In our class discussion this week the issue of perfection was raised as to when man reaches the degree of perfection, and the answer was that there is no any sinful human being born of a woman who is perfect. It is only Christ who was and is perfect because of his incarnation. Friends I do believe that the perfect righteousness of Christ is the only answer to the sin problem in any man's life, and there is no single day in this world that we can live and be perfect like Christ. In the after live when Christ comes again our salvation will be complete and we shall be like him when our mortality shall put immortality and finally we will realize our perfection.
In Jesus Christ the divine initiative reaches a unique climax. He became one with us, sharing our lot, showing us what true humanity-humanity made in the image of God-is like. He suffered and was tested, struggling with the tempter. He in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin: (Romans 4:15). By word and life, by death and resurrection, the God-man Jesus Christ, brings the good news of God's love for us and the salvation He provides (John 3:16). Isaiah 64:6 says that “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. I think that as Christians perfection is wholistic in the sense that Jesus’ sacrifice justified us 2000 years ago, and now we are the process of sanctification and finally when Christ comes we will attain our glorification.

In the book of Whidden II, Ellen White on salvation I have benefited from the statement of Mrs. Elle White when she says that “We have always taken the position that there was no power in the law to save a single transgressor of the law. Christ did not come to excuse sin, nor to justify a sinner while he continued to transgress that law. During our class discussion the same statement was echoed by our professor that “We do not obey the law of God in order to be saved, for we are already saved by being rooted in Christ who is the fulfillment of the law.
We are justified only by the merits of Christ and such a faith will never excuse transgression. In the book of Romans 3:31 Paul says that “Now a righteousness from God apart from the law, has been made known, to which the law and prophets testify.” This righteousness of God is manifested on his gift of eternal life who is Jesus Christ the savior of the world.
We rejoice that we have faith that takes hold of the promises of God that works by love and sanctifies the soul. I agree with Ellen G. White’s statement that justification means pardon and forgiveness. It is only through the sacrificial death of Christ as our substitute that there is hope for the human race.
I do believe that the objective work of salvation and redemption that Christ has performed on behalf of the human race has made it possible for all of us to return to God and acknowledge Christ as our rightful owner who can deliver us from the bondage and power of Satan.
Friends, the story of our salvation is inexhaustible. It exposes the mystery of evil and opens the mystery of the cross through which the divine love of God has conquered evil forever and ever

So far in this week I have learned that God works in our works, He causes our works, and our works are God’s works. God knows the future because the future is He’s. I have also learned that God wills freely, He knows what is good and what is evil but his will chooses to do what is good.
What is hard for me to understand is concerning the philosophical approach used to interpret the book of Romans 8:29-30. Thanks to my professor because I never knew that foreknowledge and predestination are two fundamental issues dealing with salvation and they have created unnecessary debates in the world of theology and philosophy especially in our modern and postmodern eras.
However, I need to know more as to how God can be free to an extent of giving man freedom to talk anything about him. Indeed God’s works are His and we cannot comprehend who God is because He is who He is. That is why before and after sin He came up with the solution of grace as the only way of saving the fallen man.

Reflection Paper 1

THOMAS OYARO ONG’OU
THST520 THE WORKS OF GOD
REFLECTION PAPER NO.1
In our course THST520 class discussion we talked about the analogy between God and the humans. Through our professor’s lecture presentation I discovered that God cannot reveal his works to us except has He communicates to us in a language that we understand (anthromophic language). We have to consider a way in which God works. God condescends to reveal to reveal himself to us on how He works. We discovered that there is an analogy between divine works and human works. If there were no analogies between the works of God and man we could not have known anything about the works of God. There is a difference between the works of God and the works of man. There are similarities and dissimilarities between the works of God and the works of man.

God reveals his works by similarity or analogy and yet there is dissimilarity between God and man. God is our creator and we are his creatures.
In Isaiah 64:8 the bible says; “And yet O Lord you are our father. We are the clay and you are the potter. We are formed by your hand.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 says; “My thoughts are not your thoughts neither my ways your ways, for just as the heavens are higher that the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours.
Ezekiel 18:29 says; O house of Israel are not my ways equal and your ways unequal? God’s ways are equal and our ways unequal.

In Identity between God’s works and our works we talked on the following Bible texts;
1 Thessalonians 2:13 which says; “When we preached to you, you didn’t think of the words we spoke as being just our own, but you accepted just what we said as the very word of God which of course changed your lives when you believed it.”
The word of God preached by the apostle id God speaking.
Galatians 4:9 Says; “Now after that you have known God,”or to you who know God.
1 Corinthians 8:2-3 Says “If any man thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing as he ought to know it. But if any man love God the same is known by God.”
We also learned to the passages that relate to unbelievers. Romans 1:17-21 comments about the wrath of God which is revealed to all unrighteousness.
Romans 7:12-13 which says that “The law is holy, the commandment is holy and just and good.
Romans 1:24 “God gave them to uncleanliness.”

We also discussed on some of the biblical texts which are problematic for example; Philippians 3:12 “ I am not perfect but I keep working toward the day when I will finally be all that Christ saved me for and wants me to be.”
1 Corinthians 13:12 “Now we can see through a glass, but some day we are going to see him in his completeness as he is.”

Finally we discussed about the concept of being workers with God in the following texts;
1 Corinthians 15:10 “By the grace of God I am what I am because God works through me.”
Philippians 2:12-13 “For God is at work within you, helping you to obey him, and helping you to do what he wants.”Galatians 2:20-21 “I am crucified with Christ not I who lives but Christ in me.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 “God is able to make all grace abound.” Romans 15:15, 18 Because of the grace which is given to me of God, I dare not to speak any of this means which God has given to me, and Ephesians 2:8-10 “For by grace you have been saved through faith and we are God’s workmanship created in good works.”.They were good excellent discussions a very positive beginning indeed.