"For 'God has put all things in subjection under his feet.' But when it says, 'all things are put in subjection,' it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all."
Christ is always victorious. He is the supreme ruler of all that has been created. If something is, it is subject to Him. And yet, even He is in subjection to the Father. Our world is in rebellion. Christians are often in rebellion. I have a deeply rooted rebellious strain in my heart. But we are all all under Christ.
The Father put the Son over us all. We may buck against this. We may deny it, but it is reality. The stars, the moon, and all heavenly bodies; the trees, the wind, and the clouds; the whales, the bears, and the insects—they all praise God. They are in subjection. One day all people shall recognize God’s absolute authority. And finally, death itself will be in subjection.
If this is Jesus’ position, who am I? What right do I have to do as I please? How can I call His actions into question? I am small; I have no right to act independently; I can ask questions, but I must not question.
Showing posts with label obedience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label obedience. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
1 Corinthians 15:24-26
"Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death."
Death has been called many things: a predator, a friend, a relief, a mercy, a fearful unknown, the great equalizer. Here, the Bible calls death an enemy. Death was not part of God’s original design for humanity. It was the consequence that God warned would come if Adam disobeyed. Sin put man at odds with God, and death is part of the terrible baggage that comes with enmity with God.
Thankfully, the one man, Jesus has already broken the power of death, bringing spiritual life to those who trust in Him. But people still die, and many do so without even knowing the spiritual life that they could have had in Christ. There will, however, be a time when death is destroyed. After Jesus crushes all other rebellion, He will permanently the last remnant of disobedience—death.
I would get what I deserved if I got death. But Christ died so that I would not have to die, and now I will never know spiritual death. If it was my sin an disobedience that took Jesus to the cross and if sin and the accompanying death puts me in opposition to God, how can I continue to sin.
Death has been called many things: a predator, a friend, a relief, a mercy, a fearful unknown, the great equalizer. Here, the Bible calls death an enemy. Death was not part of God’s original design for humanity. It was the consequence that God warned would come if Adam disobeyed. Sin put man at odds with God, and death is part of the terrible baggage that comes with enmity with God.
Thankfully, the one man, Jesus has already broken the power of death, bringing spiritual life to those who trust in Him. But people still die, and many do so without even knowing the spiritual life that they could have had in Christ. There will, however, be a time when death is destroyed. After Jesus crushes all other rebellion, He will permanently the last remnant of disobedience—death.
I would get what I deserved if I got death. But Christ died so that I would not have to die, and now I will never know spiritual death. If it was my sin an disobedience that took Jesus to the cross and if sin and the accompanying death puts me in opposition to God, how can I continue to sin.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
1 Corinthians 11:16
"If anyone is inclined to be contentious, we have no such practice, nor do the churches of God."
Does this mean 1) if some people don’t agree, don’t be contentious about this issue, just let it be, or does this mean 2) don’t be contentious about this issue, simply obey? I think that the second interpretation is intention of the statement, but I also believe that the first is true.
The text seems to be urging the people not to resist obeying. We might say "This is our practice regarding head coverings; it is not our practice to be contentious, so don’t be." That being said, if some disagree (as most do), I should not be contentious either. Whether or not others should do this or that is not as important to me as doing right personally. God does not hold me accountable for other people’s choices; He holds me accountable for my choices.
Does this mean 1) if some people don’t agree, don’t be contentious about this issue, just let it be, or does this mean 2) don’t be contentious about this issue, simply obey? I think that the second interpretation is intention of the statement, but I also believe that the first is true.
The text seems to be urging the people not to resist obeying. We might say "This is our practice regarding head coverings; it is not our practice to be contentious, so don’t be." That being said, if some disagree (as most do), I should not be contentious either. Whether or not others should do this or that is not as important to me as doing right personally. God does not hold me accountable for other people’s choices; He holds me accountable for my choices.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
1 Corinthians 2:15-16
"The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 'For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?' But we have the mind of Christ."
The believer has the Spirit, and this enables him to descern spiritual truths that are incomprehensable to unbelievers. Unbelievers can not understand spiritual truths in general nor can they understand spiritual truths as they are fleshed out in individual believers' lives.
Sometimes unbelievers attempt to understand why believers do things. But if a believer's actions are motivated by spiritual reasons, an unbeliever will not be able to understand the motives of the believer. He will not understand because the motives are spiritual. The believer is following the will or mind of the Lord. And no one can understand the mind of the Lord unless he has the Spirit.
If we are believers, then we have Christ's mind. That statement seems extreme to me. But it is so. If misunderstood or misapplied, these it could potentially foster pride in a believers heart. It does not mean that we know all that God knows or that we always act like Christ. Nor does this mean that believers are better or smarter than unbelievers. But when motivated by the Sprit, we have Christ's mind.
Sometimes I do not act this way, but I should. I can have the mind of Christ. And having the mind of Christ, I should act with reason-defying obedience to Him.
The believer has the Spirit, and this enables him to descern spiritual truths that are incomprehensable to unbelievers. Unbelievers can not understand spiritual truths in general nor can they understand spiritual truths as they are fleshed out in individual believers' lives.
Sometimes unbelievers attempt to understand why believers do things. But if a believer's actions are motivated by spiritual reasons, an unbeliever will not be able to understand the motives of the believer. He will not understand because the motives are spiritual. The believer is following the will or mind of the Lord. And no one can understand the mind of the Lord unless he has the Spirit.
If we are believers, then we have Christ's mind. That statement seems extreme to me. But it is so. If misunderstood or misapplied, these it could potentially foster pride in a believers heart. It does not mean that we know all that God knows or that we always act like Christ. Nor does this mean that believers are better or smarter than unbelievers. But when motivated by the Sprit, we have Christ's mind.
Sometimes I do not act this way, but I should. I can have the mind of Christ. And having the mind of Christ, I should act with reason-defying obedience to Him.
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