Sunday morning we sang these words:
Who knew no sin
That we might become His Righteousness"
Words from the song "Jesus Messiah" by Chris Tomlin based, I suppose, on the passage in 2 Cor. 5:21:"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
I wonder how I might be the righteousness of God today?
A little before this in the same passage it says:
"For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." (emphasis mine)
What does it mean that "all died"... something to consider that those who have died are no longer under the law.... how might I live today freed from the law of sin and death?
Romans 7:1 "...the law has authority over someone only as long as that person lives... 4 So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. 5 For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death. 6But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code." (emphasis mine)
Also this morning, another line from a Chris Tomlin song, "Here I am to Worship":
"I'll never know how much it cost to see my sins upon that cross--" (emphasis mine)
I frequently substitute the word "sin" with the word "Friend"... as if the two words are engraved on the opposing sides of a flat oval disk which spins and flips over and over until they are a blur... no longer one or the other but one and the same thing, a new thing, a three dimensional shape that exists in and of itself... a mystery.
... we who serve God by the Spirit.... Phil. 3:3
Is that me... really?
Phil 3:8-11
"8 I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,...that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead." (emphasis mine)
What does it mean that I "belong to another" and "serve in the new way of the Spirit" as I walk into my world today?
I have been in the process of writing this post for several days... I am not sure why it has taken me all week to sort my thoughts on these topics... and I may still need to continue to wrestle with these ideas... I'd welcome any input others may have along these lines. I recently revisited the "prayer of St. Patrick" that we studied in our group a few years ago and noted that "Christ to Win Me" had been left out of the notes... I think I may start off searching in that direction next... anyone know where I might begin looking?
ReplyDeleteWell, I just spent half an hour responding to this...and then, somehow, I lost it all as I was trying to post it. By now I should know to copy my response just in case something goes wrong :(
ReplyDeleteA short (and abbreviated) recap:
1) I am intrigued by "What does it mean that "all died"... something to consider that those who have died are no longer under the law". Interesting that it does say "all died," as in past tense, is in happened-already-back-there-on-the-cross died, and that it's inclusive in its "all." It's not "some," or even, "those in our particular church when they finally accept Christ" but it's ALL. What does that mean, and how does that "all" and that past tense impact how I think about the crucifixion and resurrection?
2) That passage about sin/Friend...never thought of doing that before, but it's such a paradoxical and beautiful Mystery, and the way you describe it...so evocative. Much to ponder here.
3) (In response to "we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code" and your final question) Maybe being the Beloved and belonging to Jesus frees us to love as Jesus loves, generously and without judgment, compassionately and without an agenda. Maybe being beloved frees us to be Jesus in the world without worrying about protecting ourselves or propping up ourselves or making sure our own individual rightness (not righteousness, though we may call it that...) is secure. It seems being the beloved is not about us and how we conform to law but about how we are with others as we build community and practice hospitality, and about how we care for the Earth.
As you "serve in the new way of the Spirit", maybe your movements become the outward servant movements of Jesus rather than the inward law-bound movements of the Pharisees.
Maybe you become more generous and gentle and open as you rest in being beloved by Christ and let go of your need to control your own righteousness.
Maybe this is you as you walk into your world today. And maybe it is also me. After all, it's not really all about us, is it? :)