“You had better decide whether you’re hanging on the cross or banging in the nails…”
I heard this line echo through a capacity crowd in our local theater recently. The sentiment was uttered by “Hollywood” promoting an upcoming film, but the thought landed heavy on the audience as we pondered its meaning.
Odd thing about an either-or-ultimatum is that the question doesn’t dim simply because one has made a decision in the past. Jesus charges us similarly in the gospels.
"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” - Mark 8 and Luke 9 -
It seems faith is a fluid response to our relationship with God. Christ continues his charge to us daily as we continue our answer. We are not finished simply because we once believed. We must stay within the dynamic of belief. We must struggle with the weighty meaning of his charge daily. It is within the struggle that we find life.
“For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.” - 2 Corinthians 2 -
Notice there seems to be a process. Not the saved and lost. Not yet. Those who are being saved, those who are perishing.
The more we reflect upon the triune God, allowing his power to flow through us, the more we come into unity with Christ. The more we unite to Christ, the stronger the reality of his eternal suffering. We must suffer with him in order to rise again.
Are we with him or against him?
1 comment:
Daniel your insights are deep and disturbing in the sense that they create new thought patterns within me.
I especially like the concept of process, rather than immediate effect, although I understand it to be both. Perhaps this is where the academia comes in: justified and then sanctified. Justified immediately in Christ. Sanctified daily in Christ.
I look forward to learning more from you.
Post a Comment