Living in the Spirit
November 9, 2018
Scripture Reading: Hebrews 9:24-28
But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the age to remove sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgement, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. –Hebrews 9:26b-28
I test as being highly intuitive and as a thinker rather than a feeler, which is an odd combination apparently. I can carry on lengthy discussions about theology or other things but when it comes down to the heart of any matter intellectual findings do not play as large a part of my faith as intuition. Thus, I do not invest much thought or time regarding life after death, heaven or hell. I somehow know intuitively that I will spend eternity with God in whatever form that will take and that is all that matters.
That said, I just as instinctively believe in some form of judgement based on being accountable to God for what I do with my life considering God’s purpose for my creation. I tend to think it is better to weigh and measure my progress routinely and incrementally while I can make course corrections when needed rather than to blunder through life unaware of my progress. Self-examination against God’s plump line as Amos describes it* is essential as we strive for what Paul calls perfection** and I like to consider as wholeness.
Hebrews as quoted above describes that experience as not dealing with sin but to fill in any gaps in our work on earth as we await the full fruition of God’s vision for all his children. The word translated as “save” means to properly, bring up to the goal (end point), i.e. carrying something through its sequence to reach its needed consummation***. It is the ultimate gift of grace.
Prayer: Lord, help me see and understand clearly as you hold me accountable for fully being me. Amen.
*See Amos 7:8
** See for example Romans 12:2, Phil. 3:12-21
***https://biblehub.com/greek/399.htm