"For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (ESV)
Sometime ago I was in a church service where the music team lingered on some lyrics celebrating our freedom. We continued for several minutes declaring that we are free. I began musing on the degree of liberty we really have in Christ. It was interesting that on that occasion the sermon focused on how we can improve ourselves and feel better about our selves if we only practiced some specified disciplines.
It is great to be free from the penalty of sin's curse. We could spend several eternities praising God for the sacrifice of Jesus, which satisfied eternal justice. Knowing that we do not have to face our sins should free us to embrace life with courage and confidence.
BUT THERE IS MORE. When Jesus died for us--in our place--we died. That is important because we were inextricably chained to self-absorption. Since the original fall of mankind in the Garden, we have all been focused on our selves. We spend most of our time trying to perfect and present ourselves in some acceptable fashion. We worry about how we are perceived. We measure our performance and compete with others for our own rights. Even when we try to do something for others we find the menacing thoughts of how this will look to outsiders. We find that it "feels good" to do charity work, so we do it more for ourselves than for the people that need the service. We massage our resumes and put our best foot forward in order to climb the social and vocational ladder. We become angry when others don't see our point of view and value us, as we deserve.
Wouldn't it be nice to be free from that bondage? What if we could live beyond ourselves and for the glory of another?
That is the liberty Jesus offers. His death cut the power cord of sin in our present lives. Of course we can still choose to live with the selfish default mode, but we have been given a choice that the Spirit will enforce to live in the love of Christ. The same Christ that gave himself in our place has come to indwell us. We can be controlled by the "love of Christ". This includes two vital dynamics. First we will live with joyful gratitude. After all He is the hero. He lived the acceptable life. He died the necessary death. He is God's Son, man's Savior, creation's sustainer, history's subject, and the world's hope. Why should any figure hold more intrigue for us? The treasure in knowing him is unsearchable. The joy available in him is without limit.
Secondly we will live with courageous confidence. He was raised from the dead and the same Spirit that raised him now lives in us and can transform us. When the message is proclaimed it will give hope to all who need change. Nothing in life is beyond the power of transformation. We can invade any sphere of this earth knowing that we represent a kingdom that is based on resurrection of the dead.
Yes, we are free. Free-er than we can imagine. It is worth celebrating as well as appropriating. Let's not live in selfish bondage when liberty is available.
SYNERGY - Better Together: October 01, 2010 click for more > Five Pillars of New Testament Discipleship: : October 15, 2010 click for more > Family Reunion Retreat: December 03, 2010 click for more >
