tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185920475315753457.post2125530573857678272..comments2023-10-10T01:59:09.924-07:00Comments on Light Before the Tunnel: Jesus on the OffensiveRyan J. Moreauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03085282038807122855noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185920475315753457.post-92166082611573515512009-10-02T14:05:20.991-07:002009-10-02T14:05:20.991-07:00...the rest.....Basically, God's power is so m......the rest.....Basically, God's power is so much greater than ours, that Jesus is reminding people that nothing can be done on our own other than accept and respond. We can't save ourselves or be perfect enough (mind you he was talking to religious jews most of the time who kept asking what they could "do" to inherit the Kingdom) to come into God's presence without the grace that comes from accepting Christ as our Lord and Savior. Jesus states He's the only way, and when He says God does the enabling of the heart, he's making us realize that there is no other way to the Father but through the Son,and that needs to be preached by all believers (not just "pastors") if we believe it's the truth Otherwise, in essense, we are telling people to go to hell. The last part I say humbly as I know I can tell a great joke, or fake my humility to look more like Christ, but ultimately, being converted (born again) is a complete shift in our mind where we become reliant on a personal God who has given us the ability to communicate and live with Him eternally through His son.Ryan J. Moreauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03085282038807122855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185920475315753457.post-17795983982913477502009-10-02T14:05:10.142-07:002009-10-02T14:05:10.142-07:00Ken,I appreciate you sending comments and question...Ken,I appreciate you sending comments and questions. This question is a great one, and understanding the context of the scripture is of the utmost importance as well as understanding God's character by His word and Spirit. I have to say it's tough for me to read what I'm writing as I go so hopefully this makes sense. This answer, is somewhat two parted. The first part is about the "attraction vs conversion" statement. I have to start off by saying that by no means is the Trinity running a "program" to bring about converts and therefore there is not a set way one comes to conversion (meaning Born Again, like when Jesus says we MUST be born again if we are to inherit the Kingdom). Also, the attraction to God is the same to all people as Romans 1:20 states "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." We know God because of the way we are made, the process of coming to know him intimately through Christ (who states he is the only way to know God in Spirit and truth)is a different story.In the context of the Scripture you mentioned, Jesus is making a point, that man cannot come to God himeself unless it is through the one He sent (Jesus) and the enabling is what is considered Grace so that no man can boast about "figuring out" the way to come to God without coming through Christ. Without the enabling of God, we would still be standing in front of a veil waiting for a priest to take our sins to God once a year and hoping he comes out alive. Scripturally a great example of the different ways of coming to conversion as opposed to attraction (coming to know God through Christ and being born again) would be Paul coming to know Christ on the Damascus road through a vision, whereas others in Acts 2 were coming to Christ through the gifts of the Holy spirit being poured upon them by those who were already part of the "way" aka Disciples of Christ. Both ways, God was specifically converting people (not attracting as they are by nature attracted to God) even though he was doing it through His own people (or in the first case through Christ). Enabling us through His Grace, is what makes grace so amazing, it is a gift that cannot be paid for. The second part goes along with Pastors, etc...not needing to gain converts since God will do it. Basically, it's like this, I've never had the oppurtunity to heard God's voice audibly, unless it was through someone who was either preaching, giving advice, or loving me by the way of the holy spirit. Jesus himself told His disciples to go to the "four corners" and make disciples (notice he didn't say to make Christians). Christ also said he'd leave a "wise counselor" to speak through us. Paul in 1 Corinthians 2 and 3 states the difference between worldly wisdom (what you're talking about in terms of trying to "convert" people through wit) and Godly wisdom when it comes to sharing God's word. He actually says in 1 Corinthians 2:4-5 that "My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."...2nd part comingRyan J. Moreauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03085282038807122855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9185920475315753457.post-57815718076813153442009-10-02T13:17:37.339-07:002009-10-02T13:17:37.339-07:00I love the metaphor you used about the pruning bac...I love the metaphor you used about the pruning back the layers until the universe is receiving the "authentic" you, like a robust wine. The question I want to ask you is this:<br />If Jesus said, "no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him", then would that not imply that this is a program of attraction and not of conversion. Pastors and the like would not have to be as clever and Charlatan-witted if they knew there was no need to gain converts; that the Divine would bring members at its pace in perfect timing, unforced and uncoerced? thank you again for the beautiful wisdom. God Bless. Keep up the loving energy.kenkinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04561996585287782626noreply@blogger.com