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.