absolutely to this length-until it kills the old and raises the new. Nothing at all will ever be gained by backing down. We will only fall back into law where the demand continues endlessly and nothing is ever finally done. So we can only let the language of grace sound forth. Grace says, 'believe it' and everything-EVERYTHING!-is already done. It is the creative Word of God. If that doesn't work then nothing will."

Thank you, Elyse, for taking the time to read through this book and also to write comments for all of us. Your comments really helped me to digest each theses. Thank you for your faithful service to us and to the Lord!!!

Comment on Thesis 28 -- The Qualitative Distinctions of Love

Kristen — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 01:47:23 GMT

It's really hard for me to narrow it down to one favorite quote. This book was eye opening for me.

I really liked the picture this passage gave me from page 105-106:

"Works performed on the premise that one was going to BECOME righteous thereby are not good to begin with. They defend us against the goodness of God. They are done not for the neighbor but for the glory of the self. Works that can be called good, however, flow FROM righteousness as from an overflowing vessel, not into it as an empty one waiting to be filled....The cross has reversed everything. The foolishness of God in the cross is wiser than the wisdom of the world. The righteousness that avails before God is a being claimed by the crucified and resurrected Christ. It is not like accomplishing something but like dying and coming to life. It is not like earning something but more like falling in love. It is not the attainment of a long-sought goal, the arrival at the end of a process, but the beginning of something absolutely new, something never before heard of or entertained."

I think my favorite passage though is from pages 109-110 which you quoted in your previous post. I hope you don't mind that it's long.

"The insistence that only those works are truly good that are done spontaneously and joyously out of faith, hope, and love belongs to the very heart and soul of Luther's Reformation. That is why he can make the claim that faith doesn't have to be prompted to do good works because in faith everything is already done. This seems a preposterous claim. It is based, however, not on any claim we can make about ourselves but on the fact that the Christ who creates faith has fulfilled all things. Indeed, one should not miss the spectacular nature of the claim here. The believer is not being exhorted to do works on the basis of faith in order to catch up with what is demanded. Rather, the announcement is made that because the Christ who has fulfilled all things dwells within the person of faith, everything has ALREADY been done! There is simply nothing to do!

Here is a drastic parting of ways with a theology of glory. The Christ of the crass TAKES AWAY the possibility of doing something. The theologian of glory might be able to follow to the point of accepting the truth that Christ has fulfilled all things, but then that will have to be used as motivational fuel to make sure the law gets its due. The point is precisely that the power to do good comes only out of this wild claim that everything has ALREADY been done. The language has to break out into preaching. Never mind that when we look to ourselves we find no sign of good works. Never mind our fears and anxieties. We are looking in the wrong place. Look to Christ! He has done it all! Nothing will be gained by trying to shore up the Old Adam. Christ leaves nothing for the Old Adam and Eve to do. The old can only be killed by the law, not given artificial respiration by recourse to it..." to be cont.

Comment on Thesis 27 and Down With Summer Brain and Weather Pansies

Melissa — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 17:12:05 GMT

Such a beautiful quote from Luther: The real operative power in all works that can be called "good" is the work of Christ..." I could camp out on this all day, all week for that matter! I am really enjoying your book, Comforts From the Cross. I got it at WDW in July this year and it has so ministered to me in trying to remember that my obedience is always in Christ, and not some self-generated effort. Thanks and God bless!

Comment on Thesis 27 and Down With Summer Brain and Weather Pansies

Kristen — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 20:05:22 GMT

Thank you for this post, Elyse. It's been such a huge encouragement! I've also been able to share it with some others who have been encouraged by it.

I was wondering if you can recommend any books on the role of the Holy Spirit in the believer. Thanks in advance!

Comment on Thesis 27 and Down With Summer Brain and Weather Pansies

Elyse Fitzpatrick — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 20:49:45 GMT

Thanks, Angie. Glad that you were blessed. Enjoy your bike ride. Phil and I will go later on and closer to the coast and I'll seek to be joyful but even if I'm not...

What follows is a comment from Michele who has trouble posting. Enjoy all!

Read you last blog...too good. I didn't sleep much last night, woke up feeling sustained in a strange foggy headed way, then slowly began to become increasingly anger...pretty much about everything. Grumbling at God's kind hand and wanting my comforts met more than what His hand is providing. Kind of just sitting in it. Wondering if I'll get any sleep tonight. Acting like a "good little girl" and refraining from outright anger, although it is certainly raging in my heart. Wanting to throw a cup across the room, or kick a door, or hit a cat, but then I checked my e-mails and came across your latest blog. It was good, as I'm "sitting in it" to be reminded of these truths. I believe they are true, which is a miracle in itself, but I hadn't even thought of it today. Today has kind of been like "God help me", and that's about it. And look, He does. So, thanks for taking the time to write the post and to send it out today.

One more comment from Elyse: Go ahead and kick the cat, M. Really. It's how we'll spend time in eternity. Firing them off of planets. Really fun. Meooooowww!!! JUST KIDDING!

Comment on Thesis 27 and Down With Summer Brain and Weather Pansies

Angie — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 18:42:58 GMT

Amen! Good stuff. Digging into and chewing on the summary, "Everything that I should have done yesterday was done by Him in my place. Everything I shouldn't have done (but did, nevertheless) was atoned for by Him in my place."I have nothing profound to say other than that line is freeing and perhaps worth memorizing.

Now, for a bike ride on a midwestern afternoon, 75* and sunny. A means of grace...minus the beach. Hope it cools down for you soon.

Comment on What the Law Requires From Us is Freedom From the Law -- Put Your Dancin' Shoes On!!!

Elyse Fitzpatrick — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:47:50 GMT

Go ahead, Jim, and bust a move...just don't bust anything else...