“Embracing the reality”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Thursday, June 23, 2022
Romans 5:1-11 (Forward, p. 56) CEV p. 1176
For people as old-fashioned and traditional as myself, I find many of the newly faddish concerns and objections about Jesus to almost non-sensical. For instance, many people today absolutely ‘hate’ the substitution theory of the atonement, and in particular find that whole idea that Jesus ‘had’ to die for our sins to be most repugnant and disturbing. In fact, some have gone so far as to label God the Father as a child abuser for expecting this of His Son.
But then, I have to wonder whether there isn’t some secret, unrevealed or unacknowledged, inner issues within these critics. I have to wonder whether they are also rejecting the whole premise that sin, which is our wilful rebellion and rejection, and determination to ‘do it our way’, is something that not only ‘offends’ God and His sense of justice but also sets up a barrier, a separation, between us and God. It seems to me that they may well be taking rather lightly the ‘cost’ and consequences of that separation--and how very drastic and far-reaching it is--and the profound difficulty in bridging it. And perhaps, in the somewhat wishy-washy sense of justice that many moderns now hold to, maybe that conviction that we humans need to be held accountable, and indeed, pay some penalty, bear some consequences, for our misdeeds has somehow been lost. And, of course, tied in with many of these ‘reservations’ is probably a hope and a conviction that we can somehow ‘effect’ our salvation on our own, on our own terms and in our own way.
The apostle Paul, however, in today’s passage, is very blunt in saying that we could never ‘do it on our own.’ We are saved, made acceptable to God, only by merit of what Jesus has done—that is, only because of His death on the Cross. Indeed, Paul reiterates that Jesus did this, not become we somehow ‘deserved it’, but simply as an act of love. Christ died for us even when we are still sinful, still rebellious, still, in essence, His ‘enemies.’ Yes, indeed, it was an act of undeserved kindness on the part of God. And, in answer to some of the ‘protests’ about God forcing this upon Jesus, it was something that Jesus freely chose to do, chose to do because of His love for us. So, in light of our utter helplessness, our total incapability of ‘pulling this off’, He took the initiative to do it for us. So, we need to embrace this reality, embrace His great love and mercy, and place our trust in it—and not in ourselves. Amen.
Forward notes: “But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us” (verse 8).
“If there is a heresy with widespread cultural currency, it is Pelagianism. This heresy is the idea that humans are untainted by original sin and that we are capable of choosing good over evil without divine aid. Or, to put it more simply, Pelagianism proposes that our own works can save us.
“It’s an appealing idea, and one that at first glance seems to be in contrast to the judgmentalism of a secular culture that constantly tells us that we’re not fit enough, skinny enough, healthy enough, rich enough, or pretty enough. It seems to reflect instead some kind of triumph of the irrepressible human spirit, and what’s not to like about that?
“But, if we take the idea that we are capable of making the right choice, always, on our own, to its logical conclusion, then all our failings, betrayals, and sins are our fault alone, not the result of the battle for our hearts waged by the hosts of heaven and the great Adversary.”
Moving Forward: “Say the Jesus Prayer today: ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’”