Bible reading for December 13 -- 14 Dec 13 -- Haggai 2 and John 3 Dec 14 -- Zechariah 1 and John 4 ================ "Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts..." (Haggai 2:4) THE LATTER GLORY (Haggai 2). The Jews, having returned from Babylonian exile, must get to work and finish rebuilding the temple. For this reason, the post-exilic period is called the "second temple" period. King Herod would later enlarge and add many embellishments to the site. But the beginnings in Haggai are so modest compared to the temple originally built by Solomon, and the people were discouraged. The Lord asks, "Is it not as nothing in your eyes?" (v 3) He tells them that they are to be strong and to keep working, for he is with them, no matter how humble the project may seem. This principle applies to us, as well (Matt 28:20; Eph 6:10). We should not become disheartened at the smallness of the return on our
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Yet Reformers like Luther, Calvin, and others, did not believe in Active Obedience, and they pointed to very powerful texts like 2 Corinthians 5:21, Romans 3:21-26, Romans 4:6-8, and Galatians 2:21, which all frame justification as a matter of the Cross alone and forgiveness, no "active obedience".
Christ's righteousness is seamless, his righteous life and atoning death being inseparable: "with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot." (1 Pet 1:19). His death would not be perfect and meritorious were he not blameless and unblemished in his (active) life and obedience before the Father. By virtue of our union with Christ are we not united to (and share in) all of Christ and his righteousness.
Yet you have raised a good question as to whether this theological distinction is valid. Will study more.