This Side of the Pulpit » Theology » Romans, Justification and Talents
Romans, Justification and Talents
We’re studying Romans in my adult Bible study. We’re about four chapters in and have stalled out a little, due to the very insightful comments and questions I’ve been getting.
But yesterday was a kind of watershed event for me. The questions raised really got me thinking on the nature of faith and our response in a way I’ve never experienced before. Here’s an example:
At the seminary Prof. Eickmann said ths gospel is like a man walking down the street. A stranger comes up and hands over a check in the amount of $2 million. The man must now deposit the check, having faith that it is good and use the money, or the man must decide that it is a hoax and throw the check away. But as the check is genuine, we can say that the man is a millionaire, even if he never deposits the check. Likewise, God has given us forgiveness through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. His death is for all. But salvation is a matter of trusting this grace of God–depositing it, as it were.
So. Yesterday discussion flowered out of this “parable” and I began to wonder about some of the implications of this, and as it relates to Christ’s parable of the talents.
My questions for you:
1. Is this parable/analogy accurate?
2. What implications do you see from this?
3. How does it affect justification?
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Filed under: Theology · Tags: faith, questions, sanctification, talents, Theology
8 Responses to "Romans, Justification and Talents"
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While any parable is going to have flaws if it is used to try to explain everything, this one really drives to the point of the difference between objective and subjective justification (and if you will let me expand it, sanctification).
The man has received a check. That is objectively true. It is a fact.
If the man refuses the check, disbelieves, while it is his, it does him no tangible good, even though it is real. His disbelieve robs him of the check.
Likewise – Christ has died for our sins and won us salvation. This is objectively true. It is a fact. When one believes, one delights in this and enjoys all it’s benefits – it is subjective as well as objective. When one does not believe (or even doesn’t know), there is no benefit.
+ + + + + +
Now, let us suppose that the man deposits his $2 million in the bank. He can either put this to use in his life – make the money his servant to accomplish his good goals, or he can bury it in the ground and do nothing, acting as though it did not exist.
This is sanctification. We can either live as those who are redeemed and grow in faith and enjoy the gifts that Christ gives us — or we can put them to the side and act as though they don’t exist.
Or as we sing it – “faith CLINGS to Jesus Christ alone”. We passively receive faith through the actions of the Holy Spirit and the Word, and then we are made to be active in holding on and clinging to Christ by the power of the Spirit.
Hmmm. If you want to tie it to the Parable of the Talents, you might better say a man gives you enough money to cover all your debts and expenses, plus about a thousand dollars. It’s up to you to invest that thousand dollars and turn it into a hundred thousand or a million. Oh, and to be true to the in the end if you do not even try to work with it.
Christ indeed died for all and destroyed death for all, so that all shall rise. But that’s not necessarily good news for all those who will be resurrected. There’s more to do be done bout it than simply trust and rejoice.
Make that, “to be true to the Parable, the thousand dollars gets taken away from you in the end…”
To be sure we are to use what we have been given–our “talents” yes, but especially as these parables suggest, our faith in Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit in order to love others. Anastasia, I’m not sure why you suggest that perhaps the amount should be only an extra thousand. Could you elaborate?
My Greek priest said that the Fathers see the talents as chances or opportunities rather than things that must be put to use, acknowledged, etc. A subtle difference to what I had grown up with (or understood), but essential. I never got a patristic citation.
It’s not that I’m ignoring your question, but I’m trying to think how to put the answer (and not take 3 pages about it).
Um, well, recall that I didn’t say just a thousand dollars. I said He would also cover your debts and expenses. So the thousand dollars is pure gravy. (I mean, how much does one want over and above ones needs?)
I suppose I meant, to provide incentive. I mean, if you want to enter eternity with more, you have to invest that thousand, right?
On the other hand, if we don’t care about any more than just getting in heaven’s door, don’t want to bother with any more, then even what we have (getting in the door) will be taken away.
Translated from the metaphor, salvation is supposed to save us from being the sort of person who doesn’t care, transfiguring us into images of His own Love. Obviously, if salvation means an intimate bond of love in Christ, with God and our fellow man — we can’t have that as indifferent, lazy bums, can’t have that if we don’t care enough to act upon it.
There’s more to do than trust and rejoice.