Dear Dian,
It is awesome that finally you have got this key understanding from all that you've battled in the years I've known you through SI.
God knows how to tease us out where we are most mistaken, that we should be renewed in the spirit of our minds.
I know you've been through what seemed to be a baffling time, but now that you know what He's been getting at, I suspect a whole lot more will unfold to your understanding, almost by default.
This scripture came to mind when I heard your news:
Ephesians 2:12, 13
that at that time [u]you were[/u] without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, [u]having no hope and without God[/u] in the world. [u]But now in Christ[/u] Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
And then this:
Ephesians 4:
1 I, therefore, [u]the prisoner of the Lord[/u], beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,
2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,
3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4 [i]There is[/i]] one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;
5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 one God and Father of all, who [i]is[/i]] above all, and through all, and in you all.
7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.
A while ago, I realised that Paul was completely serious about being 'a prisoner of the Lord'. He had understood that he should die for his sin, but, in acceptance of Jesus having died, he willingly devoted himself to His service, because through Him he had [i]got out of eternal jail[/i].
A prayer-for-the-day from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, alluding to Jesus, says 'in Whose service is perfect liberty'.
I remember being struck by that paradox the first time I heard it.
Recently I wondered what is the 'one hope', and concluded it is the resurrection after death - that is, nothing which we receive here on earth.
Acts 26 has this, also:
5 "They knew me from the first, if they were willing to testify, that according to the strictest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee.
6 "And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.
7 "To this our twelve tribes, earnestly serving [i]God[/i] night and day, hope to attain. [u]For this hope's sake[/u], King Agrippa, [u]I am accused[/u] by the Jews. [u]Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead[/u]?
Amen. 8-)
