tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11753631.post4526759461600650145..comments2019-11-15T09:21:57.658-06:00Comments on Walking in the Spirit of Grace: Chipping AwayGary Kirkhamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12870342469118915243noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11753631.post-87335683780818600402007-09-17T20:22:00.000-05:002007-09-17T20:22:00.000-05:00I like what you've both said here. I think it's a...I like what you've both said here. I think it's about the renewing of the mind (soul). I agree that it's not about the renewing or improving of the flesh, since it can't be improved upon, and I'd add that it's also not about renewing the spirit, since our spirit has been made as new as it will ever be! :) <BR/><BR/>I agree that we learn to trust more and more in God's life in us, and less and less in reliance on self I think the chipping away happens at the soul level, to get the mind to line up with the reality of what has already happened in the spirit - which ultimately results in Christ being "formed" more and more in us.Joel Bruesekehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10395847887953875757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11753631.post-74204062512946758652007-09-17T09:25:00.000-05:002007-09-17T09:25:00.000-05:00"I think the only thing God does in the process of...<I>"I think the only thing God does in the process of us growing in His grace is to teach us to see things from His perspective. He is not trying to improve us in any fashion."</I><BR/><BR/>I think that seeing things from His perspective is preparatory. As I mentioned in the postscript, our flesh never gets better. In fact our flesh gets worse, or more accurately, our realization of just how bad our flesh is increases as we grow in Christ.<BR/><BR/>I think that the growth process is "learning" to turn more of our lives over to God. We become less, so that He can become more. So, in that sense, there is a chipping away at our reliance on and love of self. I don't think that happens until we see things from His perspective.<BR/><BR/>We don't become more righteous or holy, but through this process we begin to trust in and act like who we really are, in Christ.<BR/><BR/>GaryGary Kirkhamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12870342469118915243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11753631.post-34565552208096773862007-09-17T08:50:00.000-05:002007-09-17T08:50:00.000-05:00At first I liked the idea – God chipping away the ...At first I liked the idea – God chipping away the ‘unwanted’ from us. I even wrote comments on this. But then, when I checked John 15 to relate this process (chipping) to the pruning of branches, it surprised me.<BR/><BR/>You have <B>already</B> been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. (V3, )<BR/><BR/>Isn’t that interesting? It looks like there is no more ‘improvement/purification/pruning/chipping away’ (of any kind) required. The only thing matters here is the time (season) to bear fruit.<BR/><BR/>I think the only thing God does in the process of us growing in His grace is to teach us to see things from His perspective. He is not trying to improve us in any fashion.<BR/><BR/>When Paul said, <BR/><BR/>Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2)<BR/><BR/>I think this is what He meant – See things from God’s perspective. <BR/><BR/>Any thoughts?Bino M.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02303467552834533436noreply@blogger.com