There is nothing inherently wrong with flesh—that is, creation; for when God created man,
“And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good (Genesis 1:31; 1 Timothy 2:4).”
The same cannot be said of fallen flesh which has been marred, and full of all kinds of evil desires. Our new creation is God’s way of turning back the clock on this—as it were, and to rebirth us to our pristine condition. Jesus is the new Adam, and we, too, are in the germinal stages of becoming just like Jesus (Romans 8:28-29). So, it is a reality based on hope. Not hope without substance, however. We know on whom we believe and are persuaded that he is able to keep us safe (Jude 1:24) as we grow.
First, we are babes, then, as healthy Christians, we continue on to maturity in Christ. To be precise, as Paul writes, that we are “being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:18).” Amazing, isn’t it? You and I who were once nothing, are now new creatures in Christ, sons and daughters of the Most High.
Central to our vocation as sons and daughters of God is that also each of us has been called to be a royal priesthood—kings and priest, as it were (1 Peter 2:5; 1 Peter 2: 9; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10). That too is part of the process.
Most understand kingship in a rudimentary way. Kingship to them is based on a vivid imagination, like you would find in a fairytale. No so with Christlikeness—that requires blood, sweat and toil. Blood in the sense that if he died for us, we too must offer ourselves as a living sacrifice for Him, also. Thankfully not always in death, but when necessary, yes. This I believe is what prompted Paul to say,
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).
And, in another place he writes,
For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him (Philippians 1:29).
That, too, can be, and most often is, our opportunity to suffer like any benevolent king on the battle field of life. Christ, our eternal mentor, did, so why shouldn’t we be willing to also? No, servant is greater than his master (John 13:16). Why should we expect any less?
Triumphalism simply does not work in our Christian walk—as Young's Literal Translation of 2 Timothy 3:12, translate it:
“… and all also who will to live piously in Christ Jesus shall be persecuted. “
True, Paul did say,
But thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly as captives in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him (2 Corinthians 2:14).
In this case, however, God is the triumphant one, we are simply His captives. No wiggle room for self-aggrandizement here.
Further, John reminds us that Jesus once said,
These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation but be of good cheer: I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
However, true … but that is part of the hope we have in Christ. So, in a sense have a King with a kingdom that unfolded in stages.
For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).
And as Paul says, in support of this concept, that:
Not that [we] have already obtained all this, or have already been perfected, but [we] press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me (Philippians 3:12).
Such faith is not irrational—that is, beneath reason or sub-rational, it is reasonable; and reason dictates that we embrace all that He embraced. He suffered, so must we. He was acquainted with grief. What exempts us from that also? He was bruised for our iniquity—should we not also be ready to die with Christ if we are to live with him? For,
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. (2 Corinthians 4:10)
Keep looking up, for our redemption is near,
JimR_/
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