Sorry - tension meaning a seeming strain between different viewpoints not completely aligned - having nothing to do with personalities or being upset - conceptual tension vs. emotional tension - respectful disagreement. I use the description a lot when I for example see Scriptures that seem to contradict or disagree with each other - there's a "tension" between them.
Interestingly, I think you’re simultaneously in agreement with my point and in tension against it.
When we function in faith, we are also functioning in obedience to God, whether we realize it or not. Likewise, when we act in love - love understood as concrete action - we are also functioning in obedience to God, whether we realize it or not.
In Luke 7, Jesus summarizes this narrative by saying her faith has saved her (Luke7:50) and interprets her outward actions as love (Luke7:47).
The common denominator between faith and love is obedience, not checklist compliance, but a heart aligned with God’s will. Faith and obedience are inseparable: if faith is present, obedience is present; if obedience is present, faith is present (I've previously posted some Scriptures affirming this). We see obedient faith in outward expression as in this narrative. Love for God, neighbor, and fellow believers is likewise obedience, so the same unity exists - love <> obedience (1 John 5:2–3) like faith <> obedience. We see obedient faith in outward expression - love - in this Luke7 narrative.
This is not law-keeping in a checklist sense, but love produced by faith, and faith working through love — both perfectly aligned with God’s will and thus fully obedient - love summarizing all of Law per Jesus and per Paul (Matt22:36-40; Rom13:8-10).
In this narrative, the woman models obedient faith, where love flows from a heart aligned with God’s will (obedient faith), while Simon illustrates checklist obedience, following rules and social culture outwardly without the inward obedient faith and love that truly fulfills God’s commands.
“Interestingly, I think you’re simultaneously in agreement with my point and in tension against it.”
yes we aren’t in disagreement about obedience or faith just the small details we’re speaking about and words we are using to express our viewpoint. Sometimes people can same pretty much the same thing but say it differently with a slightly different focus or perspective and so it can seem in opposition when actually the two points add to each other in my thought .
“love understood as concrete action - we are also functioning in obedience to God, whether we realize it or not.
In Luke 7, Jesus summarizes this narrative by saying her faith has saved her (Luke7:50) and interprets her outward actions as love (Luke7:47).”
yes her faith in him saved her. Imagine this woman and the context of the story . In a religious society ruled by piety and judgement of old strict and rigid men enforcing laws they themselves haven’t really kept faithfully .
There’s a
known sinful woman . You see how the Pharisee looks upon her as if she’s a leper and shouldn’t be touching Jesus? Most of the society would have looked at her that way because of the religious construction of thier whole existence.
Sinners must be stoned and outcast and seperated from the people or the group was defiled. Jesus was radical for thier society and time . He wasn’t casting away the sinners , he was rebuking the self righteous who claimed to be without sin and righteous by thier keeping to the laws and ordinances.
You see this effect continually let’s look at this parable and see what the prodigal has done and what caused his acceptance
“And he said, A certain man had two sons: and the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.”
Luke 15:11-24 KJV
Father and son means alot that relationship even moreso probably to a wise old father who misses his long gone son. Notice the sons actions were wrong he demands his inheritance leaves his father goes and wastes it all in sin finds himself lower than low
abut then remembers his father and thinks maybe dad will let me work for him . He’s repenting but notice the father he asks nothing of the son , there’s no job he has for him but he has a welcoming home and fathers arms and joyful heart and a big kiss full of missing his son all that time watching and waiting for him to return one day .
probably filthy and wearing rags and broken shoes from his journey that he caused himself by doing so much wrong . But the fsther is not even listening to him apologize or tell him he’s there to serve he’s just overwhelmed with joy that his son is okay and home
think of a child we don’t cast them out or disown them because they make mistakes but we’re happy to forgive when they mess up and teach them better ways for the future . Love to watch them grow into good men and women that make good choices and actions ect but even when they do something wrong , they are still our beloved child
The gospel is about Gods beloved children and he’s wonderfully patient and has so much forebearance
that all comes with the warnings like this
“For
we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”
2 Corinthians 5:10-11 KJV
hes always working in us so we can do better and better
