Paradox: “a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.”
Such is the Christian life. So much so that “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing . . . (1 Corinthians 1:18).
To those not saved, the ways of God make no sense or seem impossible. They seem paradoxical. And so . . . the greatest of paradoxes, the most important of paradoxes, is tossed aside.
And what is that? Sons and Daughters yet Slaves.
Once we become Christians we become God’s children and reap all the benefits of that relationship.
To those who have been saved “. . . you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27).
“We are heirs and joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).
“In [Christ] we have obtained an inheritance . . .” (Ephesians 1:11).
But once we are His children in order to live a fulfilling and holy Christian life, we must submit to Him completely. As Paul puts it we must become slaves to God.
Romans 6:22 "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life”
So how does this make sense? A child inherits. A slave is owned.
But the truth is, in our freedom to choose, we will be slaves to something. With our free will, we can be owned by Satan who tells us that all of these worldly desires, possessions, or sins will fill the hole in our soul and the need in our heart even though we soon learn they won’t.
Or we can be owned by the God of the Universe who loves us and gave His only son to die for us. And by following God’s statutes and commands and precepts, we are free from having to rename or reframe or minimize or justify our actions. We can live free and with a peace that “surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7 ) and we can “be perfect, complete, and lacking in nothing” (James 1:4).
We may think we know better because God’s ways sometimes seem upside down, but alas, we don’t, which is why Solomon reminded us to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” ( Proverbs 3:5-6).
Such is the Christian life. So much so that “the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing . . . (1 Corinthians 1:18).
To those not saved, the ways of God make no sense or seem impossible. They seem paradoxical. And so . . . the greatest of paradoxes, the most important of paradoxes, is tossed aside.
And what is that? Sons and Daughters yet Slaves.
Once we become Christians we become God’s children and reap all the benefits of that relationship.
To those who have been saved “. . . you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:26-27).
“We are heirs and joint-heirs with Christ” (Romans 8:17).
“In [Christ] we have obtained an inheritance . . .” (Ephesians 1:11).
But once we are His children in order to live a fulfilling and holy Christian life, we must submit to Him completely. As Paul puts it we must become slaves to God.
Romans 6:22 "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life”
So how does this make sense? A child inherits. A slave is owned.
But the truth is, in our freedom to choose, we will be slaves to something. With our free will, we can be owned by Satan who tells us that all of these worldly desires, possessions, or sins will fill the hole in our soul and the need in our heart even though we soon learn they won’t.
Or we can be owned by the God of the Universe who loves us and gave His only son to die for us. And by following God’s statutes and commands and precepts, we are free from having to rename or reframe or minimize or justify our actions. We can live free and with a peace that “surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7 ) and we can “be perfect, complete, and lacking in nothing” (James 1:4).
We may think we know better because God’s ways sometimes seem upside down, but alas, we don’t, which is why Solomon reminded us to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” ( Proverbs 3:5-6).
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