On Being Changed
March 31st, 2008 by JohnO
I have to admit I love posting after Jason. He asks two pointed questions - am I aware of the Love of God? and am I born again?.
The Love of God has explicitly been shown forth in the crucifixion of Jesus. It seems for quite some time we have been talking about atonement and crucifixion here on the blog. Jesus, in his ministry substitutes/ransoms with the sinners he comes into contact with through healing, forgiveness, exorcism, and resurrection. That climaxes in the crucifixion where he substitutes for the national sin of wanting a violent Messiah to destroy the Roman occupation as opposed to being a light to the Gentiles. We see Jesus substituting for all kinds of sin, and healing all kinds of infirmity. And of course Jesus does all of this because of his compassion and love for those he meets. The writer of Hebrews says that Jesus was tempted in all points as we are. As Christians we can therefore state that Jesus died for our sins, just as he substituted for so many things throughout his life. He can substitute for the whole gamut of sin. And as a passover, all who trust in that blood will be spared destruction as in the first passover. This is the love of God! That he would care for not just Jews, but the whole world, that faith in the proclamation of the crucified and risen Messiah, identification with that death, would result in your entrance into the covenant, and your salvation - both in the present and the future.
That born again question, in my mind, I don’t know about Jason’s, links directly to that salvation in the present. Just as Jesus brought forgiveness to the lame man, he also brought physical healing. Granted all of our infirmities are not gone from us (we are not yet in the Kingdom) we have, and do, experience a new life when we identify with Jesus in death and resurrection. That is our very own death. And our very own resurrection to life. A metaphor for sure - but one rooted in reality, not fiction. It is my opinion, and I know others on the blog here share it, that this is the new covenant. Where the law of God, the Torah, the way to live and reflect God, is printed on the heart of flesh, not of stone. And this is a reality now for those who have been changed in Messiah Jesus.
As Jason points out, if we have not come to terms with that love, and with that new life, we have some soul searching to do. We have to figure out where the darkness hides in us. I know every aspect of my life is not changed - but it is a miracle what has changed. Through the work of the Spirit we are brought into maturity, fully at the appearing of Jesus.
I’ve found the love of God when I repented of my sin. That’s when
I experienced it. I believe I first had to believe in it, in his love. Isn’t
it his love that brings us to repentance so that we may then know
his love.
It seems that first we believe, then later we know.
Every time I die, God gives me life. It’s not just a feeling of the flesh,
it’s a witness of the Spirit. Dying hurts. It’s not easy. It doesn’t feel
good. It doesn’t feel good to feel shame. I don’t like to see it in the
open, but it’s necessary for healing. It’s necessary for life, a life that’s better than what was before.
One day we’re going to see Jesus. Do you know what he looks like?
He looks like the fruit of the Spirit.
Where is your evidence for this assertion? I’m waiting for a violent Messiah a la Revelation 19; 2 Thessalonians 1.6-8; Matthew 13.41-42; etc. Am I in sin too?
Sean, in all fairness, I read those passages as a “vindicating” Jesus, not a mean nasty Jesus.
But that is just me. Revenge is not the same as vindication. The Jews wanted revenge. God promises vindication.
Dustin
This is confusing the motive with the means. The means is clearly violent–people are going to be killed (in fact burned to death). The motive is a different issue altogether. If Jesus is coming to “get back” those who blaspheme his name then it is revenge. If he is coming to demonstrate that the Christians were really right all along even though they have been maligned, tortured, and even martyred, then it is vindication. It is my understanding that vengeance belongs to God and he will repay. So I think both are true. We have to be careful not to say the 1st century Jewish expectation of Messiah was wrong because that expectation was largely based on the Old Testament in prophecies and in David as a type of conquering king.
OK, let me better define nationalistic warrior Messiah. I’m thinking about the Hasmoneans, bar Kochba, etc. Those who felt the true evil was the pagans ruling over their nation. Therefore their ultimate test of faith was their violence in favor of Israel, and Israel alone.
Jesus was different in almost every way. He taught not to return violence with violence, blessed are the peacemakers, the meek shall inherit the earth/land. Which war did he fight? Weiss would tell you, as with many others, the true evil Satan, the powers that be - behind the pagan system, behind the world. That was the true warfare. And because that was the true warfare, the Jews were supposed to be the light to the Gentiles, not the slayer of Gentiles.
In regards to your verses, those are about God delivering his judgment at the appointed time. None of the nationalistic warriors wanted to wait for God’s time, it was always now. Nor were they concerned with God’s righteous judgment. They only wanted their own false vindication.
Wouldn’t you say “blessed are the peacemakers” means he is not violent? Wouldn’t it be hypocritical to say “Blessed are the peacemakers, until I decide to slay the nations”? Doesn’t that seem more and more like the evil figure at the end of history who declares “Peace, peace” when there is no peace?