How are we to regard ourselves and our churches? The Bible teaches
that we are new creations, and the old things have passed away (2 Corinthians
5:17). However, we see something very different when we look closely at the
church and even ourselves. We find that the old things are still with us.
We are therefore prone to conclude that there is something
wrong somewhere – either with us or with the teachings of the Bible. This is
where it is important to widen our Biblical horizons. For one thing, the Bible’s
teachings that we are new creations only pertains to half of us, our spirit
self and not our fleshly self, which remains unredeemed and opposed to our
spirit (Romans 7; Galatians 5:17).
We are only halfway home. We are still awaiting our final
adoption and redemption:
·
And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who
have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for
adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved.
Now hope that is seen is not hope. (Romans 8:23-24; ESV)
Even if we are only
halfway home, it still seems that we are less spiritual than others, right? Given
the circumstances, this is to be expected. This is because God has chosen the “losers”:
·
But God chose what is foolish in the world to
shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God
chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring
to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence
of God. (1 Corinthians 1:27-29)
Consequently, we are not all starting from the same place.
To make matters “worse,” God is chastening us, and this brings out our worst,
like melting ore in a cauldron as the impurities surface:
·
For it is time for judgment to begin at the household
of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not
obey the Gospel of God? (1 Peter 4:17)
We are under reconstruction, and construction sites do not
look pretty. So too, we are not going to look good, even to ourselves, as we
see all of our repressed impurities coming to the surface through the fire of
trials.
We judge what we see, but should we? We only see the outer
man, as God had corrected the Prophet Samuel, as he was about to anoint the wrong
person to be king over Israel (1 Samuel 16:7). Instead, we are instructed to
not regard others in a superficial way:
·
From now on, therefore, we regard no one
according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the
flesh, we regard him thus no longer. (2 Corinthians 5:16)
We are truly new creations in Christ, members of the Body of
Christ. We are already seated in heavenly places in Jesus (Ephesians 2:6) and
have begun to share in His nature (2 Peter 1:4).
But what evidence do we have of this in light of the fact
that we look like others and maybe even a step down? Jesus taught that a good
redeemed tree bears good fruit (Matthew 7:17-18), but how can this be, seeing
that we are struggling against sins we never knew we had?
Well, that’s part of the point. Our eyes have been opened to sin, those things that we had denied. This means that we are no longer blinded and dominated by sin. In this sense, we have been set free from sin (Romans 6:7, 18; 2 Corinthians 2:25-26). And when we fall into sin, we learn to confess our sin to find freedom and absolution (1 John 1:9).
Well, that’s part of the point. Our eyes have been opened to sin, those things that we had denied. This means that we are no longer blinded and dominated by sin. In this sense, we have been set free from sin (Romans 6:7, 18; 2 Corinthians 2:25-26). And when we fall into sin, we learn to confess our sin to find freedom and absolution (1 John 1:9).
This process humbles and empties us so that God can
gradually fill us. But it is a process:
·
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him,
“If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the
truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)
This means that we must see Christ in our brethren even when
we see them as a toxic dump. Jesus told a parable that illustrates the fact
that we are bound up in Christ and part of His household:
·
“Then the King will say to those on his right,
‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you
from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was
thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked
and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came
to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you
hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a
stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick
or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to
you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it
to me.’” (Matthew 25:34-40)
Who are we? We are buried in Christ, and it is no longer we
who live but Christ who lives in us (Galatians 2:20).
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