But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.” vs. 10
Romans 8:10-11
In his letter to the Romans, Paul tells them that they are both sinful and redeemed at the same time, and this side of the grave, that’s the way it’s always going to be. It’s not easy for us to get our heads around this paradox–essentially it means believing opposite things at the same time. But even though it’s hard to understand, it is an incredibly hopeful teaching, and one that we need to hang onto for dear life! Too often, servants of Jesus fall into despair because perfection eludes them. Despite our best intentions we exceed our carbon footprints and alienate folks that we love. We absorb Hollywood standards, neglect the poor, ignore the homeless, and are afraid of refugees. When we’re brutally honest we can scarcely get our chins off the ground–our performance seems abysmal. We imagine that God is going to boo us off the stage! But that’s only half the story! We are also the redeemed of God, and the Spirit of Christ dwells in us by grace. God loves us, smiles on us, and promises eternal life, in spite of our sin-ridden dead bodies. That is good news we can celebrate all the way to the end of our journeys. Even our sorry selves are used by God, and at the end of each day, as we gaze into the compassionate eyes of the Risen Christ, we can be consoled.
Thought for the Day: What other paradoxes are a part of life?
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