In meditations 38 to 41 we searched through the Gospels, the book of Acts, and the letters of the apostle Paul to the followers of Jesus in Rome and Corinth to see how they depict ‘divine salvation’. Today we will continue to look for ‘salvation pictures’ in Paul’s other letters to the followers of Jesus. Then we will also delve into ‘the letter to the Hebrews’. As we already said earlier, we will not repeat the pictures which we have already found in the New Testament, although many of them are repeated:
‘Divine Salvation’ is pictured as:
• Being rescued from this evil world
"He died for our sins, just as God our Father planned, in order to rescue us from this evil world in which we live." Galatians 1:4
• Being rescued from the curse of the (Mosaic) Law
"Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the Law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures (Deuteronomy 21:22-23), 'Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.'" Galatians 3:13
• Being baptised into Christ
"You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptised into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." Galatians 3:26-27
• Being a Christlike new creation
"In Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation." Galatians 6:15
"We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
Ephesians 2:10
"You must display a new nature because you are a new person, created in God's likeness-- righteous, holy, and true."
Ephesians 4:24
• Being blessed with the blessings of God’s Spirit ‘in the heavenly realms’
"How we praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we belong to Christ." Ephesians 1:3
• Having access to God through the Holy Spirit on the basis of the Messiah’s sacrifice
"Now all of us, both Jews and Gentiles, may come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us." Ephesians 2:18
• Being enthroned with the Messiah ‘in the heavenly realms’
"He raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms-- all because we are one with Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:6
• Being rooted in God’s love
"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love." Ephesians 3:16-17
• Being sealed with God’s Spirit for God’s coming ‘Day of Liberation’ (i.e. the return of the Messiah, the final judgement and the inception of the new creation)
"...and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:30
• Being transferred to the Kingdom of the Messiah
"He [God the Father] has rescued us from the one who rules in the kingdom of darkness, and he has brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son." Colossians 1:13
• Being ‘a child of the light’ and ‘a child of the day’
"...but you aren't in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won't be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don't belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be sober."
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6
• Belonging to God’s family
"I am writing these things to you now, even though I hope to be with you soon, so that if I can't come for a while, you will know how people must conduct themselves in the household of God. This is the church of the living God, which is the pillar and support of the truth." 1 Timothy 3:14-15
• Being Jesus’ brother or sister
"So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters." Hebrews 2:11
We might be startled to see so many pictures throughout the New Testament that all accentuate a specific aspect of God’s present and future salvation. Please, take in these ‘salvation pictures’ and let them be a joy to your heart. May they open your mind for the manifold facets of God’s mission.
Next time we will search for ‘salvation pictures’ in the letters of the apostles Peter and John.
The Bible verses Galatians 3:26, Ephesians 2:10 and Ephesians 4:30 are quotes of the New International Version. Galatians 6:15 is a quote of the New King James Version. All other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
41. RESURRECTION LIFE OR WHAT? ( d )
In meditations 38 to 40 we searched through the Gospels, the book of Acts, and the apostle Paul’s letter to the followers of Jesus in Rome to see how they depict ‘divine salvation’. Today we will look for ‘salvation pictures’ in Paul’s letters to the followers of Jesus in the Greek town of Corinth. As we already said earlier, we will not repeat the pictures which we have already found in the New Testament, although many of them are repeated:
‘Divine Salvation’ is pictured as:
• Being a member of God’s church [God’s people]
We are writing to the church of God in Corinth, you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did all Christians everywhere-- whoever calls upon the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and theirs. 1 Corinthians 1:2
• Being ‘in Christ Jesus’
God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Christ to be wisdom itself. He is the one who made us acceptable to God. He made us pure and holy, and he gave himself to purchase our freedom. 1 Corinthians 1:30
• Having the mind of Christ
“’Who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who can give him counsel?’ But we can understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16
• Being ‘a plant’ in the soil that God is cultivating
“Through us God caused you to believe. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. My job was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God, not we, who made it grow. The ones who do the planting or watering aren't important, but God is important because he is the one who makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work as a team with the same purpose. Yet they will be rewarded individually, according to their own hard work. We work together as partners who belong to God. You are God's field...”
1 Corinthians 3:5-9
• Being ‘a living stone’ in God’s spiritual temple
"Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?" 1 Corinthians 3:16
See also the further illustration in 1 Peter 2:5 “And now God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple.”
• Being one with God in spirit
"But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit." 1 Corinthians 6:17
• Having received the manifestation (i.e. one or more gifts) of God’s Spirit
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." 1 Corinthians 12:7
• Being baptised into ‘the Body of the Messiah’ by having received his Spirit
"Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles [non-Jews], some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ's body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit." 1 Corinthians 12:13
• Being a part of ‘the Messianic Body’ [the Body of Christ]
"Now all of you together are Christ's body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it." 1 Corinthians 12:27
• Having received God’s Spirit as the first instalment [deposit] of the future inheritance
"It is God who gives us, along with you, the ability to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first instalment of everything he will give us." 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
• Being ‘a messianic aroma’ presented by the Messiah to God the Father
"Our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ to God [other translations: we are the aroma of Christ]. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those being saved and by those perishing. To those who are perishing we are a fearful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?"
2 Corinthians 2:15-16
• Being ‘a letter from the Messiah’ for the world
"The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves! Your lives are a letter written in our hearts, and everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. Clearly, you are a letter from Christ prepared by us. It is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on stone, but on human hearts." 2 Corinthians 3:2-3
• Being ‘a mirror’ to reflect the glory of the Messiah
"...But the people's minds were hardened, and even to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, a veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ [the Messiah]. Yes, even today when they read Moses' writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom. And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more." 2 Corinthians 3:14-18
• Manifesting the life of the Messiah in our mortal bodies
"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body." 2 Corinthians 4:6-11
We continue to be amazed how all these ‘pictures’ speak about the present and future reality of God’s salvation. May they help you to understand better what God has in store for us when we come to him in remorseful repentance.
Next time we will continue our journey to look into the ‘salvation pictures’ in Paul’s letters.
The Bible verses Acts 2:4, Acts 2:38, Romans 1:7, Romans 6:5 and Romans 8:29 are quotes of the New International Version. All other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
‘Divine Salvation’ is pictured as:
• Being a member of God’s church [God’s people]
We are writing to the church of God in Corinth, you who have been called by God to be his own holy people. He made you holy by means of Christ Jesus, just as he did all Christians everywhere-- whoever calls upon the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and theirs. 1 Corinthians 1:2
• Being ‘in Christ Jesus’
God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Christ to be wisdom itself. He is the one who made us acceptable to God. He made us pure and holy, and he gave himself to purchase our freedom. 1 Corinthians 1:30
• Having the mind of Christ
“’Who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who can give him counsel?’ But we can understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16
• Being ‘a plant’ in the soil that God is cultivating
“Through us God caused you to believe. Each of us did the work the Lord gave us. My job was to plant the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God, not we, who made it grow. The ones who do the planting or watering aren't important, but God is important because he is the one who makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work as a team with the same purpose. Yet they will be rewarded individually, according to their own hard work. We work together as partners who belong to God. You are God's field...”
1 Corinthians 3:5-9
• Being ‘a living stone’ in God’s spiritual temple
"Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?" 1 Corinthians 3:16
See also the further illustration in 1 Peter 2:5 “And now God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple.”
• Being one with God in spirit
"But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit." 1 Corinthians 6:17
• Having received the manifestation (i.e. one or more gifts) of God’s Spirit
"Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good." 1 Corinthians 12:7
• Being baptised into ‘the Body of the Messiah’ by having received his Spirit
"Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles [non-Jews], some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ's body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit." 1 Corinthians 12:13
• Being a part of ‘the Messianic Body’ [the Body of Christ]
"Now all of you together are Christ's body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it." 1 Corinthians 12:27
• Having received God’s Spirit as the first instalment [deposit] of the future inheritance
"It is God who gives us, along with you, the ability to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first instalment of everything he will give us." 2 Corinthians 1:21-22
• Being ‘a messianic aroma’ presented by the Messiah to God the Father
"Our lives are a fragrance presented by Christ to God [other translations: we are the aroma of Christ]. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those being saved and by those perishing. To those who are perishing we are a fearful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?"
2 Corinthians 2:15-16
• Being ‘a letter from the Messiah’ for the world
"The only letter of recommendation we need is you yourselves! Your lives are a letter written in our hearts, and everyone can read it and recognize our good work among you. Clearly, you are a letter from Christ prepared by us. It is written not with pen and ink, but with the Spirit of the living God. It is carved not on stone, but on human hearts." 2 Corinthians 3:2-3
• Being ‘a mirror’ to reflect the glory of the Messiah
"...But the people's minds were hardened, and even to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, a veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ [the Messiah]. Yes, even today when they read Moses' writings, their hearts are covered with that veil, and they do not understand. But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, then the veil is taken away. Now, the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, he gives freedom. And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like him and reflect his glory even more." 2 Corinthians 3:14-18
• Manifesting the life of the Messiah in our mortal bodies
"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body." 2 Corinthians 4:6-11
We continue to be amazed how all these ‘pictures’ speak about the present and future reality of God’s salvation. May they help you to understand better what God has in store for us when we come to him in remorseful repentance.
Next time we will continue our journey to look into the ‘salvation pictures’ in Paul’s letters.
The Bible verses Acts 2:4, Acts 2:38, Romans 1:7, Romans 6:5 and Romans 8:29 are quotes of the New International Version. All other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
Friday, January 14, 2011
40. RESURRECTION LIFE OR WHAT ? (c)
In the last two meditations we began our journey through the New Testament by seeing how it depicts ‘divine salvation’. We started with the ‘salvation pictures’ in the Gospels. Today we will take a look into the book of Acts and the apostle Paul’s letter to the followers of Jesus in Rome. Of course we will not repeat the pictures which we have already mentioned before, although many of them are repeated:
‘Divine Salvation’ is pictured as:
• Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit
“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Acts 2:38
• Being filled with the Holy Spirit
(Luke writes:) “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit...”
Acts 2:4
• Belonging to Jesus the Messiah
“You are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ” Romans 1:6
“For we are not our own masters when we live or when we die. While we live, we live to please the Lord. And when we die, we go to be with the Lord. So in life and in death, we belong to the Lord.” Romans 14:-8
• Being saints
“To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints...” Romans 1:7
• Having your heart ‘circumcised’ by God’s Spirit
“True circumcision is not a cutting of the body but a change of heart produced by God's Spirit.” Romans 2:29
• Being made right in God’s sight
“We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.” Romans 3:22
• Being declared guiltless [blameless] by God
“Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins.” Romans 3:24
• Having Abraham as our father
“So that's why faith is the key! God's promise is given to us as a free gift. And we are certain to receive it, whether or not we follow Jewish customs, if we have faith like Abraham's. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, "I have made you the father of many nations." This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who brings into existence what didn't exist before.” Romans 4:16-17
• Having peace with God
“Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” Romans 5:1
• Sharing God’s glory
“Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.” Romans 5:2
• Being reconciled to God
“For since we were restored to friendship with God [other translations: reconciled to God] by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life.” Romans 5:10
• Being united with Jesus the Messiah in his resurrection
“If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.” Romans 6:5
• Being set free from the (Mosaic) Law
“Sin is no longer your master, for you are no longer subject to the Law, which enslaves you to sin. Instead, you are free by God's grace. So since God's grace has set us free from the Law, does this mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!”
Romans 6:14-15
• Living without God’s condemnation
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.” Romans 8:1-2
• Being chosen by God to become like his Son, Jesus the Messiah
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” Romans 8:29
• Belonging to ‘the Body’ of Jesus the Messiah
“Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.” Romans 12:4-5
• Being God’s servant
“Who are you to condemn God's servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him tell them whether they are right or wrong. The Lord's power will help them do as they should.” Romans 14:4
It is great to see how all these pictures accentuate a specific aspect of God’s present and future salvation. Please, let these ‘salvation pictures’ saturate your heart and mind. May they give you a clear understanding of what God’s offer of salvation is all about.
Next time we will search for ‘salvation pictures’ in Paul’s other letters. So, join me next time!
The Bible verses Acts 2:38, Acts 2:4, Romans 1:7, Romans 6:5 and Romans 8:29 are quotes of the New International Version. All other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
‘Divine Salvation’ is pictured as:
• Receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit
“Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Acts 2:38
• Being filled with the Holy Spirit
(Luke writes:) “All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit...”
Acts 2:4
• Belonging to Jesus the Messiah
“You are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ” Romans 1:6
“For we are not our own masters when we live or when we die. While we live, we live to please the Lord. And when we die, we go to be with the Lord. So in life and in death, we belong to the Lord.” Romans 14:-8
• Being saints
“To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints...” Romans 1:7
• Having your heart ‘circumcised’ by God’s Spirit
“True circumcision is not a cutting of the body but a change of heart produced by God's Spirit.” Romans 2:29
• Being made right in God’s sight
“We are made right in God's sight when we trust in Jesus Christ to take away our sins. And we all can be saved in this same way, no matter who we are or what we have done.” Romans 3:22
• Being declared guiltless [blameless] by God
“Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins.” Romans 3:24
• Having Abraham as our father
“So that's why faith is the key! God's promise is given to us as a free gift. And we are certain to receive it, whether or not we follow Jewish customs, if we have faith like Abraham's. For Abraham is the father of all who believe. That is what the Scriptures mean when God told him, "I have made you the father of many nations." This happened because Abraham believed in the God who brings the dead back to life and who brings into existence what didn't exist before.” Romans 4:16-17
• Having peace with God
“Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” Romans 5:1
• Sharing God’s glory
“Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory.” Romans 5:2
• Being reconciled to God
“For since we were restored to friendship with God [other translations: reconciled to God] by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life.” Romans 5:10
• Being united with Jesus the Messiah in his resurrection
“If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.” Romans 6:5
• Being set free from the (Mosaic) Law
“Sin is no longer your master, for you are no longer subject to the Law, which enslaves you to sin. Instead, you are free by God's grace. So since God's grace has set us free from the Law, does this mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!”
Romans 6:14-15
• Living without God’s condemnation
“So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.” Romans 8:1-2
• Being chosen by God to become like his Son, Jesus the Messiah
“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.” Romans 8:29
• Belonging to ‘the Body’ of Jesus the Messiah
“Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ's body. We are all parts of his one body, and each of us has different work to do. And since we are all one body in Christ, we belong to each other, and each of us needs all the others.” Romans 12:4-5
• Being God’s servant
“Who are you to condemn God's servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him tell them whether they are right or wrong. The Lord's power will help them do as they should.” Romans 14:4
It is great to see how all these pictures accentuate a specific aspect of God’s present and future salvation. Please, let these ‘salvation pictures’ saturate your heart and mind. May they give you a clear understanding of what God’s offer of salvation is all about.
Next time we will search for ‘salvation pictures’ in Paul’s other letters. So, join me next time!
The Bible verses Acts 2:38, Acts 2:4, Romans 1:7, Romans 6:5 and Romans 8:29 are quotes of the New International Version. All other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
Friday, January 7, 2011
39. RESURRECTION LIFE OR WHAT ? (b)
Last week we began our journey through the New Testament to see how it depicts ‘divine salvation’. We started with the ‘salvation pictures’ in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Today we will continue our search and look into the Gospel of John. Of course we will not repeat the pictures which we already mentioned last time.
‘Divine Salvation’ is pictured as:
• Salvation from God’s judgment
(John writes:) “God did not send his Son [Jesus the Messiah] into the world to condemn it, but to save it. There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God.” John 3:17-18
• Being born of God and thus being His child
(John writes:) “But to all who believed him [Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan-- this rebirth comes from God.”
John 1:12-13
“Jesus replied, ‘The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of ... the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven. So don't be surprised at my statement that you must be born again.’” John 3:5-7
• Having eternal life
(Jesus said:) “And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so I, the Son of Man, must be lifted up on a pole, so that everyone who believes in me will have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:14-16
• Having the light of life [i.e. Jesus the Messiah]
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’" John 8:12
• Being set free by Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God
“Jesus said to the people who believed in him, ‘You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ ‘But we are descendants of Abraham,’ they said. ‘We have never been slaves to anyone on earth. What do you mean, 'set free'?’ Jesus replied, ‘I assure you that everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free.’” John 8:31-36
• Being a sheep of the Good Shepherd's flock
(Jesus said:) "I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.... My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me.” John 10:14-15 and 27-28
• Having resurrection life
“Jesus said to her [Martha, Lazarus’ sister], ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:25-26
• Having a place in heaven, prepared by Jesus the Messiah
(Jesus said:) “In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:2-3
• Having received the Spirit of truth [i.e. ‘the other Counsellor’]
(On the evening before he died, Jesus said to his disciples:) “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth [other translations: He is the Spirit of truth]. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later (see Acts 2:1-13) will be in you.” John 14:16-17
• Being loved by God the Father and God the Son
(Jesus said:) “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
John 14:21
• Being a ‘branch’ of the ‘vine’ [i.e. Jesus the Messiah]
(Jesus said:) “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
• Being a friend of Jesus the Messiah
(Jesus said:) “You are my friends if you obey me. I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn't confide in his servants [literally: slaves]. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.” John 15:14-15
• Being with Jesus forever and seeing his glory
(Jesus said:) “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”
John 17:24
• Having Jesus Himself and the love of God living in us
(Jesus said:) “And I have revealed you [God the Father] to them and will keep on revealing you. I will do this so that your love for me may be in them and I in them.” John 17:26
As we said last time, all these ‘pictures’ are like facets of a diamond. They all display something of the present or future aspects of divine salvation.
I pray that these ‘pictures’ will give you much food for thought and prayer.
Next time we will look for the ‘salvation pictures’ in Acts and Paul’s letters. So, hold on!
The Bible verses John 8:12, John 11:25-26, John 14:2-3, John 14:21 and John 17:24 are quotes of the New International Version. All other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
‘Divine Salvation’ is pictured as:
• Salvation from God’s judgment
(John writes:) “God did not send his Son [Jesus the Messiah] into the world to condemn it, but to save it. There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God.” John 3:17-18
• Being born of God and thus being His child
(John writes:) “But to all who believed him [Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn! This is not a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan-- this rebirth comes from God.”
John 1:12-13
“Jesus replied, ‘The truth is, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of ... the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives new life from heaven. So don't be surprised at my statement that you must be born again.’” John 3:5-7
• Having eternal life
(Jesus said:) “And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so I, the Son of Man, must be lifted up on a pole, so that everyone who believes in me will have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:14-16
• Having the light of life [i.e. Jesus the Messiah]
“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’" John 8:12
• Being set free by Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God
“Jesus said to the people who believed in him, ‘You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.’ ‘But we are descendants of Abraham,’ they said. ‘We have never been slaves to anyone on earth. What do you mean, 'set free'?’ Jesus replied, ‘I assure you that everyone who sins is a slave of sin. A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free.’” John 8:31-36
• Being a sheep of the Good Shepherd's flock
(Jesus said:) "I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep, and they know me, just as my Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.... My sheep recognize my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them away from me.” John 10:14-15 and 27-28
• Having resurrection life
“Jesus said to her [Martha, Lazarus’ sister], ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” John 11:25-26
• Having a place in heaven, prepared by Jesus the Messiah
(Jesus said:) “In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” John 14:2-3
• Having received the Spirit of truth [i.e. ‘the other Counsellor’]
(On the evening before he died, Jesus said to his disciples:) “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth [other translations: He is the Spirit of truth]. The world at large cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you do, because he lives with you now and later (see Acts 2:1-13) will be in you.” John 14:16-17
• Being loved by God the Father and God the Son
(Jesus said:) “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."
John 14:21
• Being a ‘branch’ of the ‘vine’ [i.e. Jesus the Messiah]
(Jesus said:) “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
• Being a friend of Jesus the Messiah
(Jesus said:) “You are my friends if you obey me. I no longer call you servants, because a master doesn't confide in his servants [literally: slaves]. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me.” John 15:14-15
• Being with Jesus forever and seeing his glory
(Jesus said:) “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”
John 17:24
• Having Jesus Himself and the love of God living in us
(Jesus said:) “And I have revealed you [God the Father] to them and will keep on revealing you. I will do this so that your love for me may be in them and I in them.” John 17:26
As we said last time, all these ‘pictures’ are like facets of a diamond. They all display something of the present or future aspects of divine salvation.
I pray that these ‘pictures’ will give you much food for thought and prayer.
Next time we will look for the ‘salvation pictures’ in Acts and Paul’s letters. So, hold on!
The Bible verses John 8:12, John 11:25-26, John 14:2-3, John 14:21 and John 17:24 are quotes of the New International Version. All other texts are quoted from the New Living Translation.
Friday, December 31, 2010
38. RESURRECTION LIFE OR WHAT ? (a)
In meditations 26 and 27, we saw that ‘salvation’ is God’s gracious gift to us. We receive it as a divine response to our repentance and faith in the redeeming sacrifice of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.
Furthermore, we discovered in meditations 35 to 37 how the apostle Paul binds our ‘divine salvation’ to the crucifixion, death and resurrection of God’s only Son.
The New Testament depicts ‘divine salvation’ in many ways. Here are some ‘salvation pictures’ from the Gospel of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Although most of these pictures of ‘divine salvation’ occur more often in the New Testament, I only mention them once as an example:
‘Divine Salvation’ is pictured as:
• Salvation from sins
(The angel of the Lord said:) "She [Mary] will have a son, and you [Joseph] are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21
• Being baptised with God the Holy Spirit
(John the Baptist said:) "After me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit." Matthew 3:11
• Being sons [and daughters] of God's Kingdom [the Kingdom of Heaven]
(Jesus said:) “The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the Kingdom.” Matthew 13:38
• Inheriting eternal life
(Jesus said:) “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” Matthew 19:29
• Inheriting God's Kingdom [the Kingdom of Heaven]
(Jesus said:) ”Then the King will say to those on the right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’” Matthew 25:34
• Having your name registered as citizens of heaven
(Jesus said:) “...rejoice because your names are registered as citizens of heaven." Luke 10:2b
• Knowing God the Father
(Jesus said:) "My Father has given me authority over everything. No one really knows the Son except the Father, and no one really knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Luke 10:22
• Being one of the chosen [the elect] of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of Man
(Jesus said:) “And he will send forth his angels with the sound of a mighty trumpet blast, and they will gather together his chosen ones [his elect] from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.” Matthew 24:31
• Sitting down at the feast in God's Kingdom [the Kingdom of Heaven]
(Jesus said:) “And I tell you this, that many Gentiles [non-Jews] will come from all over the world and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 8:11
• Being righteous and shining like the sun in God's Kingdom [the Kingdom of Heaven]
(Jesus said:) “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” Matthew 13:43
• Drinking of the fruit of the vine with Jesus the Messiah in God's Kingdom [the Kingdom of Heaven]
(Jesus said:) “I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom." Matthew 26:29
All these ‘pictures’ are like facets of a diamond. They all display something of the present or future aspects of divine salvation. I suggest that you take time to reflect on each of them. Are they an integral part of your life and of your prospects for the future?
Next time, let's look at the ‘salvation pictures’ in John’s Gospel which we have not yet seen in the other Gospels.
The Bible verses Matthew 3:11, Matthew 13:38, Matthew 13:43 and Matthew 19:29. All other texts are quotes of the New Living Translation.
Furthermore, we discovered in meditations 35 to 37 how the apostle Paul binds our ‘divine salvation’ to the crucifixion, death and resurrection of God’s only Son.
The New Testament depicts ‘divine salvation’ in many ways. Here are some ‘salvation pictures’ from the Gospel of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Although most of these pictures of ‘divine salvation’ occur more often in the New Testament, I only mention them once as an example:
‘Divine Salvation’ is pictured as:
• Salvation from sins
(The angel of the Lord said:) "She [Mary] will have a son, and you [Joseph] are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:21
• Being baptised with God the Holy Spirit
(John the Baptist said:) "After me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit." Matthew 3:11
• Being sons [and daughters] of God's Kingdom [the Kingdom of Heaven]
(Jesus said:) “The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the Kingdom.” Matthew 13:38
• Inheriting eternal life
(Jesus said:) “Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.” Matthew 19:29
• Inheriting God's Kingdom [the Kingdom of Heaven]
(Jesus said:) ”Then the King will say to those on the right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.’” Matthew 25:34
• Having your name registered as citizens of heaven
(Jesus said:) “...rejoice because your names are registered as citizens of heaven." Luke 10:2b
• Knowing God the Father
(Jesus said:) "My Father has given me authority over everything. No one really knows the Son except the Father, and no one really knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Luke 10:22
• Being one of the chosen [the elect] of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of Man
(Jesus said:) “And he will send forth his angels with the sound of a mighty trumpet blast, and they will gather together his chosen ones [his elect] from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.” Matthew 24:31
• Sitting down at the feast in God's Kingdom [the Kingdom of Heaven]
(Jesus said:) “And I tell you this, that many Gentiles [non-Jews] will come from all over the world and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven.” Matthew 8:11
• Being righteous and shining like the sun in God's Kingdom [the Kingdom of Heaven]
(Jesus said:) “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” Matthew 13:43
• Drinking of the fruit of the vine with Jesus the Messiah in God's Kingdom [the Kingdom of Heaven]
(Jesus said:) “I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom." Matthew 26:29
All these ‘pictures’ are like facets of a diamond. They all display something of the present or future aspects of divine salvation. I suggest that you take time to reflect on each of them. Are they an integral part of your life and of your prospects for the future?
Next time, let's look at the ‘salvation pictures’ in John’s Gospel which we have not yet seen in the other Gospels.
The Bible verses Matthew 3:11, Matthew 13:38, Matthew 13:43 and Matthew 19:29. All other texts are quotes of the New Living Translation.
Friday, November 12, 2010
37. I WAS RAISED WITH CHRIST TO ETERNAL LIFE !
In meditations 35 and 36 we saw that not only our conversion but also our identification with Christ’s crucifixion and death are so important for God and for us.
However, for starting a new and eternal life in fellowship with God the Father and God the Son, something even more radical than forgiveness of my sinful past is needed.
Indeed, it is great to know that God has forgiven my former rebellion because of Jesus’ sacrifice. The apostle Paul delights in that when he recites king David’s song:
"Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose sin is no longer counted against them by the Lord" (Romans 4:7-8).
Yet, forgiveness in itself does not result automatically in the complete change of my sinful nature. For such a transformation to occur, something even more profound is required.
That’s why Paul does not finish with speaking of ‘dying with Christ’. He continues by saying:
“Since we have been united with him [Jesus Christ, the Messiah] in his death, we will also be raised as he was.
Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.
And since we died with Christ, we know we will also share his new life. We are sure of this because Christ rose from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him.
He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God.
So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:5-10).
At our conversion, this new and eternal “Christ-life” [or “resurrection life”] is given to us by God’s Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul reminds the followers of Jesus in Rome about that wonderful gift of God:
“Since Christ lives within you, even though your body will die because of sin, your spirit is alive because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you” (Romans 8:10-11a).
We can see that the apostle uses both expressions “Christ lives in you” and “the Spirit of God lives in you”, thereby making them equal.
Indeed, it is God the Holy Spirit who represents God the Son and God the Father in our lives.
In their letters, the apostles often interchange the presence of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit in the lives of Jesus’ followers. Jesus himself already stated this fact on the night before his death. Speaking about his return to heaven after his resurrection, he said to his friends:
“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever – the Spirit of truth. ..... If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:16.17.23).
At the same time, Jesus uses two other expressions that show the intimate relationship between him and his followers: “When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (John 14:20)
In their letters, the apostles point to the same intimate relationship between Jesus and his followers when they use sayings like “we are in Christ”, or “we are in Him”, or “Christ in us”, etc.
This intimate relationship between Jesus and his followers is possible through the gift of the Holy Spirit. The apostle John explains in his first letter: “Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us” (1 John 3:24).
The apostle Paul rejoices about this “resurrection life”, when he declares: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Contrasting his former selfish life with this new relationship he has with Jesus Christ through the gift of God’s Spirit, the apostle Paul testifies: “I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
In the next meditations we will think of the quality of this amazing ‘Christlike resurrection life’ which we receive with the gift of God’s Spirit at our conversion. However, first of all, we need to see what other terms the Bible uses to describe this life-changing event.
The Bible verses John 14:16.17.23 and 1 John 3:24 are quotes from the New International Version. 2 Corinthians 5:17 is a quote from the New King James Version. All other texts are quotes of the New Living Translation.
However, for starting a new and eternal life in fellowship with God the Father and God the Son, something even more radical than forgiveness of my sinful past is needed.
Indeed, it is great to know that God has forgiven my former rebellion because of Jesus’ sacrifice. The apostle Paul delights in that when he recites king David’s song:
"Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sins are put out of sight. Yes, what joy for those whose sin is no longer counted against them by the Lord" (Romans 4:7-8).
Yet, forgiveness in itself does not result automatically in the complete change of my sinful nature. For such a transformation to occur, something even more profound is required.
That’s why Paul does not finish with speaking of ‘dying with Christ’. He continues by saying:
“Since we have been united with him [Jesus Christ, the Messiah] in his death, we will also be raised as he was.
Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.
And since we died with Christ, we know we will also share his new life. We are sure of this because Christ rose from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him.
He died once to defeat sin, and now he lives for the glory of God.
So you should consider yourselves dead to sin and able to live for the glory of God through Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:5-10).
At our conversion, this new and eternal “Christ-life” [or “resurrection life”] is given to us by God’s Holy Spirit. The apostle Paul reminds the followers of Jesus in Rome about that wonderful gift of God:
“Since Christ lives within you, even though your body will die because of sin, your spirit is alive because you have been made right with God. The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you” (Romans 8:10-11a).
We can see that the apostle uses both expressions “Christ lives in you” and “the Spirit of God lives in you”, thereby making them equal.
Indeed, it is God the Holy Spirit who represents God the Son and God the Father in our lives.
In their letters, the apostles often interchange the presence of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit in the lives of Jesus’ followers. Jesus himself already stated this fact on the night before his death. Speaking about his return to heaven after his resurrection, he said to his friends:
“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counsellor to be with you for ever – the Spirit of truth. ..... If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:16.17.23).
At the same time, Jesus uses two other expressions that show the intimate relationship between him and his followers: “When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (John 14:20)
In their letters, the apostles point to the same intimate relationship between Jesus and his followers when they use sayings like “we are in Christ”, or “we are in Him”, or “Christ in us”, etc.
This intimate relationship between Jesus and his followers is possible through the gift of the Holy Spirit. The apostle John explains in his first letter: “Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us” (1 John 3:24).
The apostle Paul rejoices about this “resurrection life”, when he declares: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Contrasting his former selfish life with this new relationship he has with Jesus Christ through the gift of God’s Spirit, the apostle Paul testifies: “I myself no longer live, but Christ lives in me. So I live my life in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
In the next meditations we will think of the quality of this amazing ‘Christlike resurrection life’ which we receive with the gift of God’s Spirit at our conversion. However, first of all, we need to see what other terms the Bible uses to describe this life-changing event.
The Bible verses John 14:16.17.23 and 1 John 3:24 are quotes from the New International Version. 2 Corinthians 5:17 is a quote from the New King James Version. All other texts are quotes of the New Living Translation.
Friday, October 22, 2010
36. I DIED WITH CHRIST
In meditation 35 we saw why our identification with Christ’s crucifixion is so important for God and for us. As the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 6:6: “Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin” (Romans 6:6).
Yet, Paul continues to develop ‘a pattern of identification’ with Jesus Christ [the Messiah]. Not only does he speak of our rebellious hearts being crucified with Christ when we accept him as our Saviour, the apostle goes on to explain that our ‘sinful selves’ die with Christ.
The apostle Paul reminds the followers of Jesus in Colossae (modern Turkey): “You died when Christ died...” (Colossians 3:3).
As dying causes a complete break with one’s former way of life and all that it embraced, Paul shows that ‘dying with Christ’ has liberating consequences:
a) Having died with Christ = having died to our old rebellious and sinful life style:
Paul writes to the followers of Jesus in Corinth: “Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live” (2 Corinthians 5:14).
To the Christians in Rome the apostle states: “When we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin” (Romans 6:7).
Earlier in the same letter, Paul underlines: “Should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” (Romans 6:1).
The apostle Peter also speaks in his first letter about our identification with Christ’s death: “[Jesus] who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness...” (1 Peter 2:24).
b) Having died with Christ = having died to the Mosaic Law:
The letter to the Hebrews speaks of God’s inauguration of a new Messianic Covenant [New Testament] with all those who believe in the sacrificial death of his Son Jesus Christ.
This new and eternal Covenant led to the termination of the first, temporary covenant [Sinai Covenant] God made with Israel after delivering them from their bondage in Egypt:
“When God speaks of a new covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and ready to be put aside” (Hebrews 8:13).
(For more on God’s covenants with Abraham, Israel and the Gentiles/non-Jews see meditation 33)
Especially to the (Jewish) followers of Jesus in Galatia (modern Turkey), the apostle Paul explained that the expiration of the Sinai Covenant led automatically to the invalidation of the original function of the Mosaic Law:
“Why was the [Mosaic] Law given? It was given to show people how guilty they are.
But this system of Law was to last only until the coming of the child to whom God's promise was made [Jesus the Messiah].....
Well then, is there a conflict between God's Law and God's promises?
Absolutely not! If the [Mosaic] Law could have given us new life, we could have been made right with God by obeying it.
But the Scriptures have declared that we are all prisoners of sin, so the only way to receive God's promise is to believe in Jesus Christ.
Until faith in Christ was shown to us as the way of becoming right with God, we were guarded by the [Mosaic] Law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until we could put our faith in the coming Savior.
Let me put it another way. The [Mosaic] Law was our guardian and teacher to lead us until Christ came.
So now, through faith in Christ, we are made right with God. But now that faith in Christ has come, we no longer need the [Mosaic] Law as our guardian” (Galatians 3:19-25).
It is especially because of this annulment of the ‘guardian function’ of the Mosaic Law that Paul writes to the (Jewish) followers of Jesus in Rome: “So this is the point: The [Mosaic] Law no longer holds you in its power, because you died to its power when you died with Christ on the cross. ...
When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the [Mosaic] Law aroused these evil desires that produced sinful deeds, resulting in death.
But now we have been released from the [Mosaic] Law, for we died with Christ, and we are no longer captive to its power.”
(Romans 7:4a and 6a)
To the followers of Jesus in Galatia the apostle Paul testifies: “When I tried to keep the [Mosaic] Law, I realized I could never earn God's approval. So I died [with Christ] to the Law...” (Galatians 2:19)
c) Having died with Christ = having died to the basic teachings of human philosophies and religious traditions:
The (non-Jewish) Christians in Colossae had grown up in a Hellenistic culture of syncretism in religion and philosophy. They were familiar with all kinds of human ways of salvation and ascetic practices.
The apostle Paul warned them not to hold on to those teachings:
“Why do you keep on following rules of the world, such as, “Don't handle, don't eat, don't touch.”
Such rules are mere human teaching about things that are gone as soon as we use them.
These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and severe bodily discipline.
But they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person's evil thoughts and desires” (Colossians 2:20b-23).
Earlier in the same letter Paul exposes the origin of those so called ‘pathways to life’:
“Don't let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ.”
(Colossians 2:8)
The apostle reminds the Christians in Colossae: “You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the evil powers of this world” (Colossians 2:20).
The apostle Paul reminds the followers of Jesus in Rome of the meaning of their baptism:
“Have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism.....
Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.
For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin” (Romans 6:3-4a and 6).
The Bible makes it clear that when we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we die with him to our sinful selves, to the control of the [Mosaic] Law and to the deception of human philosophies and religious traditions.
This liberating fact necessarily raises the following question: how then should I live as a follower of Jesus?
The Bible verse of 1 Peter 2:24 is a quote from the New King James Version. All other texts are quotes of the New Living Translation.
Yet, Paul continues to develop ‘a pattern of identification’ with Jesus Christ [the Messiah]. Not only does he speak of our rebellious hearts being crucified with Christ when we accept him as our Saviour, the apostle goes on to explain that our ‘sinful selves’ die with Christ.
The apostle Paul reminds the followers of Jesus in Colossae (modern Turkey): “You died when Christ died...” (Colossians 3:3).
As dying causes a complete break with one’s former way of life and all that it embraced, Paul shows that ‘dying with Christ’ has liberating consequences:
a) Having died with Christ = having died to our old rebellious and sinful life style:
Paul writes to the followers of Jesus in Corinth: “Since we believe that Christ died for everyone, we also believe that we have all died to the old life we used to live” (2 Corinthians 5:14).
To the Christians in Rome the apostle states: “When we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin” (Romans 6:7).
Earlier in the same letter, Paul underlines: “Should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more kindness and forgiveness? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?” (Romans 6:1).
The apostle Peter also speaks in his first letter about our identification with Christ’s death: “[Jesus] who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness...” (1 Peter 2:24).
b) Having died with Christ = having died to the Mosaic Law:
The letter to the Hebrews speaks of God’s inauguration of a new Messianic Covenant [New Testament] with all those who believe in the sacrificial death of his Son Jesus Christ.
This new and eternal Covenant led to the termination of the first, temporary covenant [Sinai Covenant] God made with Israel after delivering them from their bondage in Egypt:
“When God speaks of a new covenant, it means he has made the first one obsolete. It is now out of date and ready to be put aside” (Hebrews 8:13).
(For more on God’s covenants with Abraham, Israel and the Gentiles/non-Jews see meditation 33)
Especially to the (Jewish) followers of Jesus in Galatia (modern Turkey), the apostle Paul explained that the expiration of the Sinai Covenant led automatically to the invalidation of the original function of the Mosaic Law:
“Why was the [Mosaic] Law given? It was given to show people how guilty they are.
But this system of Law was to last only until the coming of the child to whom God's promise was made [Jesus the Messiah].....
Well then, is there a conflict between God's Law and God's promises?
Absolutely not! If the [Mosaic] Law could have given us new life, we could have been made right with God by obeying it.
But the Scriptures have declared that we are all prisoners of sin, so the only way to receive God's promise is to believe in Jesus Christ.
Until faith in Christ was shown to us as the way of becoming right with God, we were guarded by the [Mosaic] Law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until we could put our faith in the coming Savior.
Let me put it another way. The [Mosaic] Law was our guardian and teacher to lead us until Christ came.
So now, through faith in Christ, we are made right with God. But now that faith in Christ has come, we no longer need the [Mosaic] Law as our guardian” (Galatians 3:19-25).
It is especially because of this annulment of the ‘guardian function’ of the Mosaic Law that Paul writes to the (Jewish) followers of Jesus in Rome: “So this is the point: The [Mosaic] Law no longer holds you in its power, because you died to its power when you died with Christ on the cross. ...
When we were controlled by our old nature, sinful desires were at work within us, and the [Mosaic] Law aroused these evil desires that produced sinful deeds, resulting in death.
But now we have been released from the [Mosaic] Law, for we died with Christ, and we are no longer captive to its power.”
(Romans 7:4a and 6a)
To the followers of Jesus in Galatia the apostle Paul testifies: “When I tried to keep the [Mosaic] Law, I realized I could never earn God's approval. So I died [with Christ] to the Law...” (Galatians 2:19)
c) Having died with Christ = having died to the basic teachings of human philosophies and religious traditions:
The (non-Jewish) Christians in Colossae had grown up in a Hellenistic culture of syncretism in religion and philosophy. They were familiar with all kinds of human ways of salvation and ascetic practices.
The apostle Paul warned them not to hold on to those teachings:
“Why do you keep on following rules of the world, such as, “Don't handle, don't eat, don't touch.”
Such rules are mere human teaching about things that are gone as soon as we use them.
These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, humility, and severe bodily discipline.
But they have no effect when it comes to conquering a person's evil thoughts and desires” (Colossians 2:20b-23).
Earlier in the same letter Paul exposes the origin of those so called ‘pathways to life’:
“Don't let anyone lead you astray with empty philosophy and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the evil powers of this world, and not from Christ.”
(Colossians 2:8)
The apostle reminds the Christians in Colossae: “You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the evil powers of this world” (Colossians 2:20).
The apostle Paul reminds the followers of Jesus in Rome of the meaning of their baptism:
“Have you forgotten that when we became Christians and were baptized to become one with Christ Jesus, we died with him? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism.....
Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.
For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin” (Romans 6:3-4a and 6).
The Bible makes it clear that when we accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour, we die with him to our sinful selves, to the control of the [Mosaic] Law and to the deception of human philosophies and religious traditions.
This liberating fact necessarily raises the following question: how then should I live as a follower of Jesus?
The Bible verse of 1 Peter 2:24 is a quote from the New King James Version. All other texts are quotes of the New Living Translation.
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