http://mvtclass.com/2009/11/22/godliness-a-faithful-people/ Mary Virginia Thomas Sunday School Class Blog Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:50:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://mvtclass.com/2009/11/22/godliness-a-faithful-people/comment-page-1/#comment-4284 Heather Truett Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:50:06 +0000 http://mvtclass.com/?p=1478#comment-4284 Just dropping in to say Thank You for putting my link up in your sidebar. I love the idea of a blogging Sunday School class. Keep sharing. Just dropping in to say Thank You for putting my link up in your sidebar. I love the idea of a blogging Sunday School class. Keep sharing.

]]> http://mvtclass.com/2009/11/22/godliness-a-faithful-people/comment-page-1/#comment-2429 Brother Spence Tue, 24 Nov 2009 19:42:08 +0000 http://mvtclass.com/?p=1478#comment-2429 Our SS class is the one place where we get to hear all sorts of answers to those questions you posed. We are fortunant indeed if we have a class that encourages us in our search. I was guest in a class several years ago that discussed that question about salvation you mentioned. "So, who is saved? Those who have faith in Christ and Christ alone?" Being a visitor I felt bound to observe and not make comment mostly because the group were all "decision for Christ" oriented and as such they felt a specific time and place when they were saved. This is not a problem for me either as I full well remember too. But things got kinda sticky when the next question was asked. That question was the same one you folks mentioned and I quote it here: "Some brought up Gandhi and others wondered about the peasant who has never heard of the Gospel, but lives its essence every day. So, who is saved?" The question asked had a purpose and that purpose hinged on whether that person who had never heard of Jesus Christ and the gospel could be saved? Most of the men present, (it was an adult men's class) said they had mixed feelings about it because of their belief that "through Christ alone" we are saved. The study leader asked me if I would like to comment? I did want to but prefaced my comment with I too believe it is through Christ alone that we are saved... but I have heard the gospel I know who Christ is and I am responsible for either believing in what Jesus did for me or not believe. But as for those who have not heard about Jesus I have to trust God is dealing with them too so they might be aware of who Christ is in a context they would understand, even though I would not. This is the cosmic God of the universe who saves souls and creates all things, who has it in His divine power to somehow present Jesus in His atonement to the buddist monk or the muslim or the most pagan of humans in such a way that they would have opportunity to accept or reject the saving blood of Jesus the same as me. The "how" is what is the mystery but we serve a God who is all about mystery, thanks be to God. Like you commented above, "My concern is for my own works, my own struggle to particpate in God’s divine nature and, in doing so, to serve my fellow beings." Oh that's so true and we do want to do that. Thanks for your comments and critique of the lesson. Spence Our SS class is the one place where we get to hear all sorts of answers to those questions you posed. We are fortunant indeed if we have a class that encourages us in our search. I was guest in a class several years ago that discussed that question about salvation you mentioned. “So, who is saved? Those who have faith in Christ and Christ alone?”
Being a visitor I felt bound to observe and not make comment mostly because the group were all “decision for Christ” oriented and as such they felt a specific time and place when they were saved. This is not a problem for me either as I full well remember too. But things got kinda sticky when the next question was asked. That question was the same one you folks mentioned and I quote it here: “Some brought up Gandhi and others wondered about the peasant who has never heard of the Gospel, but lives its essence every day. So, who is saved?” The question asked had a purpose and that purpose hinged on whether that person who had never heard of Jesus Christ and the gospel could be saved? Most of the men present, (it was an adult men’s class) said they had mixed feelings about it because of their belief that “through Christ alone” we are saved. The study leader asked me if I would like to comment? I did want to but prefaced my comment with I too believe it is through Christ alone that we are saved… but I have heard the gospel I know who Christ is and I am responsible for either believing in what Jesus did for me or not believe. But as for those who have not heard about Jesus I have to trust God is dealing with them too so they might be aware of who Christ is in a context they would understand, even though I would not. This is the cosmic God of the universe who saves souls and creates all things, who has it in His divine power to somehow present Jesus in His atonement to the buddist monk or the muslim or the most pagan of humans in such a way that they would have opportunity to accept or reject the saving blood of Jesus the same as me. The “how” is what is the mystery but we serve a God who is all about mystery, thanks be to God. Like you commented above, “My concern is for my own works, my own struggle to particpate in God’s divine nature and, in doing so, to serve my fellow beings.” Oh that’s so true and we do want to do that. Thanks for your comments and critique of the lesson. Spence

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