Wednesday 17 October 2012
- Bible Book:
- Ephesians
"But God, who is rich in mercy, out of the great love with which he loved us even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved – and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus." (vv. 4-6)
Background
Two ways of walking (Greek = periepatēsate) are contrasted inthis passage:
- walking according to the ways of this world (verse 2)
- walking in the way which God has prepared for us verse10).
The two ways of walking are further contrasted: the way of thisworld is the way of the "dead" (v. 1); of the "flesh" (v. 3); ofthe "children of wrath" (v. 3). By contrast the way which God hasprepared for us is the way of life; the way of "good works" (v.10); the way of knowing ourselves beloved creatures (verse 4).
It is characteristic of the thinking of Paul and his followersthat the world should be understood as two distinct realms - therealm of the flesh, and usually in Paul's thought, the realm of theHoly Spirit. This can lead us to a dualistic way of seeing things -particularly a negative attitude towards everything which is bodilyin favour of spiritual things. And yet Paul has two different wordsto describe bodily things - the word flesh ('sarx') and the wordbody ('soma'). The problem with sarx is that without Christ it issimply uninhabited flesh. Its owners abuse their bodies throughover eating or under eating; through over indulgence or strictabstinence, but never inhabit their bodies as part of their belovedselves. Yet sarx, inhabited by the spirit of Christ, becomes body.The physical self becomes a means of grace, a place for receivingthe good life that God has to offer.
Unlike the "ruler of the power of the air" (v. 2) against whomthis writer is railing, God is concerned with the redemption ofbodily life. This redemption happens as we allow ourselves to bejoined to Christ as he is raised bodily (verse 6) and as we allowourselves to be made alive with him (verse 5) - the verb for whichconcerns not biological existence ('bios') but life in all itsfullness ('zoe'). The resurrection of Christ is the gateway to thisnew life. It is a mystery. Yet it not a mystery to puzzle over, butan invitation to walk with Christ the way of life which God hasprepared for us.
To Ponder
- How would you contrast the ways of this world with the way thatGod has prepared?
- What has helped you to learn to value your body as a means ofgrace?
- What habits might you need to leave behind in order to be mademore fully alive with Christ?