Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Guthrie, 2009. Chapter 9, “Hear Jesus Saying, ‘I Am Giving Life to Those Who Believe in Me’”

Chapter 9, “Hear Jesus Saying, ‘I Am Giving Life to Those Who Believe in Me’” pp. 123-135

John 11:25-26

Guthrie observes on Easter that many of the people who are most dedicated to Christ and His resurrection are people who have lost someone. Jesus and the resurrection are our hope.

Often we think of the resurrection as Martha did in John 11, as a distant future hope. Jesus calls us to think of it as a present reality. This is what we receive as we believe in Jesus.

Guthrie discusses belief on p. 129. “Belief begins when we agree with the truth about Jesus, and it blossoms into saving faith as we accept that truth for ourselves, entrusting our whole selves to Christ.” Guthrie continues to speak in terms of our choice and the strength of our belief as opposed to “an inspirational kind of faith and an impersonal type of religion” (p. 130). This, Guthrie says, informs our grief and allows us confidence in the midst of loss.

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