Currently listening to: “In Exile” by Thrice
They actually just released the video for this song recently on their myspace and, although it’s not as epic as (say) the videos for “Image of the Invisible” or “Digital Sea”… it has a great black-and-white, earthy, early-2000’s Thrice feel to it. Think of a cross between the videos for “Deadbolt” and “Come All You Weary”. Video aside, this is one of Thrice’s best songs from one of Thrice’s best albums. Love it.

Here’s something that caught me today:

Colossians 2:6-7 ESV
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

The word “as” seems absolutely key here. Another way of reading this sentence is “Walk in Christ Jesus the Lord AS you received him”. So – for those of us who have received Christ… the question becomes: how did we receive him?

We received Christ as a gift, through repentance and belief in the gospel.

1) As a Gift:

Titus 3:4-7 ESV
But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

John 3:3 ESV
Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Just as we had no involvement in our physical birth, so we have none in our spiritual birth – other than that, once born, we begin to breathe and live. Salvation is ultimately a gift, something given to those who believe by God himself – something we cannot and have not earned by doing anything. It’s a gracious blessing – something entirely unmerited and unsolicited.

Similarly, just as our salvation is God’s doing, the life we live from that time on is God’s doing also. Whatever “good” (God-honouring, God-exalting) things we do, we can understand that they are gifts also – things our natural self is entirely incapable of.

Philippians 2:12 ESV
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

We are to work out, live out, breathe out, speak out our salvation… actively, voluntarily, volitionally… because we understand that as we do so, it is God at work in us making it happen. So then, living as He desires us to is not something we do, but rather something He does in us, for His good pleasure and enjoyment. This is a great comfort and a great challenge to consider!

2) Through Repentance and Belief in the Gospel:

When Jesus spoke to people and told them to do things, he often reduced the ‘action requirements’ down to basics. Some balk at this, thinking that favour with God must be more difficult to acquire. In a sense, those who balk are correct – it is more difficult than they could possibly imagine. Impossible, actually.

Truth is, the life-changing heart-rending repentance and belief that Jesus speaks of is utterly impossible for human beings to accomplish. Impossible apart from being regenerated (aka “reborn”, “born again”) and given a new heart and a new life – complete with new desires and an unceasing pattern of… you guessed it, repentance and belief.

Matthew 4:17 ESV
From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

When God takes hold of sinners as his own, gifting to them new life, they in turn… turn to Him. Repentance is not merely what happened when you “received Christ Jesus the Lord”, but rather it becomes the new pattern and the hallmark of your life from that moment on – a pattern of growth into the likeness of Jesus Christ that scripture calls our sanctification. What is repentance? Simply, it’s turning away from your sin and towards God. Mentally, it’s the process of developing a Christlike hatred toward sin (while cultivating an increasing love for God). Where once we were enemies to God, we increasingly become enemies to sin (particularly our own).

Mark 1:14-15 ESV
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Similarly, belief is not just something that happens at the beginning of a person’s walk with God, but rather it becomes the new pattern of your life. Where once you lived in rebellion and unbelief, now you persevere in the faith, believing in the God of the Bible and in His glorious Gospel – the message that in Jesus Christ, God entered human history as a man, lived a perfect and sinless life, died a sacrificial, substitutional, atoning death on the cross, defeated death, and lives forever as King and Lord and God.

Let’s revisit our starting point:

Colossians 2:6-7 ESV
Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Do you remember the time in your life when you came to repentance and belief? Experientially, it may not have been a climactic moment of awakening but instead a process. Regardless, do you remember those times? Do you remember the feeling of “scales falling from your eyes”, of understanding and believing what before had seemed foolish and detestable? Do you remember realizing the enormity of your sin, and rejoicing in the grace of God expressed in the atoning sacrifice of his son for you? Do you remember the bliss and the mourning of being brought to repentance?

Do you remember?

Friend, just as you received Christ Jesus our Lord… walk that way. Put your roots in him. Build up and establish yourself in the faith, just as Scripture teaches it – and never forget to abound in thanksgiving for what God has done.

Luke 9:23-24 ESV
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.