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Grace = Inheritance There's a popular view of God's grace that makes it all about us or about what God did for us as if we are what grace is for.   That's back to front. God's grace is for God. Grace is for accomplishing God's aims, God's plan, God's salvation and God's family.  The practical purpose of grace is growing God's family. In other words it's for inheritance. The Bible kicks off with inheritance and family and it remains a common thread and even the purpose of many stories, histories and teachings. And God is constantly nurturing that inheritance by grace. ©timonburney If the seed  does not grow there is no fruit. If the family does not grow and continue there is no Gospel . God's good news is inheritance: we can be God's children. Grace is the only pathway to inheritance. God's only begotten son is Jesus. We are adopted children of God. Did we do anything to deserve that? Did we win a contest, ace an audition, sucker i...

 Orthopathy = Right Emotions ©timon burney These ideas were sparked by Richard Beck's series on orthopathy .  Not to be confused with the alternative-medicine religion that is also known as Natural Hygiene.   Orthopathy in its modern Christian sense was probably coined by Wesley  and is a counterpart of orthodoxy (right teachings). Briefly, it describes the ideal response to salvation, which is living a  fruit of the Spirit  life.  Orthodoxy without Orthopathy is dead.  James said it about faith and works. It is no less true of right teaching and right emotions. Our beliefs can be perfectly true, reasoned, referenced and logical yet they're utterly worthless if not accompanied by the actions that speak louder than words. These actions or virtues are what separate the saved from the self-righteous. Jesus is very clear about what he values, even calling orthodoxists " workers of sin " because of the fruit they produced. And, do you know what?...

Well, what else is there to say?