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Pastor emeritus Nathan Bickel has left a new comment on your post "Twentieth Sunday after Trinity. Matthew 22:1-14. ...":
Ichabod -
I isolated some of your observations. You speak with clarity and make significant statements regarding the all important emphasis of faith, which can and should be gleaned out of this parable of Christ.
Here, are just some, which I thought highlighted some practical applications from the parable:
>>>>> .....Some would say that God is so gracious that He forgives everyone without any notion of faith. This parable says the opposite, because the one thing that matters is faith.........
.......The many invitations to the festival are the Means of Grace. This confrontation teaches justification by faith. For unbelievers, the ending of the parable is nonsensical and confusing. Why would someone be invited to a feast, attend, and then be cast out for not being dressed properly?.........
.......Some would say that God is so gracious that He forgives everyone without any notion of faith. This parable says the opposite, because the one thing that matters is faith........
[Note - My Comment - Nathan Bickel: Don't expect the universal objective justification enthusiasts to understand these 2 aforementioned observations]
......So we can see how Jesus gives us a clear portrait of salvation in Him, the rejection of the Gospel, justification by faith, and unbelievers within the visible church......
.....The more we think about this parable, the more clearly we can see church history and the state of the church today...... <<<<<<<<<
In my www.thechristianmessage.org website I have sometimes illustrated the necessity of faith, in the individual, by offering this Parable of the Wedding Feast. But, in my mind the first thought that always comes to mind, is Christ's Parable of the Man who Had No Wedding Garment. Another Scripture that I place with this parable is:
Philippians 3:8-9 - "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: ......." Philippians 3:8-9
The Gospel parable and the epistle go hand in glove. Also, they both explain and interpret one another; as Scripture interprets Scripture.
Good message - Ichabod!
Nathan M. Bickel
www.thechristianmessage.org
www.moralmatters.org
