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Many of our
churches lack a serious call to the worship of God. What is
lacking is not structure in worship. All churches have that.
Rather, it is heartfelt contriteness and humility in worship.
God’s perspective on worship has been left out, and that cannot
be restored without renewing our focus on God. [7]
There is divine self-love in God.
But unlike the display of narcissism in God’s creatures, this
self-love is not sinful, for God’s delight in Himself is not a
vain misconception. It is just and right. [14]
God created us so He could see
Himself in us. In seeing Himself in mankind, He is pleased. His
pleasure is not in the creature per se but in His own character
revealed through the character of the creature. This is a
radical, God-centered view of our purpose, not a self-oriented
perspective on it. [20]
Since salvation is a divine grace
in the soul, cleansing it of the guilt of sin and beginning a
process for the removal of sin by the infusion of the Holy
Spirit, it cannot be in any sense a work of man. A finite
creature simply does not have the power to create an infinite
life in the soul. Only God can infuse His life into us.
Therefore, all boasting is excluded; salvation is of the Lord
alone, and glory and praise belong only to Him! While the means
of salvation are a mystery, the Bible is clear that we are not
redeemed by anything we do. In stressing human responsibility,
Arminians have taught that mankind is graciously caused to
cooperate with God, that grace
and
human faith
are the components of salvation. However, if human faith is even
in the smallest sense the reason for salvation, there is a place
for boasting. [32]
Work is not merely about work,
and doing good is not merely about doing good. There is a deeper
reason for these things that frees us to follow God’s direction
whatever it may be. One career choice is not inherently superior
to another. Rather, each is an opportunity for God to be
glorified. [39]
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