Stuart, I have to disagree with your last statements, I don't believe we are like a block of marble that God has to chip away at to make us into what we are now; the bible says we are a new creation.Also I don't believe the parable you refer to signifies the field as the world, and the unregenerate as the treasure. We have no intrinsic value, and we are worthless, however because God has set His love upon as this makes us priceless. I believe the field is the gospel, Christ (i.e. salvation) is the treasure, and each person must sell all he has (i.e. give his entire life over) to get Christ.
_________________Mark Nash
Stuart, I have to disagree with your last statements, I don't believe we are like a block of marble that God has to chip away at to make us into what we are now; the bible says we are a new creation.
_________________Stuart
Nasher wrote:Also I don't believe the parable you refer to signifies the field as the world, and the unregenerate as the treasure. We have no intrinsic value, and we are worthless, however because God has set His love upon as this makes us priceless. I believe the field is the gospel, Christ (i.e. salvation) is the treasure, and each person must sell all he has (i.e. give his entire life over) to get Christ.
As I read through each person's comments the Scripture kept coming to me from Galatians. "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me." We are already sanctified, and yet we are still being sanctified on a daily basis. There are many mysteries that we cannot fathom, but will understand one day upon His return. After the fall, was mankind still made in the image of God? Of course, God doesn't give to take away. But He also gives us a freedom to choose to live according to God's ways or to live according to our own sinful desires. Yes, mankind is fallen but not lost unless man rejects God. My son and daughter were made in their parents' image, yet they can go out and become like the prodical son, but the fact remains that they are still made in their parents' image. That doesn't change. All 'anthropos' was/is made in the image of their creator. The Song of Solomon states that the Shulamite woman saw herself as dark (sinful) but the King saw her as lovely in spite of her many flaws. He sees us far differently than how we see ourselves as well as how we view others (Thank God). He sees the past and present, but He also sees the future.
_________________Patricia