Giving Polygamy a Chance

[Steven Tibbetts]

There is no contrast. There is an intentional omission.

[Brian Stoffregen]

God loves the world. God sent Jesus to die for the world.

God, in Jesus Christ, loves and accepts every person in the world.

Steven can speak for himself, but if you look at the two statements above, I think you would see the same contrast he is talking about.  The first half of each statement is the same: God loves the world.  The second part is not.  God "accepts every person in the world" might mean that God accepts us as we are.  Or it could mean that through the death of Jesus, God makes us acceptable and bestow on us a favor we do not deserve.  Judging from the context, it would assume you mean the latter.

It could also mean that God accepts us as we are -- and God, through the Holy Spirit, kills the old and raises up a new person (every day).

[DCharlton]

God loves the world. God sent Jesus to die for the world.

God, in Jesus Christ, loves and accepts every person in the world.

Steven can speak for himself, but if you look at the two statements above, I think you would see the same contrast he is talking about.  The first half of each statement is the same: God loves the world.  The second part is not.  God "accepts every person in the world" might mean that God accepts us as we are.  Or it could mean that through the death of Jesus, God makes us acceptable and bestow on us a favor we do not deserve.  Judging from the context, it would assume you mean the latter.

It could also mean that God accepts us as we are -- and God, through the Holy Spirit, kills the old and raises up a new person (every day).

Do you meand that God both declares us righteousness and makes (is making, will make) us righteous?  If so, I agree with you.  Would you also agree that a problem arises when we either believe 1)that God is content to leave us as we are; or 2) that Christ' righteousness is not ours until we have become righteous on our own.        

[Brian Stoffregen]

Do you meand that God both declares us righteousness and makes (is making, will make) us righteous?  If so, I agree with you.  Would you also agree that a problem arises when we either believe 1)that God is content to leave us as we are; or 2) that Christ' righteousness is not ours until we have become righteous on our own.

Yes, there is a now and not yet to our righteousness. At the same time, I'm hesitant to say that God is in the process of making us more and more righteous. Throughout our lives we are 100% sinner and 100% righteous. We never escape from that dual nature. At the same time, we can improve in our "civil righteousness." That is, better willing and able to show love towards neighbors (and enemies). Better willing and able to stand up against injustice, etc. Perhaps to phrase it differently, we can act more and more like the perfectly righteous person that God says that we are in his sight. "Become what you are!"