Brerah

Humbled

Today I was meeting with a student, which is fairly normal given the nature of my job. This particular student is a new believer, and it has been particularly encouraging to me as we meet and talk through the gospel and many of the questions that he has in this stage of his life.

We were talking today about why we have to be born into sin and be sinners, when it wasn't me that sinned way back then. It was this guy named Adam, who I don't even know. I did my best to explain the idea of Adam being our representative, and then if we have faith in Christ, then Christ is our new representative before God, etc. etc. So then I made the assertion that we cannot do anything without sin affecting it. Sin affects, distorts anything that we do. We can still do good things, and furthermore are called to do them, but they are never 100% for the glory of God. So I continued to talk and talk and talk until I was sure that I had driven home who we are as sinners. Very honestly, he then looked up at me and said, but didn't Christ set us free? It is for freedom that he has set us free, right?

The blood rushed from my face, I felt a little cold, and answered him, "yes."

I think often I see my sin and dwell on my sin so much, that I forget who I am in Christ. I think of my Adamic nature so much more than I think of my Christian nature. Therefore, I get depressed. Joy runs from my face just as the blood did today. I fail to realize as Paul says that if I am in Christ, I am a new creation. The old has gone, and the new has come. I am no longer ruled by sin. The effects of sin are still in me (for sure) but they are not my master. They should not have the power to rule my life. Why do I not think of this more?

So today, I was humbled. And it was a good thing indeed. I need to see myself in Christ so that I may be strong to overcome sin and to not give it the foothold in my life that it loves to occupy. Thank you, Mr. 1 year old believer.

posted by corbs @ 4:54 PM