You’ve probably noticed lately, I’ve been writing on how these doctrines of faith apply to the everyday life of our work. I’m learning, just like the rest of us, how the grand doctrines of grace, connect, form, and transform my job. Much has been written on how they transform our hearts, ministry, and even family, but I don’t know how much has been written on how they pracically can come and invade our workplaces. These doctrines of grace don’t just live in our hearts, or in our churhces, but they exist and are active on the street corners, in the restaraunts, in our homes, and in our jobs.
Disclaimer: I don’t mean to minimize the good news of Christ to these doctrines of grace. I understand that the good news of Christ as Messiah and King will be deeper and fuller than what I have written here, however these metaphors/doctrines will be helpful, and most are familiar with them.
The Claim
The audacious sounding claim, is that through an act by a Jewish Messiah, humanity in Christ, has been put right before God. We have been “reconciled”, as Scripture would say. This claim not only says that we ,as people who have trusted in this Messiah, have been found “right” in the sight of God, but that even God’s disposition towards us is one of delight, even to the degree that He delights in His own Son, the Messiah. Is there any room for us to claim any credit in this process? Happily we say “No!”. There has been nothing done on our part to initiate or cause us to be reconciled before a Holy God. The claim sounds audacaious, too good to be true even. We live in a culture that operates contractually. 50-50. Fairness is the golden rule now. This claim flies in the face, and is “otherwordly” because it is made possible through grace.
We “ran up the bill” so to speak, and Christ “paid the tab” .
The Christ
This is all possible through the act of the Christ. What was the act? A perfect life lived, a sacrificial death died, and a victorious resurrection. We, as enemies of God, traitors of the heavenly court, stand in opposition towards God. Christ comes on our behalf, ‘stands in our place’ , tell us, where we failed and put things out of order, He will overcome, and put into order. This Messiah went down into our valley’s of sorrow, overcame the temptaions of glory on the mountaintops, and broke the power of evil that stains this world. He literally became the “Wrathtaker”.Paul says he was offered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
The Christ
This is all possible through the act of the Christ. What was the act? A perfect life lived, a sacrificial death died, and a victorious resurrection. We, as enemies of God, traitors of the heavenly court, stand in opposition towards God. Christ comes on our behalf, ‘stands in our place’ , tell us, where we failed and put things out of order, He will overcome, and put into order. This Messiah went down into our valley’s of sorrow, overcame the temptaions of glory on the mountaintops, and broke the power of evil that stains this world. He literally became the “Wrathtaker”.Paul says he was offered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
We have the declaration from God, that in Christ, we are not only we have been “forgiven” but we are “invited” in to the Father’s arms, and His house. We are invited to the table of Christ, to eat, drink, and enjoy Him.
The Consequence
Consequence is usually viewed in a negative light. It really only means “the result of something” . The consequence of this declaration of God is that we are freed from listening to the declarations inside our own head that either justify or condemn us. We are freed from the works of our hands being used to define, justify, or condemn us.
The Consequence
Consequence is usually viewed in a negative light. It really only means “the result of something” . The consequence of this declaration of God is that we are freed from listening to the declarations inside our own head that either justify or condemn us. We are freed from the works of our hands being used to define, justify, or condemn us.
We are no longer bound to be defined by our “circle of friends” but we are bound and defined, in love, in the circle of the Trinity.
A final word has been spoken, a declaration has gone out; we are right, loved, accepted, forgiven(not merely excused) in Christ. On the flip side, we are in no place to make justifying or condemning statements about others. It is Christ to condemn and justify.
Now What?
-We are free to affirm others because we are secure in our affirmation from Christ.
-We are free to serve others because our justification is wrapped up in the servant Christ.
- The declaration to us in Christ from the Creator of the universe sustains us, and we don’t hang on every word or declaration from our employers.
-We can live under the umbrella of the declaration of Christ, when we the torrential rain of condemnation comes.
-We no longer swing from despair(not good enough) to pride(I’m too good), but fix our eyes on Christ, because of His goodness.
-Now are jobs are no longer empires we are building, but tools to live for Christ’s kingdom.
Be assured, Jusification means Christ for us.
Now What?
-We are free to affirm others because we are secure in our affirmation from Christ.
-We are free to serve others because our justification is wrapped up in the servant Christ.
- The declaration to us in Christ from the Creator of the universe sustains us, and we don’t hang on every word or declaration from our employers.
-We can live under the umbrella of the declaration of Christ, when we the torrential rain of condemnation comes.
-We no longer swing from despair(not good enough) to pride(I’m too good), but fix our eyes on Christ, because of His goodness.
-Now are jobs are no longer empires we are building, but tools to live for Christ’s kingdom.
Be assured, Jusification means Christ for us.