So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
New in what way? We still look like the same old creation. We still get old and get sick. We still eventually die. But something is indeed new here.
He indeed died for all,
so that those who live might no longer live for themselves
but for him
It is his death that enables us to no longer live for ourselves. Without his death we are trapped within ourselves. We are set free from that prison. The brokenness that still exists in the external world even after we are in Christ is an opportunity to live a life of unselfish love. There is a cost to love in a world like this. But it isn't a cost way pay through our own efforts.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin,
so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Jesus provides the bridge between our sinfulness and God's righteousness. Jesus destroys our sinfulness by nailing it to a cross. God's righteousness prevails as he does not turn aside from the Father's will. We need to understand that this death is not for his own sake. Nor is it even a substitution wherein we don't have to die because he does. We die to sin to the degree which we are united to him on the cross. Hence Paul says:
The love of Christ impels us,
once we have come to the conviction that one died for all;
therefore, all have died.
[emphasis mine]
Sin has been put to death. It no longer has any place in our lives.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
One transgression that we must keep far from us is dishonesty. Lies and half-truths belong to the darkness of sin. Christians are called to a straightforward and simple truthfulness. Truth befits children of the God who says of himself: "I am who am" (cf. Ex 3:14). Lies are things which, by definition, are not. Half-truths are little better. Nor indeed is the truth to be hidden since this covers up what does exist making it as though it does not. All such hidden things must eventually be revealed (cf Luke 12:3). Since we are called to intimate relationship with this God who is existence par excellence we must let him nurture honesty deep within our hearts.
Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’
The cross puts our sinful and darkened pasts as far from us as can be. And yet the choice is always ours. Now we can live for others rather than just for ourselves. But that doesn't mean we must. And it certainly doesn't mean that we can do it on our own. Little is more difficult than true Christian honesty. We must turn to God. We aren't creatures who have existence within ourselves. We have existence on loan from the God who is. It is therefore only he who can make us truly honest. He stands willing to heal us of our dishonesty and crown us with a compassionate truthfulness.
He pardons all your iniquities,
he heals all your ills.
He redeems your life from destruction,
he crowns you with kindness and compassion.
John Reuben - No Be Nah
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