The claim that in Christ we are sons of God, that we will arise and be like him is incomprehensible. For I am quite aware of my sins and frailties: if I get confidence a heavy lifting session in the gym leaves me whimpering in pain, fining the anti-inflammatory medication, and I look at my times on the leaderboard, or the videos of people doing the exercise properly, and am humbled.
All I can say is that this is the work of Christ. It is not my work.
For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, “I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.” And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Behold, I and the children God has given me.”
Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
(Hebrews 2:11-18 ESV)
There is something that I do with these texts: I take the allusions out of verse and put them into prose. For what the writer does ins alluded to three separate passages of scripture. It is not enough for the apostle to use authority. He demonstrates this by quoting from Psalms 16 and 22, and Isaiah 8. And then applies to this Christ, saying that the incarnation was needed, so Christ could be human, shares in our limitations and pains, and has sympathy with us as we are ourselves tempted and suffer.
From this I take but one thing more. We are supposed to struggle with these passages. We have to use our intelligence and think them through. It is not just a matter of accepting: these things wer demonstrated and backed up for us. We are not to switch our brains off, and let God do whatever he wills in the moment.
There is no In’shallah: God is reasonable: he sticks to the rules he set. God is predictable: he will keep his word. The Judge of this world will do good. Theology is a worthy study: thinking through these things is proper and our duty.
And I praise God for his mercy, in demonstrating his working, for the Geek within me.
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