kalangara

Q3. (Ephesians 1:4) What does it mean to be "holy"? It is defined in Job 1:8 "The LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man who fears God and turns away from evil." Being Holy is to Fear God and keep away from evil. In what sense can you stand "blameless" before God? When my sins are forgiven after the Sacrament of Confession as stated in John 20:23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained." Once my sins are forgiven then God does not keep tab of the same. Isaiah 43:18 "Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old." and Isaiah 44:22 "I have swept away your transgressions like a cloud, and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you."[:D

Q2. (Ephesians 1:4-5) What is scary about predestination? There is nothing scary about predestination. Infact in my life I can clearly see that everything was predestined and unknowingly Lord made me see the same. I truly believe in Psalm 139:16 "Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed." What is comforting? The comforting thing to me is the words of the Lord in Jeremiah 29:11 "For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope." What can be more comforting than these words. For I know and can see that my lord is taking great care of me and am sure St Paul must have seen it too during his lifetime. Why does Paul bring up predestination? I just think St Paul is reiterating what he believes in and what is stated in scriptures. Why do you think he praising God for it in the "hearing" of the Ephesians? Like a true lover he believes in praising and exhalting the lord for everything. After all it is stated in Sirach 43:30 "Glorify the Lord and exalt him as much as you can, for he surpasses even that. When you exalt him, summon all your strength, and do not grow weary, for you cannot praise him enough."

To me being in Christ means that my life is solely in the hands of my Lord and he runs my ship. This echoes with what is said in John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing." Every move in my life is dictated and dedicated to him and without him I can do nothing. I simply yearn for him like a toddler who is so dependent on the parent.