‘Trinitarian understanding of grace’…..The BIG PICTURE that puts the puzzle together!

A friend of mine Dr Paul Fitzgerald, writes in his blog ‘Audacious Grace’, in an article entitled ‘More of My Repenting’;

“Slowly, surely and painfully I’ve come to recognize that my theology has for the most of my life been off-centre. That is, it has been more experience-cantered than grounded on a Trinitarian understanding of grace.”

Paul, not a newcomer to the Ministry, has this to say about the transformation and growth of his own understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

“I have read, studied and even researched has made a significant impact on what I’ve seen and believed. Removing the lens feels at times like I’ve been blind and deaf the whole time. By “repenting” I mean what the word means – a change of thinking that is deep enough that it requires a shift in the direction of one’s life and choices. Yes, there are strong feelings involved but the feelings are not as important as the changes in direction of thinking and choosing.”

I can personally testify to the same radical transformation of my own understanding of the Gospel that came about by my embracing of a renewed revelation of a ‘Trinitarian understanding of grace’, and all that those terms imply.

Many separate and fragmented revelations and insights that I had been trying to piece together, all fell into place in a meaningful, superb and exciting way!

In retrospect I recognize that  nearly three decades of study and Ministry had been a futile attempt at  literally trying to build a puzzle, without ever having seen the complete picture on the outside of the box!

A Trinitarian understanding, particularly regarding the issue of Who Jesus Christ, the Son of God really is, and what the Father accomplished on behalf of all Mankind,  through the  Incarnation of the Son of God into humanity, His Life, Death, Resurrection, Ascension and Glorification as the Son of Man, creates a renewed and congruent vision of the Gospel.

This new  overarching paradigm  is the ‘Big Picture’ for the puzzle, without which the ‘Gospel’ remains as it is for most people, pieces of dogma and fragments of theology that don’t really fit, nor truly makes logical sense to the honest observer!

Paul adds these powerful insights by Prof, Tom Torrance;

“Although it stresses the God-humanward movement in Christ, the human-Godward movement is still ours! It emphasizes our faith, our decision, our response in an event theology which short-circuit’s the vicarious humanity of Christ and belittles union with Christ.… it fails to see the place of the high priesthood of Jesus Christ…” who is present here and now through the Spirit and) ‘leads our worship, bears our sorrows on his heart and intercedes for us, presenting us to the Father in himself as God’s dear children, and uniting us with himself in his life in the Spirit.… It ignores the fact that God has already provided for us that response which is alone acceptable to him––the offering made for the whole human race in the life, obedience and passion of Jesus Christ.… Whatever else our faith is, it is a response to a response already made for us and continually being made for us in Christ, the pioneer of our faith.… At the center of the New Testament stands not a religious experience, not our faith or repentance or decision, however important these are, but a unique relationship between Jesus and the Father.” James H Torrance – Worship, Community and the Triune God of Grace

He closes with these remarks;

‘Who knows, maybe it will lead you to repent too.

Blessings in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit’

Well, will you? 

Will you take a look at the ‘Big Picture’…..or are you going to keep pretending that the pieces fit?