In a recent gospel reading from St. Luke, I was reminded of a note that I have written in the margin, which says: “salvation is free, but with every gift comes responsibility.” My hand-written note was most likely from a sermon from times past.
Chapter fourteen contains some rather mysterious words of our LORD. He says, “if anyone comes to me and does not hate his father…, his wife…his children…his brothers…yes, even his own life.” (14:26, paraphrased) This language gets your attention, yes, even grabs you around the throat. Why? Because Jesus continues saying, “he cannot be my disciple!” In modern day Christianity it is difficult to even think that one should hate his entire family for any reason, yet Jesus said so! We are told in other parts of Scripture to “love,” without exception. So which is it?
Later in the same discourse, Jesus continues, “any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.” (14:33) Therein lies the last portion of my opening statement, “responsibility.” To become a follower (disciple) of our LORD comes casting off our old self and putting on (faith) our new self-having been washed by the blood of the Lamb of God.
St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans that Christ is like a “second Adam.” Just as the original Adam brought sin into the world and death by sin, so our LORD is like a second Adam who brought an act of righteousness by which we are justified in faith. (Romans 5:12ff)
This leads one to think, just what are my responsibilities as a Christian? St. Paul continues in chapter eight about our life through the Holy Spirit, who “set me free” from the law of sin and death. Jesus, the Christ, was sent into this world to be sin for us – as a final sin offering – making us one with the Father. We are born again by the Spirit (spirit of sonship-Romans 8:15). In a sermon by my mentor, The Reverend W. E. Lauterbach (7/29/2001), he said, “the dying Christ is the cost; the living Christ is the benefit.”
We are no longer under the curse of the first Adam’s sin, rather we are under grace granted to those in faith. Our responsibility is to live our lives as those under grace, managing our faith with the gifts that have been endowed by the Holy Spirit. Our walk requires discipline (says Hebrews 12) that is necessary as we endure hardships. The epistle of James also reminds us that with faith – deeds will follow! He goes on to say that “faith without action is dead.” (James 3:20)
What action is required? First and foremost, we are to live a life that is consistent with the grace that we have been given in Christ. Our life requires love of our fellow man showing all that we are one in Christ. Submission to God’s will (Greek: hupatasso=submit) keeps us close to our LORD. Second, we are to use the God given gifts to His glory. St. Paul enumerates the gifts of the Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:12ff) indicating that there is one body (the Church) but many parts. Each part has function, “God has combined the members of the body and have given greater honor to the parts…” (12:24).
Our salvation is a free gift of God through the atoning sacrifice of the Lamb on Calvary’s cross. And yes, we have a responsibility as children of God to live a life of grace showing to others that we are one with the Heavenly Father having been granted an eternity with Him – and no longer slaves to sin. Amen
Peace
Connected in Him, I stand
GHR
