There is a scene in the Monty Python movie, “The Life of
Brian” (yes, I fully understand the dangers of using such a sacrilegious movie
here but I assure you the reference has a proper point), in which the members
of the “Peoples’ Front of Judea” are discussing the overthrow of the local
occupying Roman army. At one point the
actor John Cleese demands to know, “What have the Romans ever done for us?!” The expected answer is, of course, that the
Romans are worthless shifts who have only taken from the Jews and given nothing
in return. The answer is, however, quite
different. The assembled members point
out that the Romans have in fact given the Jews the aqueduct, sanitation,
roads, irrigation, medicine, education, wine (!), public baths, public order,
public health, and peace. The real
answer is that the Romans might well be an occupying force but they have in
fact done a lot of good.
Many
people view Christianity in a very similar fashion. Philosophers have opined that religion – and they
were speaking directly against Christianity in fact – is an opiate of the
masses and is a crutch for the mentally and morally infirm. Many Believers are sucked into the lie that
the obligations of the Christian life – what the Bible (and Jesus too, see John
14:15) teaches that true followers of Christ will actually do – are in fact
burdens too great to carry and that God is the worst sort of cosmic spoil-sport
and party-pooper. The Psalmist felt the
same way when he wrote in Psalm 73:13-16, “I concluded, “Surely in vain I have
kept my motives pure and maintained a pure lifestyle. I suffer all day long, and am punished every
morning.” If I had publicized these
thoughts, I would have betrayed your loyal followers. When I tried to make sense of this, it was
troubling to me.” This is not the only passage
where such sentiment is felt and spoken of by the writer.
However,
the Psalmist does not feel this way for very long. He continues, “Then I entered the precincts
of God’s temple, and understood the destiny of the wicked. Surely you put them in slippery places; you
bring them down to ruin.” (Psalm 73:17-18)
After remembering why it is that the Psalmist has kept his way pure in
accordance with the commandment of God the Psalmist is further reminded that,
But I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me by your wise advice, and then
you will lead me to a position of honor.
Whom do I have in heaven but you?
I desire no one but you on earth.
My flesh and my heart may grow weak, but God always protects my heart
and gives me stability. Yes, look! Those
far from you die; you destroy everyone who is unfaithful to you. But as for me, God’s presence is all I need. I have made the sovereign Lord my shelter, as
I declare all the things you have done.
(Psalm 73:23-28)
I have
to write a paper for my systematic theology class under the subject of "the work
of Christ". After spending considerable time in research, I was forced to narrow the scope of the paper as my findings became too large to fit into the space I had to work
with. So I thought I would narrow down my source material for the paper to the book of Romans.
In the span of fifteen chapters in the book of Romans this is what the Apostle Paul was moved to tell us about the work of Christ. I have
included the references for the diligent reader to look up. In the book of Romans Paul says that the work of Christ encompasses:
1. Christ is our faithfulness where we are unfaithful. Romans 3:22
2. Christ is our redemption.
Romans 3:24 and Romans 5:6-8
3. Christ is our “Mercy Seat” accessible through faith. Romans 3:25
4. Christ is our righteousness. Romans 3:26 and Romans 5:9
5. Christ is our justifier.
Romans 3:26 and Romans 4:25
6. Christ is our peace with God. Romans 5:1-2 and Romans 5:10-11
7. Christ is our joy!
Romans 5:2-5 and Romans 5:11
8. Christ is our life!
Romans 5:17-21 and Romans 6:8-11
9. Christ is our death!
Romans 6:1-7
10. Christ has set us free from the Law. Romans 7:4-5
11. Christ has set us free
from the resulting Law of Sin. Romans
8:1 and Romans 10:4
12. Christ has set us free from the resulting Law of Death. Romans 8:1 and Romans 10:4
13. Christ is the firstborn among many sons and daughters of
God and Christ is the Image according to which the Father fashions His sons and
daughters. Romans 8:29
14. Christ intercedes for the saints. Romans 8:34
15. Christ loves us and this love inescapably binds us to the
love of God the Father. Romans 8:35-39
16. Christ is the preached-word by which faith comes. Romans 10:17
17. Christ is the body into whom/which God has adopted us, grafted
us, gifted us, and equipped us for service.
Romans 8:15-16 and Romans 11:7-24 and Romans 12:5-8
18. Christ is the Lord of both the living and the dead (this
brings to full circle the prior points that Christ is our Life and that Christ
is our Death). Romans 14:9
19. Christ is the fulfillment of the OT promises made to the
patriarchs. Romans 15:8
20. Christ is our unity.
Romans 15:5
21. Christ serves us, in that through Him we are able to
glorify God. Romans 15:5-10
So
apart from that, “What has Jesus the Christ ever done for us!?” The Apostle John gave us the answer to this
great question when he wrote the following: “There are many other things that
Jesus did. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the whole world
would not have room for the books that would be written!” (John 21:25)
So
Believer – may you be reminded of the length, the height, the breadth, and the depth
of the surpassing greatness of our Savior and may your love for Him and your devotion
to Him be kindled anew. May you repent
of any misgivings you may have had of your faith and of any unbelief in your
heart trying to drag your allegiance away from the One who loved you and gave
Himself for you!
And to
the one who has not yet entered into relationship with Jesus the Christ – as
this small blog post has endeavored to lift up the great name of Jesus may you
be drawn to Him and come to experience the joy, peace, and life of Jesus Christ
for yourself and enter into the ranks of those of whom the Scriptures say, “But
to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the
right to become God’s children —children not born by human parents or by human
desire or a husband’s decision, but by God.” (John 1:12-13)
Wherever you stand, I’d love to hear from some of you!
** All Scripture taken from The NET Bible (Biblical Studies
Press, LLC, 2005)
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