Flipped, Part II

Jesus has made us free so that we may freely love Him and the Father that sent Him. Originally, it was about the law and the law was there to guide us into blessing and righteousness. Yet, sinful man rarely could attain such a high status as righteousness and then only for a short time; if ever. To obey the law meant eternal life under the Jewish order but when Christ came He put an end to all of that.

Now righteousness comes by way of faith in Jesus, instead of presenting our character as good against a set of laws, we now are credited righteousness through belief in Him. A gift given freely to us by God. My actions are not part of the matter of salvation, it is only through Christ's actions that we are saved. Now, doing good and living right is not about character, status, and self-promotion but it is about love. Jesus flipped the reasons.

Though I still have to live a "right" life towards God, my motives are about love and not about self-worth or self-value in God's eyes. It should be our desire to live holy lives for Him and in that statement lies the truth of the matter. I live for Him, I do what I do for Him, and not for myself. Jesus did not come to give me freedom to be a sinner but instead He flipped the motivation from a self-righteousness to a God-righteousness thereby making me free to choose Him and love Him through obedience to His law of love.

Ephesians 2:8-10

8For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Flipped

The Jews were given the law and the law was to be obeyed. Many obeyed and continue to do so in order to establish their character, to be considered worthy or good in God's eyes, to be saved, and to obtain eternal life. People took the law and made it about themselves and what they could get out of it.

Now that Jesus has come and fulfilled the law, it is now flipped. Obedience to God's law is essential for us as Christians but the reasons are now different than what they were. Now obedience is about giving not receiving. It is about selflessness and not selfishness. It is about love instead of worth. Sure we are not perfect but we should desire and strive to be. Not for our own sake but for God's glory. It is all in the trying. It is all in the desire.

Those who love God desire to follow his teachings and learn from his word. We do not shrink back from the word because it convicts us or because it seems to judge us but instead we run to embrace his word and his ways. We do so to love and respect him for He is God and there is no one and nothing above him. So many will be shocked to find that on judgment day God simply asks the question... Did you love me? Did you love others?

It is simply not about us, it is about God and other people within our sphere of influence. God did not create us to be individuals but he created us to be a community. People helping people and through this selfless love (which is a commandment) we show God that we love him. Faith is so important but love is Faiths brother. The two are actually one. Life is not about what we get out of it but what we give. The reasons for obedience are now flipped. No longer is it for our receipt or our glory but instead it is about showing the love of Jesus to others.

Matthew 25:31-40

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

 34"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

 37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

 40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'