1. Mere Christianity C. S. Lewis Book IV

2. Ch. 1 – Making and Begetting Everyone has a theology. Theology = the study of God. – Would you rather have a good theology, or a bad one?

3. Making and Begetting “If Christianity only means one more bit of good advice, then Christianity is of no importance.” - Why?

4. Making and Begetting  What is the difference between “making” and “begetting”? When one makes something, the created thing is not part of the creator – different. When one begets someone, the begotten is like him, a part of the one who begot You can make a statue, but it’s not the same thing as having a child. God “begat” Christ, not “made” Him.

5. ?  What does this have to do with us? We are children of God because he created us. But through Christ we become something more. – We are born/begotten of God, so we become part of God. – Or God becomes a part of us through Christ. Making and Begetting

6. The difference is: Bios Zoe biological lifespiritual Life or life vs. Life

7. John 1:4 – “In him was Life (zoe)....” John 10:10, “I have come that you may have life (zoe), and have it to the full.” Making and Begetting

8. In connection with what we have been discussing: – “This world is a great sculptor’s shop.” – Through what happens in life, God is shaping us so we can experience Life. Making and Begetting

9. This transformation from life to Life takes place now. – We are being “pulled into God, by God, while still remaining” ourselves. – In this life we may find Life. “The whole purpose for which we exist is to be thus taken into the life of God.” Ch. 2 – The Three-Personal God

10. God takes the initiative in this process. It is impossible for God to show himself to one whose mind and character are in the wrong condition (Lewis). Ch. 2 – The Three-Personal God

11. “Consequently, the one really adequate instrument for learning about God, is the whole Christian community, waiting for him together. Ch. 2 – The Three-Personal God

12. Ch. 4 – Good Infection God is a being who contains three persons: “Trinity.” The Son “streams” forth from the father. – Light from a lamp – Heat from fire – Thoughts from a mind – Self-expression of the Father

13. Good Infection To say “God is love” implies relationship. – Relationship between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. – “And that, by the way, is perhaps the most important difference between Christianity and all other religions: that in Christianity God is not a static thing—not even a person—but a dynamic, pulsating activity, a life, almost a kind of drama. Almost, if you will not think me irreverent, a kind of dance.”

14. We talk about having God’s spirit within us. – The Holy Spirit. – What that means is that His character infects us. – Like the light from a lamp; heat from a fire, etc. – “Once is a person is united with God, how can he not live forever? Once a person is separated from God, what can he do but wither and die?” We share in that Life from above, that Christ brought from the Father. – The Life begotten (zoe), not made (bios).

15. Christ became human so he could spread to other people the kind of Life he has. How does he do that? – Good infection life becomes Life. Then, Life produces Life. “Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else.”

16. Galatians 4:19, “My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you.” Romans 8:29, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son.” 2 Corinthians 3:18, And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

17. Obstinate Toy Soldiers The Son of God became a man to enable men to become sons of God. – To turn life into Life. Bios – life – self-centered – Fears zoe Life

18. Obstinate Toy Soldiers The Son came to show us what it means to have Life (zoe). – Jesus became human in every sense of the word. – In him, life was transformed into Life. – He is what all people were intended to be. – He offers this to us.

19. Obstinate Toy Soldiers The Bible describes what happened at the cross a number of different ways. – Jesus defeated death. – We are forgiven of our sins. – We are made right before God.