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Sep. 17th, 2004 09:56 amFirst, I will apologise for commenting out of turn in Ms. Braddock's journal. I should have recognised a post that was meant to get thoughts out and not for seeking to explain itself or have its questions answered, and not responded to it.
Second, no, I don't believe we can atone completely for our sins by our own actions. That means anyone. Even the "smallest" sin, whether 'tis something done or something not done that should have been, is a corruption and sets us apart from God. On the other hand, all the "greater" sins together can't do worse than that as far as eternity. And if the one "small" one drives someone else away....
At any rate, probably even if strictly confining the discussion to earth, which is difficult for me, we can't "make up" for doing wrong by doing right, because doing right is what we're supposed to do anyway.
Third, I do believe we can be forgiven. I believe that God chose to be merciful and do what we couldn't do ourselves.
Fourth, neither being unable to atone completely for ourselves nor being forgiven makes it unnecessary or pointless to change our behavior or to try -- when it's possible -- to repair harm that we've done.
I am trying to do that last now. I doubt it is working. Normally I remember that no one here who (I believe) needs to hear such things has any desire to, or would accept them if told anyway. I should have realised that what I did say would be interpreted in the worst way possible, and either kept silent or explained myself more fully at the time.
I am very well aware that most people here do not believe what I do. I'm somewhat puzzled, then, why it would disturb any of them much that I believe it, particularly as even if we are speaking of making up for things on earth I don't think any of them have anything to make up for to me. (And I would, actually, be obligated to forgive them if they did, so it doesn't matter.)
I will probably be outside, after lessons, reminding myself why I usually avoid talking about important things here. If this makes me a coward, so be it.
Second, no, I don't believe we can atone completely for our sins by our own actions. That means anyone. Even the "smallest" sin, whether 'tis something done or something not done that should have been, is a corruption and sets us apart from God. On the other hand, all the "greater" sins together can't do worse than that as far as eternity. And if the one "small" one drives someone else away....
At any rate, probably even if strictly confining the discussion to earth, which is difficult for me, we can't "make up" for doing wrong by doing right, because doing right is what we're supposed to do anyway.
Third, I do believe we can be forgiven. I believe that God chose to be merciful and do what we couldn't do ourselves.
Fourth, neither being unable to atone completely for ourselves nor being forgiven makes it unnecessary or pointless to change our behavior or to try -- when it's possible -- to repair harm that we've done.
I am trying to do that last now. I doubt it is working. Normally I remember that no one here who (I believe) needs to hear such things has any desire to, or would accept them if told anyway. I should have realised that what I did say would be interpreted in the worst way possible, and either kept silent or explained myself more fully at the time.
I am very well aware that most people here do not believe what I do. I'm somewhat puzzled, then, why it would disturb any of them much that I believe it, particularly as even if we are speaking of making up for things on earth I don't think any of them have anything to make up for to me. (And I would, actually, be obligated to forgive them if they did, so it doesn't matter.)
I will probably be outside, after lessons, reminding myself why I usually avoid talking about important things here. If this makes me a coward, so be it.
