When I saw this new book by Thomas McCall, Caleb Friedemann, and Matt Friedemann (=MFF), The Doctrine of Good Works: Reclaiming a Neglected Protestant Teaching, one of my first responses was whether or not they’d line up with me on tov. After all tov
"Goodness “informs and motivates all that God does. Thus God creates to extend and share goodness with creatures; God sustains and provides to share that goodness with creatures; and God redeems fallen and sinful creatures so that they might be restored to knowledge of that goodness and share in that holy love.”" I love this! I have been struggling with why God created us! Thank you again for another great post!
Not that good works are necessary, but that they are possible... I like this. I also like that the more time we spend with Jesus, the more we will look like Him. It seems to me that the main work we do is “to believe in the One whom He has sent” and “abide in Christ.” And all the other goodnesses flow from our willingness to engage in the activities that lead us to spend time with Jesus, whether that’s worship or service or prayer or whatever.
I've appreciated this entire series of posts quite a lot. Thanks, Scot!
One question (and no worries if you choose not to answer): what do you think of our ability as human beings to recognize God as good? I'm thinking of something I saw someone say recently: "I cannot imagine a God who would act in ways that are unrecognizable as good." Or to put it slightly differently, is the goodness of God recognizable to all human beings? does the Spirit make this a reality for all?
Tangentially, one of my philosophy profs 56 or so years ago said that Hebrews 11:6 was, for him, the key verse of all Scripture: "Anyone who comes to God has to believe that he exists and that he is good."
Thank you
"Goodness “informs and motivates all that God does. Thus God creates to extend and share goodness with creatures; God sustains and provides to share that goodness with creatures; and God redeems fallen and sinful creatures so that they might be restored to knowledge of that goodness and share in that holy love.”" I love this! I have been struggling with why God created us! Thank you again for another great post!
Not that good works are necessary, but that they are possible... I like this. I also like that the more time we spend with Jesus, the more we will look like Him. It seems to me that the main work we do is “to believe in the One whom He has sent” and “abide in Christ.” And all the other goodnesses flow from our willingness to engage in the activities that lead us to spend time with Jesus, whether that’s worship or service or prayer or whatever.
I've appreciated this entire series of posts quite a lot. Thanks, Scot!
One question (and no worries if you choose not to answer): what do you think of our ability as human beings to recognize God as good? I'm thinking of something I saw someone say recently: "I cannot imagine a God who would act in ways that are unrecognizable as good." Or to put it slightly differently, is the goodness of God recognizable to all human beings? does the Spirit make this a reality for all?
Tangentially, one of my philosophy profs 56 or so years ago said that Hebrews 11:6 was, for him, the key verse of all Scripture: "Anyone who comes to God has to believe that he exists and that he is good."