I know that Lenten reflections are
supposed to be somber, but I got a 94% on my Christian Theology exam today, so
I am in a good mood. One of the elements
of the test was the doctrine of the atonement.
Differing theories and interpretations all trying to get the class to
decide exactly what happened on the cross, and in turn, what we need to do
about it. It is interesting that one of
the Lectionary readings for Ash Wednesday is 2nd Corinthians 5:20b-6:10
which has a lot of ramifications on the atonement.
5:20b We entreat you on behalf of
Christ, be reconciled to God.
St. Paul is
calling the people of Corinth to be reunited with God. This reunion refers to the separation the
happened in the Garden of Eden, and is only possible because of the atoning
work of Christ.
5:21 For our sake he made him to be
sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
The work of
Christ on the cross is only possible because Jesus lived a sinless life. All of humanity sins, and that is why we are separated from God (David recognized his depravity even in the womb – Psalm
51:5.) Christ’s blamelessness made him
the perfect sacrifice for to replace the punishment for our sin. (I know this is steeped in Penal Substitution
theory, and while I do not think it is the be all of atonement theories, it is
the one that I have been brought up in, and I still don’t understand the rest.)
6:1 As we work together with him,
we urge you also not to accept the grace of God in vain.
Because we
have been given the gift that we don’t deserve, we cannot only accept it, but
we must propagate the Truth to the world.
6:2 For he says, "At an
acceptable time I have listened to you, and on a day of salvation I have helped
you." See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!
What are
you waiting for, today is the day you can be redeemed!!
6:3 We are putting no obstacle in
anyone's way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry,
Paul says
that we are not to be offensive in our ministry, because it can be discredited
by people who are offended. We are to be
the image-bearers of Christ. Along those
lines, dare I say “What would Jesus do?”
Oftentimes, Jesus did the unpopular thing, but I don’t think his motives
were ever to put obstacles in the way of those who were trying to reach
communion with the Father.
6:4-7 but as servants of God we
have commended ourselves in every way: through great endurance, in afflictions,
hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless
nights, hunger; by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, holiness of spirit,
genuine love, truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of
righteousness for the right hand and for the left; in honor and dishonor, in
ill repute and good repute.
Being the
image-bearer of Christ is not going to be easy, in fact it is probably going to
cost you a lot. Christ came to earth to
be a servant. Servants do not have an
easy life. They are at the beck and call
of their lord or lady, and when something goes wrong, they are usually the
person to take the heat for it. We as Christians
need to prepare ourselves for this list of hardship in order to endure the long
haul of ministry. We also need to be
smart, prepared, and ready to engage relationally with the people in our circle
of influence so that we can be a light to others.
6:8-10 We are treated as impostors,
and yet are true; as unknown, and yet are well known; as dying, and see--we are
alive; as punished, and yet not killed; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as
poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing everything.
How many
times do you feel like you are the only one who believe that things you
believe? Has the same convictions and
faith that you do. Just like the first
century, the people of God will always be the minority until Christ’s
return. Take courage, your reward will
be great. When we have nothing that is
when God can give us all we need. When
we cling to our own devices and possessions we do not allow God to work in our
lives.
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