At The Cross God Spoke a Word: “But . . .” – Part 2

In Part 1 I shared why I think the transitional word “but” is critical to our understanding of God’s love and the amazing transformative Kingdom power of the cross for all who have faith and believe. I continue that theme in this post with more scripture followed by thoughts and questions about which side of the cross we are living on.

 Here are some more verses where Paul uses “but” to illustrate the life-changing reality and power of the cross:

“So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. Because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, Abba, Father. So you are no longer a slave, but a son: and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir” (Galatians 4: 3-7 NIV).

It seems to me that Paul is making an analogy between a child or minor who is an heir and a man or woman who is living under the principles of the world before they ‘receive’ the full rights of ‘son-ship’ in the Kingdom ‘in Christ’.

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now He reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in His sight without blemish and free from accusation – if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope that is in the gospel” (Colossians 1: 21-23 NIV).

“At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived, and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3: 3-5 NIV).

In Romans 3: 10 Paul begins: “No one is righteous, not even one, there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless . . . Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather through the law we become conscious of sin” (Romans 3: 10 – 12; 20 NIV). In the next verse, Paul goes on: “But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3: 21, 22 NIV).

We find this cosmic “but” even in our worship songs. ‘Amazing Grace’, for example: “I once was lost, but now I’m found; was blind, but now I see.”

“But now” or “But when” are transitions that, in my mind, represent the amazing wonderful, mind-blowing power and promise of the cross. They represent the separation of a life into two distinct parts: Life in the world and life in the Kingdom of God. Life in the world is “then you were that” life; life in the Kingdom of God is “now you are this” life. “Then you were that but now you are this” is a statement of life before and after we “repent and believe” in the power of the cross.

Then you were a slave, under the principles and powers of the world; enemies of God, evil, foolish, disobedient, enslaved by passions – living in malice, envy, and hatred. Then you were lost, not understanding, far from God, under His wrath, and worthless — living under the tyranny of lies and memories. Living in fear, hiding from the light. That was your life then!

But – . . .

Now you are no longer a slave. You are a son or daughter, with the Son living in you, and an heir, with an amazing spiritual inheritance. You have the right to call God your Father “Abba” or Daddy. Now you are saved, you are justified; you have the right and privilege of living with God in His Kingdom – you in Him and He in you. You have the hope of eternal life – death no longer has a hold on you. You are free! Living out in the open, surrounded by light. Now you are holy in God’s sight; you are free from blemish and accusation. The Holy Spirit lives in you and because you are ‘in Christ’, with faith in Christ, you will do what Jesus has been doing – you will do even greater things than these (John 14: 12 NIV). This is your life now! Hallelujah!

The “then – that” life is gone, swallowed up by the cross, put to death by the death of the Father’s Son, by His mercy, and His great love for us. The “now – this” life is here in all its beauty, power, and perfection – all done at the cross through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit and the Father’s grace. “But” separates a life in which we tried and continuously failed to find peace, hope, and joy in our own power from a life in which these gifts are given to us through God’s grace and by our faith.

All that Paul describes in these verses of Scripture are the things God does in those who believe and have faith, or as Jesus says “repent and believe”. He gives us the indwelling Holy Spirit, makes us righteous, calls us heirs, and gives us salvation in His Kingdom. Paul tells us that those living in the “now – this” life should exhibit fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. We should also exhibit gifts in keeping with the Spirit – gifts of healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, or tongues, for example. These gifts are part of our inheritance. Furthermore, Paul tells us that as believers we are seated next to Christ in a position of power and authority – all powers and principalities are placed beneath His feet, and therefore beneath ours as well. We have power and victory over demonic forces that seek to suck us back into the places of despair and hopelessness – that want to steal, kill, and destroy. This is our inheritance as we live in the Kingdom of God.

For these reasons we should expect that the transforming power of the cross and the Kingdom gifts God gives to His people through the cross will change us, will have some powerful and positive impacts on our lives that are visible to the world around us. As James writes: “Faith without works is dead”.

Christians know all of this, or at least they should. But knowing and living are two different things. Here is a question – which side of the cross, the “but now”, are you living on? Are you still living in the “then – that” life or are you living in the “now – this” life? Are you living this life of victory and power? Are the gifts and fruit of the Spirit manifesting in you for the world to see? When the world looks at you do they see themselves as if looking in a mirror, or do they see someone who seems to be from another planet (in a good way) – because this is not our home?

My guess is that many people who say they are Christians, regularly attend church, read their Bibles, and maybe even belong to a small group, if they are honest, would admit that in many circumstances and at many times they are still living on the “then – that” side of the cross. They struggle with too much anger, fear, and resentment. They still struggle with unforgiveness, a sense of powerlessness, hopelessness; and battle those voices that call them not good enough. They long for gifts, but the gifts seem far away. Love, joy, peace, patience, etc. seem to ebb and flow. They know that too much of their value comes from what others think about them or the stuff of the world. And over all of this is the vague sense that they are not doing enough.

Is that you? Are you living in this place in which you know about the cross, even believe in the cross and its atoning work at some level, but still do not walk in the abundant life that the cross promises?

What if you knew, deep in your heart, without any doubts or reservations, that you are totally loved and valued? Would that change how you handle the difficulties, even tragedies in your life, how you love the people around you, or how you deal with those voices that continually say, “you are not good enough”?

What if you absolutely knew that the mistakes you made today – your sins or your failures in any part of your life – will not change God’s love for you?

What if you believed that the cross has set you free — free to see yourself as Jesus sees you — holy? And if you could see yourself that way, how would that change your life?

What if you totally believed that the amazing gift of true repentance would always restore you to God’s heart?

What if you knew in your heart beyond any doubt that the sins of the past are wiped away as if they had never occurred? Would that knowledge change the way you sleep at night or get out of bed in the morning?

And what if you believed God, in the power of the Holy Spirit released by the cross, wants to enter into those places of pain, wounding, and devaluing in your heart and heal you?

The cross tells us that all of these things are true – you are totally loved and valued, you do belong, you are an heir, you are forgiven, and by the stripes that wounded Jesus you are healed and made whole. But to live a life rooted in these truths you must have faith, repent, and believe. And that means living on the “now – this” side of the cross.

But, if I am honest with myself, too much of my life is lived in the “then – that” place. I am not living in freedom. But the cross has set me free! So why do I not live truly and fully free? It is not because the cross is insufficient in any way – the work of the cross is perfect and complete. Are Paul’s descriptions of our lives on the right side of the cross – the “now – this” life – only ideal, something we should expect when we get to heaven but not now, not really? Or maybe we should expect to live this victorious life only in small increments when everything is going smoothly? Jesus and Paul make it clear that abundant means – well, abundant.

Jesus said, “I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance, to the full, till it overflows” (John 10:10 AMP).

This Greek word for ‘abundant’ is perissos. It means “superabundance, excessive, overflowing, surplus, over and above, more than enough, profuse, extraordinary, above the ordinary, more than sufficient – superabundance is quantity and superior in quality” (Strong’s # 4053). And while this could mean material abundance, it primarily means spiritual and emotional abundance and power ‘in Christ’. This abundance is not just for us when we get to heaven – it is for our lives now. By definition, the abundant life is not to be lived in incremental drips, but like a mighty river flowing through us.

Paul wrote about the ‘abundant life’ – which is a life of spiritual contentment and power – no matter his material abundance or need.

“I know how to be abased . . . and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in every and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want. I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me – I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency” (Philippians 4: 12, 13 AMP).

That is a great definition of the abundant life. No matter what the material or even emotional conditions – need and want or abundance and sufficiency – His life in me is a life of strength and power.

Christ died to give us the “now – this” abundant life. Jesus and Paul modeled that life for us and called us to it. It is not a half-hearted life. It is a whole-hearted, full-on life of victory and freedom.

OK, we are on a journey. I get that. We grow into these lives of freedom, victory, and abundance. But I think, and I could be wrong about this, too many Christians are either not experiencing this life at all, minimally experiencing this life – which is not what Jesus calls us to – or are stuck, no longer growing in the victories that Jesus died on the cross to release into our lives. If these scenarios are true, why aren’t many Christians (I put myself in this category, at least some of the time) living the abundant life Jesus and Paul are telling us should be ours now?

You might ask, “So what? It isn’t about me anyway.” Sure, we are called to deny ourselves, to give up the right to ourselves. But God calls us to partner with Him in releasing His Kingdom. We are an integral part of His plan of restoration. The abundant life is the restored life. We can’t release ‘life’ into the world to push back the darkness if that ‘life’ is not first living within us in a way that is demonstrated to the world through our words and behavior. Jesus says, “Out of us will flow streams of living water.” That won’t happen if we are men and women dwelling in spiritual and emotional deserts.

Is my assumption correct? Are many Christians trapped in lives that are lonely, powerless, and without the hope, joy, and peace that Jesus seems to promise? If I understand Scripture correctly, the abundant life given to us by the Holy Spirit transcends our material and temporal life – joy is more than happiness and peace is more than the absence of strife or struggle.

I can think of four reasons why a Christian might not be living abundantly. They might have:

• A life devalued and wounded by the world that opens doors for the enemy to plant lies in the human heart – lies that constantly torture us with waves of shame and guilt and a pervasive sense of unworthiness.

• A psychological disorder than manifests as depression or despair.

• A lack of understanding of the need to read Scripture and pray – and even a lack of knowledge of what ‘to pray’ means.

• A lack of faith or a misplaced faith and misunderstanding of who we are ‘in Christ’, preventing us from living abundantly.

I have written about devaluing, wounding, and the need for spiritual and emotional healing in other posts. I know I need to write more about this universal problem in the Church and the world. One of my greatest frustrations is the unwillingness of the Church (from my perspective) to address this problem. Psychological disorders are obviously beyond the scope of this blog. I have written about prayer and the importance of prayer in the Christian’s life. That leaves having faith and believing. As unpopular as it is to suggest that “we don’t have enough faith” (or maybe the wrong kind of faith), I am being called to write about that.

Paul tells us that the atoning work on the cross is by God’s grace, but “righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3: 22 NIV). Am I not fully living the victorious and abundant life because I lack faith or do not believe? But that can’t be right. Or can it? I think I need to take a closer look at what ‘faith’ and ‘believe’ mean. Maybe I’ll be surprised (or shocked?).

I’ll do that in a subsequent post titled “Have Faith and Believe – Keys to the Abundant Life”.

Grace and peace,

John