Thursday, February 08, 2007

A great quote from "Grace in Practice"

"It is the a priori claim of this theology: God saves the helpless. The identity of God, which is an immense mystery, has a single point of clarity. God is merciful. We know this for only one reason, which is the life and death of Jesus Christ. But that knowledge is something. As a result, we lean on the everlasting arms (Mercury Rev). This is the grace of saving, which is the plea, month to month, and day to day, of every marriage, at every point of sin's entry." p. 162

3 comments:

Mattie said...

JZ -

that is a great quote, but i disagree with PZ on one point: we know God is merciful for more than one reason. we know God is merciful first and foremost because of Jesus Christ, but also because of the entire economy of salvation. there are sooo many times in scripture, in history, in our lives, where God's abundant mercy is manifest...

i can't comment on the marriage piece, but i believe it :)

MJG

Joshua Corrigan said...

Mattie, I would agree with you about the "entire economy of salvation" but I think that the entire economy of salvation is "the life and death of Jesus Christ", as PZ put it.

It is true that mercy and grace are present throughout scripture, history, and in our lives. But without Jesus, the good (mercy) must be taken with the bad (the threat of loosing the mercy). Thus I think that PZ's statement is accureate since without Jesus there is no hope for truly unconditional and "one-way" love.

Besides all this, The fact that Mercury Rev is cited in this quote excludes it for any and all possible criticism.

o said...

their eyes are rivers, they give me shivers...