Sunday, September 27, 2009
ARE YOU SAVED by Magonet
According to Magonet, God has provided man after the Fall the ability to create a new Eden, one which through their own efforts they must find(p140). To me this is expressing the idea that man must have a hand in their own salvation, and that God’s presence in salvation history allows us to break the yoke of slavery(representing sin),through the concern for others, and the acceptance of God’s will for all people. God used Israel as the model of His expectation for all people, as a way of showing how man can attain the harmony in this world, that was intended with Creation.
Magonet says to be saved, man must honor the Sabbath where we honor God,s directive, and acknowledge Him as our Creator, and accept His will and plan for man’s salvation. This plan is a way to provide man an opportunity to free himself from the stress of labor that became a part of our existence since the Fall. It also intended to give man the time to rest and refresh ourselves in our continuing effort to create a new Eden. God being God, really did not need a day of rest, His intent was to show man that they had to stop, look at what they have done, and see the goodness in their own creation.
According to Magonet:
ReplyDeleteSalvation is both a promise of something to come and a present potential reality; it is a consolation in times of trouble and a challenge in times of prosperity and success (p145). Whether one is going a thousand miles or next door, his/her journey begins with the first step. The destination would never be reached, the goal would go lacking if the first step in the right direction were never taken.
A beginning is more than important for the Christian life because it begins with a definite encounter with God which results in a new creature.
God took the first step in creation. After the fall of man, He gave man the knowledge and ability to create a second Eden (p140). God gave us a free will or freedom of choice, which is an individual matter. When God delivered Israel from Egypt, it was not just for their sake, but for the world.
God want all of His people to be holy.
I particularly like what Magonet says on page 146 that "Salvation is God's gift to human being, and, in no small way it is a human gift to God". We cannot work for our salvation. Since it is a gift, we can receive the gift as it is given.