Matthew 5: 13 - 16 NKJV
The conversation this week centered around how it is that others perceive us as christians. Be it good or bad, each and every day we are campaigning for our faith and beliefs. There will certainly be those among us who will definately see that light of ours and be assured that we follow Christ Jesus. Likewise, there will be those who will choose to see only Christ Jesus in us in the negative. If there is one thing for certain it is that we cannot control how it is that others see us. I've heard it refered to as a Jesus filter as well as our inner light. Whatever it is you call it, we are assured that Jesus indeed lives through us today {Galations 2:20}. The apostle Paul made it pretty clear that in his own life that the focus had shifted from him...to Christ Jesus IN HIM. So, how is Jesus exemplified in our day to day lives? I would make the argument that not a single person would have EVER seen God if Jesus had not come in the body of a man {1 John 4:12}. Yet Jesus was more than just a man. The man Christ Jesus was, as the prophet claimed, God with us {Matthew 1:23}. Now, if I had my way, I would have defined Him as God IN us, but that's just my opinion. However it is that you see Him, we are assured that He is with us every step of our lives. Now, the monkey wrench many people will toss into this equation is the example of our own human behavior. How can Jesus live through a man who mistreats women? How can Christ be found in one who treats others so badly that any reasonable person would see them as...wicked? Trust me, I've come across my share of many self proclaimed christians who would look comfortable in a gambling hall or house of prostitution. Is this indeed Christ manifested through them? I would make the claim that this is not of Jesus but of our own flesh. Seriously, how many times has anyone ever witnessed Jesus acting in such a way? Now, Jesus and His disciples certainly would ASSOCIATE with those who behaved badly, but I would suggest that this was Jesus reaching out to those who were indeed lost.
1I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your breasonable service.2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12: 1 - 2 NKJV
A friend of mine this week tried his very best to convince me that we, as Gods perfect creation, are still indeed sinners. Not only that, he presented as evidence those bad behaviors we all indulge in from time to time. This, he claimed, was our own sin which we needed to continually seek our Lords forgiveness for daily. Forget the fact that Christ became sin at the cross on our behalf that we would not suffer its penalty {2 Corinthians 5:21}. Forget the fact that, as followers of Jesus, that we are dead to sin {Romans 6:11}. So, do we as followers of Jesus still continue to sin? Well, let's dissect Jesus Himself to search for that answer. Was Jesus simply a man? No, Christ was uniquely God AND man. That is, He came before us as the very Spirit of the living God...in the fleshly body of a regular dude. Why would God present Himself in such a way? Well, remember that our Lord is in Spirit form, that is His true identity. Therefore, in order for Him to be seen by man, He needed to be as one of us. Christ Jesus took on that fleshly body of a man. Along with that came all of the desires, issues and temptations which we all face at one time or another. Likewise, we ourselves share that same vessel which houses that Spirit of Christ in us. So, again I pose the question, are we yet sinners or do we simply follow those desires of our own flesh? If Christ is indeed in us, then He is our true identity and we are no longer tied down by our former sin nature. That leaves our bad behavior as a by product of our sinful, earthly flesh. No, we are no longer just sinners saved by grace but new creations in Christ Jesus. It is indeed Christ who others will see through us.
14Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 14: 14 - 15 NKJV
~Scott~
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