Work

Just in case you're feel the same as me: I'm really not in the mood to work, but work—in essence—is submission to those whom God has put over us. It is worship.

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Doctrine

1. God is Triune and is, therefore, relational. God is continuously relational with His creation because the Trinity is in everlasting relationship.

2. We are made in His image, and as His image bearers, each and every action either reflects or (more often) sadly misrepresents Him. With each and every sin, therefore, God is the party chiefly offended.

3. God is for God. Human beings (for the most part) inherently know that self-glorification isn't appropriate—and rightly so—because we are designed to glorify something greater than ourselves: the one true God. Only with Him is self-glorification acceptable, appropriate, right, and pure.

4. Jesus suffered and died on our behalf and conquered death to give life to those who have faith. Since all of creation and even death itself is in utter submission to the Living God, how much more are those who have been ransomed to wholly bow at His lordship in regards to all our values, thoughts, and deeds?

5. Forgiveness without atonement is apathetic, a killer of justice and devoid of love. Christ is the ultimate atonement. Believers only have forgiveness because of Jesus' shed blood—which is the propitiation for our sins—and bodily resurrection.

6. Church is family. And Christ is the head.

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Lean Not On Your Own Understanding

Judges 17:6
In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Romans 10:3
For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own,
they did not submit to God's righteousness.

Proverbs 3:5
Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.

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Gratitude to the Overseer

It's like getting used to filet, then complaining when you only get flank;
like living in a mansion for free, then whining when you get moved to the pool house;
like getting paid six figures, then grumbling when you don't get a raise or bonus.

It's like being saved from eternity in hell—then moping about feeling bored, unmotivated, under appreciated, or worthless. Are you kidding me?! His grace is sufficient. His grace is the motherload!

But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
[1 Peter 2:20-25]

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Why ask God for forgiveness? Who is He to give it?

I paint a masterpiece. You then scratch/scar/scuff the product of my hard work, something of great value to me. You feel bad and want to apologize. Do you apologize to the painting, or do you apologize to its creator?

At this point, someone could point out that paintings are inanimate, whereas humans feel and experience. Shouldn't, then, the apology be re-directed to the wounded human?

Well, think of it this way: the Painter is greater than the painting; the God of the universe is greater than a human... we are only dust. Just because a specific created thing (a person) happens to be magnificent, unique, and ever so intricate, it doesn't mean that the Creator-creation relationship breaks down. It just means that the Creator is that much more greater (and, therefore, all the more worthy of being asked for forgiveness).

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One part of the claim tends to slip past us unnoticed because
we have heard it so often that we no longer see what it amounts
to. I mean the claim to forgive sins: any sins. Now unless the
speaker is God, this is really so preposterous as to be comic. We
can all understand how a man forgives offences against himself.
You tread on my toes and I forgive you, you steal my money
and I forgive you. But what should we make of a man, himself
unrobbed and untrodden on, who announced that he forgave
you for treading on other men's toes and stealing other men's
money? Asinine fatuity is the kindest description we should
give of his conduct. Yet this is what Jesus did. He told people
that their sins were forgiven, and never waited to consult all the
other people whom their sins had undoubtedly injured. He
unhesitatingly behaved as if He was the party chiefly concerned,
the person chiefly offended in all offences. This makes sense
only if He really was the God whose laws are broken and
whose love is wounded in every sin. In the mouth of any
speaker who is not God, these words would imply what I can
only regard as a silliness and conceit unrivalled by any other
character in history.

—C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
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