Living New Creation
I used to be like this. But Jesus rose from the dead. Now, I’m like this.
The Disciples Peter and John Running to the Sepulchre on the Morning of the Resurrection by Eugene Bernand
I used to be like this.
But Jesus rose from the dead.
Now, I’m like this.
I am captivated by how these sentences changed the world. I can’t stop thinking about them. St. Paul said, “I was the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.” [1 Corinthians 15: 9-10]
I am grateful for the post-Easter space to reflect on Jesus’ resurrection and mine. I am grateful to have to drill in to ‘what will really happen’? What does this really mean for me?
One thing for sure… I have a story to tell.
I used to be like this.
But Jesus rose from the dead.
Now, I’m like this.
Over and over, through millenia and across miles, people realized that the power that raised Jesus from the dead was power that could change their life. Over and over people experienced new creation– and they knew it was resurrection.
Being forgiven is a taste of resurrection. We know what guilt and shame tastes like– like chewing on pennies. But forgiveness is your soul experiencing new creation. It is literally new life replacing the death of guilt.
I used to be like this.
But Jesus rose from the dead.
Now, I’m like this.
What’s on either side of the story for you? Who were you? Who have you become? I loved talking about this with our confirmation class back in March. And now, I am thrilled that 13 people will stand before our congregation on Sunday to bear witness that:
I used to be like this.
But Jesus rose from the dead.
Now, I’m like this.
April 17, 2012 @ 10:17 pm
i used to be a sinner without understanding forgiveness. Now I am a sinner, more aware of my sins, but I know that I am forgiven – no questions asked.
April 17, 2012 @ 10:54 pm
I’m with you Steve. It seems that a lot of the work God is doing in me is to make me aware of my sin at deeper and deeper levels. But also more and more aware of His grace. It’s kind of like a road trip– oh yeah! I’ve been here before. I see this weakness, this sin. But I also see how He is changing and transforming me.
April 19, 2012 @ 6:17 am
Thanks, Steve & David! Love your honesty. I also find it helpful to remember that I am a saint, who does sin, yes, but who has all she needs in Christ not to. There is nothing I need to do (or can do!) to become a saint. It is my position, because of the life, death & resurrection of Jesus. Therefore, in helps me to remember, in my own battles with sin, that I am a saint who is becoming like Christ.
It’s amazing to me that I don’t have to earn that title of saint (“holy one”). I need not try to become a saint—I am a saint who is being made like Christ. As you say, that process involves the painful peeling off of the skin of sin at times (to use a Narnia image), but I am still a saint, whose life has been bought with a price.
So to use David’s language in the blog—I was a sinner, but Jesus rose from the dead, and I am now a saint, wanting to be ever-more dependent on His wisdom, grace, mercy and love to lead me through the snare of sin in this world, which has no actual power over me, but is certainly there and will always be our battle til we cross over or He returns!