God has an incredibly big plan for our world. We can only know that plan by the revelation of God. We will not learn that plan through natural revelation–by looking at the world. We may conclude that God exists by natural revelation, but to understand the details of God’s plan for his creation requires supernatural revelation. God has revealed himself to us in Scripture–in fact, Scripture is first and foremost a revelation of God. In Scripture God reveals his plan for the restoration of human creation after the fall. God’s preposterous plan is that Christ can be the Savior of the world, that the church as the body of Christ can become the declaration of the wisdom of God, and that God’s presence can be carried into every part of the world through the disciples of Christ.
Thus God makes possible in Christ three things that are beyond the reach of human effort: re-creation, rebirth, and reconciliation. Genuine newness is possible, new creation in Christ. This newness is not the same old stuff dressed up in new clothes. This is a “brand new” newness, as God re-creates the creation. A new self comes forth–the Bible calls it rebirth or regeneration. In baptism a person participates in the death of Christ and thus has promise of participation in the resurrection of Christ. This is again described as newness of life. Such a change makes possible reconciliation. Reconciliation is real change–newness, grace, and transformation. The oft-quoted definition of reconciliation as “friends again” is weak and impotent. God is not only restoring relationships, he is making the restoration of relationships reality by undoing the breaking points. This is only possible in genuine newness by God’s grace resulting in transformed lives. As creation was passive (God gets the active verb), so also is re-creation passive. The renewal of rebirth in baptism is passive (see the passive verb); reconciliation is passive (ditto). God desires to work in our lives, and more than anything else, that demands that we get out of the way.
Note that so far we have done nothing, unless you describe responding to God’s graceful initiative and promise of re-creation, rebirth, and reconciliation as “something.” We have been called upon to see God (recognize and respect him), to respond to God in repentance so that he can do his work.
Here is the most difficult part. We have not seen how difficult it is. We have thought it easy; we have made it too easy. We must decide to follow Jesus–regardless. Jesus describes this process as hating all else (being willing to sacrifice anything we love), counting the cost, and leaving all else behind. This is resolution. To resolve something means to settle it once for all. Our Christian lives are difficult because we have not experienced resolution.
We have decided, but we go back on our word and commitment when the going gets tough. We will put him first, until something else comes along. Following Jesus is all or nothing. There are no lukewarm disciples. We have encouraged people to become Christians and to experience the newness of total cleansing and forgiveness of sins, but we have failed to tell them that they must fill the void with something–the Holy Spirit is given, we develop the fruits of the Spirit, Christ lives in us. The dichotomy does not serve us well. The idea that Christians are cleansed and disciples are committed has led people to want to be Christians without being disciples, but such distinction is unknown in Scripture. One cannot have the cleansing without the commitment. A Christian is a disciple–a learner, imitator, follower.
Show me an uncommitted Christian and I will show you someone not worthy of wearing the name Christian. Let us get back to God’s incredibly big plan which he has revealed to us in his word. He takes the initiative by grace to re-create us, regenerating, renewing, reconciling. This is of God, not of us. We are his workmanship. Our part is easy to say and hard to do: I am resolved!