Found

"Can I use this?"  my daughter asked me.  It was an old journal of mine, hardly used, with just a few pages of scribblings at the beginning.  I ripped the pages out and gave the book to her.  Later, after lessons, and laundry, and meal preparations I looked at the pages.  They were from 2005. Did I write these notes?  Were these my thoughts back then?  I scarcely remember.

What fascinates me about these pages was my method of learning.  Each section begins with a thought or a question, followed by a process of searching, interacting with material, and then finally sorting and sifting out relevant ideas. I want to save these pages, which are now loose and will soon end up misplaced or shuffled into the bin.  Since it's Lent and these are notes from some of my questions about my faith, I've decided to post a record of them here. Even if you do not share my religious views, you might be entertained by the crazy things I think about, or by how someone else approaches independent learning.  Or then again, you might be bored stiff  :- )  

Altogether I found three separate studies in these notes that I wish to record.  The first one (posted below) is probably the least interesting, and also the longest.  The second one, which I will post tomorrow, is much shorter, but contains weeks and weeks worth of thought about the story of Noah and the Ark (I do remember spending a lot of time thinking about this story a few years ago).  The third study, to be posted on Friday, is also short, but likely the most interesting to people. It contains a few of my thoughts about the meaning of some of the symbols in the Revelation.  

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5-1-2005

Questions on Justification/Sanctification

1.  Peter believed that Jesus was the Messiah before Christ died.  When did he receive salvation?  Was it at the moment of his calling?  Or at the point of his confession?  Or after Christ's resurrection?  Is there a difference between justification and sanctification?

Passages to study:

Acts 2:37-41

Rom. 6:20-23--analogy of wages: after I work I receive what I have earned. But the gift of God in Christ is mine as long as I remain in Him (He also remains in me).

Rom. 8:28-39, 2:6-9

1 Cor. 12--uses "sanctified" in past tense and thus interchangeably with justified.

1 Cor. 15:2--"being saved"

1 Cor. 15:58--"knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain."

2 Cor. 5:17-21, 5:10; 9:27; 10:12

Gal. 2:20-21;  3:5,6,27; 5:6; 6:7-10

Eph. 2:1-10 (esp. 8-10)

1 Tim. 6:11-16; 5:8

2 Tim 2:10

Titus 3:3-7

Hebrews 10:19-39; 4:1; 12: 1-29 (esp. 10: 26-27)

Matt. 7:21-27; 18:32-35; 10:22

James 2:14-24; 1:12, 21, 27; 2:12, 13; 5:19-20

Gal. 5: 19-21

Phil. 2:12

Rev. 22:12

Scripture speaks of salvation in three ways:  1) past--when a person first believes, 2) present--the continuing process of salvation, and 3) future--when Christ returns and the process is completed through glorification.