Finding "At-One-Ment"

                Today’s reading from Plantinga was hopeful. It went over the main points of how redemption works and what it means for Christians today. The introduction talked about the different ways that God has offered grace to his people. After this section, Plantinga talked more specifically about Jesus role in creation. There are three main elements to this: incarnation, atonement, and resurrection. Jesus became the word incarnate in human form. He atoned for our sins by dying on the cross. On the third day he rose from the dead. This is the basic belief of all Christians. After this, Plantinga goes on to talk about what our union with Christ means. Because we, as Christians, are now part of Christ, we die and rise with him daily. Whenever we sin, confess sin, or are sinned against by another, we are experiencing part of this cycle. “Double Grace” is another important thing that is talked about in this chapter. There are two sections to the grace that we receive from God, argues Plantinga. The two parts are sanctification and justification and, when put together, “the double grace releases us, relieves us, redeems us” (92).The final point that Plantinga talks about in this chapter is the reformed nature of Christianity. “Reformed Christians take a very big view of redemption because they take a very big view of fallenness” (97). This means that, in all we do, we should be seeking to change the world to further God’s kingdom here on earth.

                The quote that I thought about the most in this passage was on page 88: “Confession of sin is an enormously freeing thing to do”. I try to hide my sins from God so often. This is such a futile endeavor! God can see all that I do and he wants to forgive me for the sins that I commit. If I hide these sins from God, I start to pull away from him (as we’ve seen in The Screwtape Letters). I carry a weight that is impossible to hold. The beautiful thing is that Jesus can carry this weight and he already has. I just have to tell God about what is going on in my life, acknowledge that I have done wrong, ask for forgiveness, and try my hardest to do better in the future. Forgiveness is profound.