Verse of the Day 3/5

 1 Peter 3:18 (ESV)  For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

 Theologians have studied the Bible in depth and come up with "systematic theologies", theology based on interpretations of God's Word.  We all have our own personal theology and beliefs, but what are they based on?  Most often, they revolve around us.  This verse points out that salvation is about bringing us to God, it is more about Him and yes, what He has done for us, making us alive to Him and what He desires for us.

 

Burk Parsons, in an article "Theological Narcissism" writes, "In our natural arrogance, we are easily lured by our self seeking hearts to look inward- at our wisdom, our accomplishments, our possessions - instead of fixing our eyes on God alone.  Our narcissistic self preoccupation constantly draws our eyes from the Creator to the creature, from God to self.  As a result, we begin to develop our own personalized theology, making for ourself a God in our own image, fashioning him to be everything we thought we ever wanted in a god - a god who loves whom we love and hates whom we hate, a god who is sovereign over all the good in our lives but helpless and ignorant of all the bad things that happen to us, a god who serves us at our every beck and call as if he were our personal cosmic bellhop in the sky who comes grovelling at the slightest ring of a bell.... It is a theology centered around what makes sense to me, what seems fair to me, what makes me happy, and what makes me feel good about  myself.  Simply put, self centered theology sees man as big and God as small.?

 

Wow!  Does that cause you to step back and consider your own "theology"?  May we strive, in the power of His Spirit, to study His Word and have a proper understanding of what the gospel, the Bible is all about.  Jesus Christ did all of those things He did for us to bring us to God that we would make much of Him, and worship God, worship Christ as Lord of our life.

 

Blessings,
Mike
Follow the verse of the day at www.mikesvotd.blogspot.com

 

1 Peter 3:13-18 (ESV)¹³ Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? ¹⁴  But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, ¹⁵ but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶  having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ¹⁷ For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God's will, than for doing evil.

¹⁸ For Christ also suffered^[a] once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,