| From
the Church on the Hill
by D. Eric Williams Pastor, Cottonwood Community Church pastor@CottonwoodCommunityChurch.org It was Francis Schaeffer who famously asked “how shall we then live” in light of the gospel message. If you find that the previous articles in this series stir your spirit, then you may be asking the same question. If Christianity is more about corporate narrative then salvation for the individual, how shall we then live? We take a dramatic step in answering this question when we understand what has actually happened in the death and resurrection of Jesus - and who we are in light of those events. Theologian N. T. Wright has said, “Jesus' final word, tetelestai, 'it's all done!' says it clearly. The story has been completed - the story of creation, the story of God's covenant with Israel. Now new creation can begin, as it does immediately afterward with Jesus' resurrection. Now the new covenant can be launched, as the disciples are sent out into the world equipped with Jesus own spirit (John 20:19-23). This is how Israel's story has reached its goal and can now bear fruit in all the world (How God Became King, 70). I agree with Wright's synopsis; we are living in the new creation. Clearly, this does not mean that all is perfect or that it will be perfect in this current age. Nevertheless, it's is to say that we live in the era of Christ's dominion and as members of the body of Christ we can expect to see the effects of resurrection power in our own life and arena of activity. Moreover, through the work of Jesus Christ we have become the chosen people of God - not in replacing Israel but by having been grafted into the family of Abraham so we become partakers of the root and fatness of the olive tree (Romans 11:17). This takes place through faith in Jesus Christ alone (Galatians 3:16-29). Therefore, we must take Paul's declaration in 2 Corinthians 1:20 seriously, where he says, for no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God. In other words, all of the promises God made to Israel are yes to those who are in Jesus Christ. But let us not forget how those promises are presented in Scripture. The Bible clearly says, If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations on earth (Deuteronomy 28:1). Note: it does not say we will “gain our salvation” if we obey or “lose our salvation” if we fail to obey. It does say we will be blessed if we obey God's word. On the other hand the Scripture plainly says we will be punished if we fail to obey God's word. This is the double-edge sword of the covenant relationship we enjoy in Jesus Christ. All of God's promises are yes in him but part of the promise is a commitment to chasten us and bring us into line with God's will when we fail to walk in the footsteps of Jesus Christ (Hebrews 12:4-11). Hence, the answer to the question “how shall we then live?” is simply “in obedience.” Once again, not to secure salvation but to enjoy the full benefit of having been saved in Jesus. The bottom line is, in Jesus we have become partakers of the ancient corporate narrative of God's people. In Jesus we have been grafted into the family of Abraham. In Jesus we have access to the blessings promised to the obedient people of God. And in Jesus we should expect that our personal life and arena of activity will reflect those blessings – especially on a corporate level since the promises of God are primarily directed to the people of God as a whole. There is nothing left to be done on the part of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He has won the victory and has sent the Holy Spirit to equip us for the task of kingdom living. Let's get to work. |
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