Sure, we are all sinners. But that is not the end of the Bible storyline. From Genesis to Revelation we find two humanities spoken of – one lost and one redeemed. Of course those who are redeemed are not to become arrogant or careless or flippant. They exist for the sake of those who are still unredeemed.

And of course it goes without saying that it is all a work of grace. But the idea of two different streams of humanity is quite biblical. There are those who, because of the transforming work of Christ, delight to do his will. They want to please him. And there are others who are not of such a persuasion. Perhaps I will write another piece on all this.

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

Thanks for your article. It’s an interesting perspective you have. Personally, I find it hard to swallow. At its core this perspective potentially breeds self righteousness and an unbiblical superiority complex among Christians.

I think the doctrine of election should surely inform our thinking on this one… Let me explain what I mean:

Biblically speaking there are 1 kind of people. (Romans 3) There are those whos lives are characterised by sin, and there are those whose lives are characterised by sin.

There are some who have, by God’s grace, seen and responded to the glorious work of Jesus (2 Cor 4).

Through his intervening love (Ro 5) God matures and grows those he elects to live more for him and less for themselves.

The fact that some people are able to live serving God is an act of God, and God alone. It is not by any magical work of their own that Christians live out 2 Cor 5:9a.

I can’t see support in the Bible for establishing a ‘spiritual servantheated humanity’ and a ‘sinful selfish humanity’.

Thanks
Nathan Clarke

Those who put God as number one in their life will tend to want to serve others. That is what Christianity is all about. When Christ comes into a person’s life and radically changes them, the person in gratitude will want to seek to then serve God and others. God’s love breaks down our sinfulness and selfishness and gives us a new focus, a new set of priorities, and a real love for others that we could not before muster on our own.

The contrast then is between the person who makes God, God, and the person who makes self God. The Bible is clear about these two main types of people. We either worship self or we worship God.

And I mentioned in my article that believers can unfortunately still be fixated on self. Instead of allowing God to transform our lives, a believer can still be focused on selfishness. But the Christian life is about the slow but steady transformation from a me-centered life to a God-centered life. Sure, people will find themselves along a spectrum here, but there should be movement taking place: movement away from sin and selfishness and movement toward real love of God and others.

But that is the biblical line, not mine. Try reading the Gospel of John if want the take on it provided by Jesus.

Bill Muehlenberg, CultureWatch

I would suggest even this is simplistic. Those who serve God can be selfish too. Some serve others in their work, but are selfish at home. People are selfish or giving, do things for themselves, for others, or for God, in different ways at different times.

Matt Burgess

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature] of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death — even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

David Skinner, UK

And like Natasha says, it is a good reminder.

Lawrie McNamara, Warragul