I believe the Lord’s purpose for this article is something other than information transfer, even to teach and learn something new. I sense we are searching out what Christ has become for us to simply meditate on that reality and to reckon it so (Romans 6:11)– that we might receive and exercise the mystery of “Christ in you, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).” As Oswald Chambers inquires (with warning):
You may know all about the doctrine of sanctification (or wisdom, righteousness, and redemption), but are you putting it to work in the practical issues of life?
So, let’s turn from our heads to our hearts, and see what faith and grace God has for us.
But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption – that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” 1Corinthians 1:30-31
Here we have four graces – wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption – that the Messiah Jesus became for us. Most commentators generally note this to mean that Christ is everything the believer needs for salvation; that we do not look to ourselves, but to Him. The Spiritual Fathers and other mystics would go further, arguing that this passage is another way of saying, “It is not I who live, but Christ who lives in me… (Galatians 2:20).”
There’s no questioning the truth of this, but it seems much too abstract to apply practically. What does it mean and imply for our daily lives? How do we experience the reality of it as our own? And, is it possible to use this passage to explain the mystery in simple, applicable terms?
Here’s something I’ve begun writing in my journal every day:
Jesus Christ has become for us the wisdom of God, righteousness before God, sanctification for usefulness by God, and redemption from and to God for our continuing salvation. We acquire and exercise these graces by faith and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. They are not produced, but are the character and expression of the life of Jesus Christ within us. Jesus is for us all that God offers and would have us be.
This helps me reckon the truth, but it’s still too abstract and mysterious to put into practice. Hoping others have wrestled this down to the practical, I started searching out the matter. Here’s a start from Augustine (via Copilot):
- Christ is the believer’s wisdom (divine revelation surpassing human philosophy).
- Christ is our righteousness (justification before God).
- Christ is our sanctification (holiness through union with Him).
- Christ is our redemption (final deliverance and resurrection).
And Dallas Willard (also Copilot):
- Transformation into Christlikeness is possible only through union with Christ.
- Christ is the wisdom that reorders the mind.
- Christ is the righteousness that grounds the kingdom life.
- Christ is the sanctification that forms the inner person.
- All boasting is excluded because spiritual formation is God’s work in us.
I hope and pray some of this speaks to you, perhaps even a word for faith (Romans 10:17). Remember, we are not looking for more information, but opportunities to prayerfully consider what Christ has become for us. Here’s some questions that may help (suggestion: don’t just ask yourself, but the Holy Spirit and others):
- What does it mean to have these graces? What do they afford a Christian?
- Assuming we “grow into” each of these by faith and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit: How do we incorporate them into our lives? Is there anything we can do deliberately to acquire/receive a greater measure of them (e.g., a discipline)?
- Faith not being passive, how do we actively exercise these graces each day? What is our part in bringing them to bear in the world (i.e., practicing them)?
- How do we speak with God about them?
This seems like a good place to pause. I am still searching this out myself, through dialogue with others and further research. So far, the searching has been fruitful. It would help me and others if you would share your thoughts, anything you are hearing from the Lord, and whatever answers you want to give to the questions above. We will follow this up with more to consider, and some bit of applicable recommendations.
In the meantime, God bless your searching and reckoning – that Jesus might be in you what He has become for us.
Have a strong day in the Lord,
Rob
#iamjustthepen