Hi Pilgrim - I agree it's both...but even with the reference to the 10 Commandments....we see the indicative and imperative. God saving and declaring....then what we are to do in response.

In this matter....the indicative is to point us first to God and Christ and His work on our behalf (and our subsequent position) ....then the imperataitive to live out of that heavenly existence....to see ourselves FIRST as united with Christ...and therefore, live as people who have been blessed with this awesome adoption.

I'm not disputing the importance of self examination...believing I made that clear....but merely asking about the order of things and which plane should we be viewing this matter from in order to get the best and most helpful perspective. From the earthly vantage point of our sin ...or our spiritual (or God's vantage point In Christ)?

Believe me, I know my depravity all too well...but is THIS how I should see myself first and foremost? I suspect not....

You seem to suggest that since it's "both" (and you are correct...it is both) that it doesn't matter how you slice it... I say it's both also...but one view seems to be more helpful...at least for me, for now, relative to dealing with my sin problems. One views seems to work in the earthly realm....and to work to improve ourselves....the other view seems to work out of the heavenly realm which encourages us to live out of that heavenly existence. Two different sets of motivation.

The Jerry Brigdes article in OPEN sort of talks about this too.

blessings,