Atonement and Our Healing as Whole Persons - Part 1 June 14, 2015 I would like to share some thoughts in two messages about the nature of Christ's work of atonement and its potential impact in our lives. As a result of the mindset of our evangelical culture, we often emphasize the notion of salvation primarily as the forgiveness of our sin in order that we may be delivered from hell and ensured eternity in heaven. However, we must become equally envisioned to understand that the salvation accomplished by Christ also provides the basis for our actual, inner healing and transformation into whole, healthy persons, not only in the age to come, but also here and now. Please pray with me as we ask God's blessing on this time. "Father, we are eternally grateful for your deep love and grace as poured upon us through Christ. As we come to know you better, we constantly discover that the depths of your grace are far greater than we had ever imagined. We ask that through the illumination of your Holy Spirit we 'may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that we may be filled up to all the fullness of God.' Eph 3:18-19 Amen!" We can begin by describing the fundamental human problem. Man, because of sin, is alienated not only from God, but also from his fellow man. We could say it like this: Man's fall from relationship with God has far greater consequences than we could ever imagine. The effects of sin have resulted in our personhood becoming terribly distorted and depraved. As a result, we experience a profound alienation from God resulting in a deep sense of guilt, insecurity, fear and anxiety. And because we are alienated from God, we are also alienated from one another, resulting in a deep, existential sense of loneliness. Darrow Miller observes: We live without hope and purpose... high suicide rates; addictions to alcohol, drugs, pornography, and sex; and divorce and increased loneliness (even in crowded apartment complexes) are all signs of the death of the soul of man. James Houston adds: loneliness is at the core of the field of psychiatry... an insufficient personal life is the affliction of most people today... even among professing Christians there is the experience of intense loneliness. Houston puts his finger on the real issue -- an insufficient personal life is the affliction of most people today. Because of a deep sense of alienation resulting from the twisted selfcenteredness of sin, even many Christians remain unfulfilled and discontented at the core of their personal being. We may ask, "Why is this unfulfilled personhood too often the actual experience for professing Christians? Is it because Christianity really isn't relevant down at the bedrock level of our personal needs? Is it because Christianity is merely our ticket to heaven, but not really that effective for resolving our personal dysfunctions? Are Christians simply to settle for the fact that they, too, will experience a similar divorce rate as the non-christian world, or that they must be in bondage to many of the same addictions as the larger world, or that they must remain captive to fear, insecurity, and a deep sense of loneliness?"
In this context, let us carefully examine a primary dynamic of the atoning work of Christ that is too often neglected in our churches. A number of Bible commentators suggest that the English word atonement is more accurately translated as reconciliation -- a restoration of relationship between God and man; a transition from alienation to friendship. Thus, Paul writes: For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Rom 5:9-11 As we plumb the depths of God's grace, we find that our reconciliation with God through Christ goes far deeper than "merely" our being forgiven and ensured eternity in heaven. That is, if you deal only with the consequences of the root problem, but do not resolve the problem itself, then you still have the lingering effects of that root problem. Let me say it like this: As a Christian you can experience the reality of the forgiveness of your sin, but if the underlying principles of sin continue to operate in your life, then you will still fall short of experiencing all of God's fullness for your life. Thus Peter writes some of the most stunning words in the New Testament: He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. 1 Peter 2:24-25 That is, we must more clearly understand that what Christ did on the cross not only saves us from the consequences of our sin, but actually provides the basis for us to be restored to wholeness as persons in healthy relationship with God as has been His intention all along. So it is that Thomas Torrance writes: [Christ] insisted on penetrating into the heart of our sin and violence and unappeasable agony in order to take it all upon Himself and save us Jesus is the very heart of God Almighty beating with the pulse of His infinite love within the depth of our lost humanity in order to vanquish and do away with everything that separates us from God. I love this second sentence and the reference to "the very heart of God Almighty beating with the pulse of His infinite love' within the depths of our depraved, twisted, and dysfunctional humanity. We are talking here of the healing power of God Himself -- God Almighty -- at work within the core of our personhood to heal and transform us to wholeness. We are not left with "merely" the forgiveness of sin and promise of heaven. Rather, The kingdom of God, Jesus said, is like leaven (yeast) which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until the whole was leavened. Luke 13:21 KJV This is the promise of supernatural power -- the Spirit of God Himself -- penetrating and pulsing within the depths of our being and actually healing and transforming us out of all the twisted dysfunctionality of our sin into wholeness as persons. This is not human ability; this is not clever human therapy or psychology; this is not like anything in any other system of religion. Rather, this is the remarkable power of the Holy Spirit, who performs a mighty work of delivering and healing us from bondage into a place of full, personal health and wholeness. As Peter writes: For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls. 1 Peter 2:24-25 Christ is all about restoring our souls to health and wholeness.
But in this context, I would repeat the question I asked earlier: How many Christians are saved, and rightly celebrate their forgiveness from sin, but never go on to experience to any significant degree this reality of healing and wholeness in their inner person? I would submit to you that our American evangelical movement has often emasculated the gospel because it has emphasized only part of what Christ has accomplished at Calvary. It is like being invited to a wonderful feast, but remaining in the outer foyer eating the hors-d'oeuvres when you could be seated at the banqueting table enjoying the rich feast. Why is this? I believe a large part of the answer is our failure to fully appreciate the reality that normal, healthy Christianity is fundamentally a call to discipleship. Now, if we are not careful, we can wrongly view discipleship primarily as a system of disciplines through human effort intended to make us more spiritual. But this is not what Jesus means when He states: Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light. Matt 11:28-30 First of all, this call is for those who are well-aware of their deep, inner brokenness and depravity. They wearily labor under the bondage of guilt, fear and anxiety, insecurity, and deep sense of alienation and loneliness. To such ones, Jesus says, "Come and become personally yoked to Me." Yoke, in this case, is a metaphor for becoming coupled in union with Christ. In this sense, it is a deeply relational term. But we are the ones who must choose to come in response to His call, for this is not a yoke of bondage, but one freely chosen where the function of choice is not merely initial, but ongoing. Thus, in this context, discipline, or discipleship, is not about making something out of ourselves through our self-effort, but about being committed and disciplined in our on-going choice to make our relationship with Christ our chief priority. Second, it is in this context of on-going discipleship -- being yoked with Christ in a deeply personal manner where we are learning directly from Him as He personally speaks into our lives -- that we find rest for our broken, sin-sick soul. It is in this process of discipleship that we experience the reality of healing in our inner person and where, as Paul exhorts, we are transformed by the renewing of our mind... Rom 12:2 With not a small number of the folks with whom I speak who are dealing with marital difficulties and talking about divorce, or struggling with seemingly intractable personal issues, or who might say, "I think Christianity is all well and good, but it just doesn't seem to work for me," -- I would say as often as not that they are not engaged in ongoing, sustained discipleship as described by Jesus in Matthew 11. Frankly, we want easy, fast food answers to our problems. But discipleship is a process that requires on-going, steady application over extended time. Nor did Jesus did claim that His call to discipleship is easy. According to Peter, it is a call to come and die to the old nature. One who truly wants to experience freedom and healing must be committed to a radical and on-going process of discipleship. One must decide, in terms of the long-term, whether the way of self, on the one hand, or the yoke of Christ, on the other, is the way to go. And I am discovering in my own life that one cannot have it both ways. Part of that process is what Clay taught several weeks ago --
total surrender. Will we profess Christ, yet cling to our self-centered control of our lives, or will we cooperate with the work of the Holy Spirit as He leads us into an ever greater surrender of our will to His? This is one of the prescriptions necessary for our healing and transformation as whole, healthy persons. But let us consider more closely the promise of Christ's offer for us to take on His yoke of discipleship. "I am gentle and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls." Here, the word rest is equated with the harmonious working of all human faculties -- mind, will, emotion, affections -- in a peaceful place of healing and personal wholeness. Vines (Paraphrase) Indeed, Peter's words are actually a play upon the great Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 53:. now you have [been reconciled] to the Shepherd and Guardian the One who cares for your souls." [Is 53:5,6.] 1 Peter 2:24-25 AMP/Paraphrase We see this same theme in Psalm 23: The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want... He makes me to lie down in green (restful, luscious) pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores (heals) my soul.... Ps. 23:1-2 So, as the bottom line, we are left with the choice to keep our hands upon the seeming controls of our lives -- to do it our way -- or to surrender control by entering into Christ's yoke and submitting ourselves to His care. There really cannot be both worlds co-existing together -- one foot in God's kingdom and the other, just in case, in the seeming securities of this material world. A call to discipleship, as hard as it may be, means letting go of my grip on my life. No matter where we are in the process, we never get away from the simplicity and reality of this choice. We are never forced to remain within the yoke of Christ. And along the way, there are plenty of distractions that can tempt us to relax our commitment to remain passionately yoked to Christ. One subtle tendency among older Christians, in particular, is to gravitate into a religious mindset rather than remaining passionately focused upon pursuing Christ. Here are some characteristics of such a religious mindset: 1. You attend church (usually on Sundays and maybe special occasions). 2. You are basically moral in your lifestyle (although you may allow yourself some breathing room on certain vices of personal preference). 3. You participate in a certain level of good works through giving and or actual service. 4. Your religious practice is primarily on your terms and provides you with a security blanket in terms of feeling OK about yourself and your standing with God. After all, you are saying and doing all the right things. 5. You are pretty much willing to settle for the status quo; you are really not that interested in pursuing Christ as your first love or to be transformed (healed in your inner person) into His likeness. You see salvation as mainly being saved from hell rather than being saved out of alienation into a vital communion and fellowship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. In this context Colin Gunton observes: Religiosity is America s, and also her church s, modern slavery: a different divine offering on every street corner. Religion
functions as the law that enables us to evade the just demands of God. Of the danger of this false religious mindset creeping in even with sincere followers of Christ, E. Stanley Jones warns: The greatest danger to religion is that the old self, after [initially] being put out by repentance and renunciation, comes back (and creeps in) again and takes over the new forms in the service of the old, self-centered self. It is the old self; the only difference is that it is now religious. While this can be a dynamic with all ages of believers, I believe it is especially relevant for those of us who are older Christians. We become comfortable with the religious status quo. We begin to be distracted by the world and its enticements. We find ourselves increasingly concerned with our material security, especially as we approach our senior years. The result of these incremental "creepings" is what happened in Laodicea, where John describes sincere believers as... lukewarm... Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich, and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. Rev 3:17-18 We avoid passages like this, because we want to keep everyone happy and not step on any toes. But if we are to be honest, we must continually engage in self-examination to ensure that we are not deluding ourselves with some false sense of religious mindset. Paul writes: Test yourselves to make sure you are solid in the faith. Don't drift along taking everything for granted. Give yourselves regular checkups. You need firsthand evidence, not mere hearsay, that Jesus Christ is in you. Test it out. If you fail the test, do something about it. 2 Cor 13:5 The Message In my own life, as I have come into this latter season where I suppose I am now considered a "senior," I have found myself awakening to a renewed sense of my need to passionately pursue Christ. Indeed, if I see reality as it actually is, I am secure in God's grace, on the one hand; yet I am, in and of myself, "wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked." That is, I have not arrived, and my need for Christ has never been any greater. If I become lukewarm and casual about my pursuit of Christ, then I am not in a good place. And if I do not see that I remain in great need of God's continued healing power at work in transforming my inner person into wholeness and health, then I am like the lukewarm believers in Laodicea who needed eye salve to anoint their eyes to see their true need. In this sense, we must understand that while we can be very secure in the grace of God, such grace never calls us to passivity, but is the very heart of God Almighty beating with the pulse of His infinite love within the depth of our lost humanity in order to vanquish and do away with everything that separates us from God." This is the reality of Peter's words, "by His stripes we are healed," which we are to passionately pursue through being yoked with Christ. Let us not drift into a place of luke-warmness in this respect. The author of Hebrews writes: For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. Heb. 2:1 In this vein C. S. Lewis writes: If you examine a hundred people who have lost their faith in Christianity... do not most people simply drift away? C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Thus it is that Paul writes: Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you. Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Eph 5:14-17 Indeed, let us be envisioned to see our salvation as not merely our deliverance from hell through our forgiveness from sin. Rather, let us also see that Calvary represents our potential to be healed and made into whole persons, at least in large part, here and now on this side of eternity. But let us also understand that this will not happen to any significant degree unless we are willing to make discipleship our first priority. May God open our eyes to see the greatness of our salvation, and may we be motivated to press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are mature, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; Phil 3:14-16 Next week, God willing, I would like to share some more specific insights about the nature of God's healing us as whole persons, and the radical nature of what this is to look like in each of us, and in the larger body of Christ that we call the Church.