Balance Between "Already" and "Not Yet"

For Paul, "faith" is not static. It is dynamic and full of power. "A deficiency in the English language contributes to the modern understanding because English lacks a verb formed on the same root word as the noun "faith" (The New Interpreter's Bible, Vol. 10, pg. 983).

I knew it! I always have wondered about the lack of understanding about what it means to "believe". It seemed very empty and individualistic whenever I heard people say they "believed" in Jesus, but didn't DO anything with their belief. In Greek the verb and noun are formed on the same root! Faith has power. It is not only effective, it is productive and powerful.

Paul is re-enforcing the good news of the gospel. He is wrapping up his letter by saying that this is what is of utmost importance and why he has written. All that other that he has written about has merit, but this is the major idea he wants to get across: life begins here and now with how we treat each other, how much we show love to our neighbors, family, and friends. It is a dynamic relationship that people have to a living God that allows us to extend grace to those we live with (and work with).

To help us understand what is to come verses 42-50 give an example of a seed to help explain what we are and what we will be. When a seed is planted, what appears as life usually doesn't look anything like it did before. When you plant a carrot seed - you get a CARROT. The seed is transformed! Those who put their faith in Christ have a life that is radically transformed and changed because their quality of life is instantly altered.

The first Adam and the last Adam (Christ) are interesting comparisons that help us to understand our human and our divine (our "already" and our "not yet"). Look at 15:45-50.
First Adam
living being
the physical
made of earth
Last Adam
live giving spirit
the spiritual
from heaven
(couldn't get blog to post side by side!)
Does this help you to understand who you were created to be as both human and divine?

In verse 55 to ask "Where, O death, is your sting?" is not to deny that we feel loss and grief when we lose someone we love. It is to help us remember that we will all be changed. God gives us victory not only in the hope we have in the future; he gives us victory in the love we have for each now.

The vastness of God's redemptive plan that results in the restoration of all creation is breath-taking.

Verse 16:14 "Let all that you do be done in love". Have you ever thought about love being only genuine love when it is received as love? That's a hard thought when it comes to giving "tough" love.

Paul opens with grace (1:3) and he closes with grace (16:23). Wouldn't it be wonderful if that is how we began each day, and closed each day?

Chapter 15 was my Grandaddy Conway's favorite chapter in the whole Bible. I still have some of the letters he wrote to me when I was baptized. What treasures letters can be!