DOUBTS ABOUT OURSELVES

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).

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).