Adopted by Jesus
Christians often proclaim joyfully: "Jesus accepts everyone" and "does not judge anyone". Although these assurances are certainly true, I see that they are given a variety of different meanings. Unfortunately, some of them deviate from the revelation of Jesus as proclaimed in the New Testament.
In circles of Grace Communion International, the phrase: "You belong" is often used. This simple statement expresses an important aspect. But it too can (and will) be interpreted in different ways. What exactly do we belong to? Answering these and similar questions requires care, because in faith we must seek to set similar questions aside in order to be accurate and true to biblical revelation.
Naturally, Jesus called everyone to himself; he gave himself up for all who turned to him and shared his teachings with them. Indeed, he promised all who listened to him that he would draw all people to himself. (Joh 12, 32)And indeed, there is no evidence that he rejected, turned away from, or refused anyone who approached him. On the contrary, he even extended his attention to those considered outcasts by the religious leaders of his time, and even dined with them.
It is particularly striking that the Bible knows to report that Jesus also welcomed lepers, the lame, the blind, the deaf and the mute and communed with them. He maintained contact with people (some of whom had questionable reputations), men and women, and with the way he dealt with them disregarded the beliefs of his time. He also dealt with adulterers, Jewish customs officers under Roman sovereignty and even with fanatical, anti-Roman, political activists.
Furthermore, he spent time with Pharisees and Sadducees, religious leaders who were among his most bitter critics (and some of whom were secretly plotting his execution). The Apostle John tells us that Jesus did not come to condemn, but to save and redeem people for the sake of the Almighty. Jesus said: “[…] whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” (Joh 6, 37)He also instructed his disciples to love their enemies. (Lk 6, 27)to forgive those who wronged them, and to bless those who cursed them. (Lk 6, 28)At his execution, Jesus even forgave his executioners. (Lk 23, 34).
In all these examples it is expressed that Jesus came to the benefit of all. He was on everyone's side, he was "for" anyone. He stands for God's grace and salvation, which includes all. The remaining parts of the New Testament reflect in condensed terms what
We see this illustrated in the Gospels through the life of Jesus. Paul points out that Jesus came to earth to atone for the sins of the ungodly, the sinners, those who are "dead by [...] trespasses and sins." (Eph 2, 1)...were to atone for.
The attitude and actions of the Redeemer testify to God's love for all people and his desire to be reconciled with everyone and to bless them. Jesus came to give life, and this "in abundance" (Joh 10, 10(Good News Bible). “God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself.” (2. Kor 5, 19)Jesus came as the redeemer who redeemed prisoners from their own sin and from the evil of others.
But there is more behind this story. A "more" that is by no means to be regarded as contradictory or in tension with the light that has just been illuminated. Contrary to the view of some, there is no need to assume that there are conflicting positions in Jesus' innermost, in his thinking and in his destiny. It is unnecessary to want to recognize any kind of inner balancing act, which one day strives for one direction and then correcting the other. One does not have to believe that Jesus was trying to reconcile two different aspects of faith, such as love and justice, grace and holiness at the same time. We may think such conflicting positions in our sinfulness, but they do not dwell in the heart of Jesus or his Father.
Like the Father, Jesus welcomes all people. But he does so with a specific request. His love is pointing the way. He obliges all who listen to him to reveal something that is usually hidden. He came to leave a gift in particular and serve everyone in a trend-setting, goal-oriented manner.
His welcome to everyone is less the end point than the starting point of a continuous, permanent relationship. That relationship is about his giving and serving and our acceptance of what he offers us. He doesn't offer us anything out of date or serve us in the old-fashioned way (as we might prefer). Rather, he only offers us the best that he has to give. And that is himself. And with that he gives us the way, the truth and the life. Nothing more and nothing else.
Jesus' attitude and welcome action call for a certain response to the onwardness of himself. Essentially, it requires the acceptance of what he offers. In contrast to this, his gift of grateful acceptance, stands that which rejects it, which is tantamount to rejecting oneself. As Jesus draws all people to Him, He expects a positive response to His offer. And as he gives to understand, that positive response requires a certain attitude toward him.
So Jesus announced to his disciples that in him the kingdom of God was at hand. All his blessed gifts were ready in him. But he also immediately points out what reaction that so real religious truth has to entail: "Repent and believe in the Gospel" of the coming celestial kingdom. The refusal to repent and believe in Jesus and his kingdom is synonymous with the rejection of himself and the blessings of his kingdom.
The willingness to repent requires a humble attitude. It is precisely this acceptance of Him that awaits Jesus when He welcomes us. Because only in humility can we receive what he offers. Note that we have already received his gift, even before such a response has come on our part. It is, in fact, the gift we have received that evokes the response.
So, repentance and faith are the reactions that accompany the acceptance of Jesus' gift. They are neither a prerequisite for it, nor do they decide who it does it. His offer should be accepted and not rejected. What use should such a rejection also serve? No.
Jesus' longed-for and grateful acceptance of his atoning sacrifice is expressed in many of his words: "The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (Lk 19, 10(Good News Bible). “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick” (Lk 5, 31(ibid.). “Truly I tell you, whoever will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” (Mk 10, 15)We must be like the soil that receives the seed from the sower, that "receives the word with joy". (Lk 8, 13)“Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness [...]” (Mt 6, 33).
Accepting Jesus' gift and thus benefiting from it requires acknowledging that we are lost and need to be found, that we are sick and in need of a physician to heal us, that we come to our Lord empty-handed, without hope of a mutual exchange with him. For, like a child, we must not assume we possess something he needs. Therefore, Jesus points out that it is those who are "poor in spirit" who receive God's blessings and his kingdom of heaven, not those who consider themselves spiritually rich. (Mt 5, 3).
Christian doctrine has characterized this acceptance of what God in his generosity offers to all of his creation in Christ as a gesture of humility. It is an attitude that goes hand in hand with the admission that we are not self-sufficient, but must receive life from the hand of our Creator and Redeemer. Contrary to this trusting acceptance
Attitude is that of pride. In the context of Christian doctrine, the feeling of autonomy of God manifests itself in pride, a confidence in oneself, in one's own sufficiency, even in the face of God. Such pride is offended by the idea of needing something of God, which is of importance, and especially his forgiveness and grace. Pride then leads to that self-righteous refusal to accept from the Almighty something indispensable, which one assumes to be able to take care of. Pride insists on being able to do everything alone and deservedly reaping the resulting fruits. He insists that he does not need the grace and mercy of God, but that he can prepare for himself the life that suits his own interests. Pride fails to be committed to anyone or any institution, including God. He expresses that nothing in us really needs change. As we are, it is good and beautiful. Humility, on the contrary, recognizes that one can not seize oneself of life. Instead, it acknowledges not only the need for help, but also the change, renewal, restoration and reconciliation that only God can grant. Humility recognizes our unforgivable failure and our utter helplessness to bring about an innovation of ourselves. We need the all-embracing grace of God or we are lost. Our pride must be made to die so that we can receive life from God Himself. The open-mindedness to receive what Jesus tells us, and the humility are inseparable side by side.
Ultimately, Jesus welcomes everyone to give himself up for them. His welcome is therefore purposeful. It leads somewhere. His purpose necessarily includes what requires receiving himself. Jesus points out that he came to make the worship of his Father possible. (Joh 4,23)This is the most comprehensive way to point to the meaning of his welcoming and accepting of us. Through worship, it is made absolutely clear who God is as the one worthy of our unwavering trust and loyalty. Jesus' self-giving leads to true knowledge of the Father and to the readiness to allow the Holy Spirit to work within us. It leads to the worship of God solely through the power of the Son under the action of the Holy Spirit, that is, worship of God in truth and spirit. For by giving himself for us, Jesus sacrifices himself as our Lord, our Prophet, Priest, and King. In doing so, he reveals the Father and sends us his Holy Spirit. He gives of himself according to who he is, not who he is not, and not according to our wishes or ideas.
And that means that Jesus' path requires judgment. This is how to classify the reactions given to him. He recognizes those who revile Him and His Word, as well as those who reject the true knowledge of God and His right worship. He distinguishes between those who receive and those who do not receive. However, this distinction does not mean that its attitude or intentions in any way deviated from those we have discussed above. So there is no reason to assume that his love has decreased after these judgments or turned into the opposite. Jesus does not condemn those who turn down his welcome, his invitation to follow him. But he warns her of the consequences of such a refusal. To be accepted by Jesus and to experience His love calls for a certain reaction, not for any or any reaction.
The distinction Jesus makes between the different reactions he receives is evident in many places in Scripture. For example, the parable of the sower and the seed (where the seed represents his word) speaks unambiguously. It speaks of four different types of soil, and only one type represents the fruitful receptiveness expected of Jesus. He frequently addresses how he himself, his word or teaching, his Father in heaven, and his disciples are either readily received or rejected. When a number of disciples turned away from him and left him, Jesus asked whether the twelve who accompanied him would do the same. Peter's famous reply was: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." (Joh 6,68).
Jesus' fundamental opening words to the people are reflected in his exhortation: "Follow me […]!" (Mk 1,17)Those who follow him are different from those who do not. The Lord compares his followers to those who accept a wedding invitation and contrasts them with those who decline it. (Mt 22,4-9)A similar discrepancy is revealed in the older son's refusal to attend the celebration marking his younger brother's return, despite his father's earnest pleas for him to come. (Lk15,28).
Urgent warnings are issued to those who not only refuse to follow Jesus, but even reject his call to such an extent that they also discourage others from following him and in some cases even secretly pave the way for his execution.Lk 11,46; Mt 3,7(23:27-29). These warnings are so compelling because they express what the warner does not want to happen, not what he hopes will happen. Warnings are addressed to those we care about, not to those with whom we have no connection. The same love and acceptance are shown to both those who accept Jesus and those who reject him. But such love would not be genuine if it did not address the different reactions and their consequences.
Jesus welcomes everyone and calls them to oppose both him in an open manner and the one he has prepared - the reign of God's kingdom. Even though the network is widely spread and the seed is spread everywhere, the reception of oneself, the trust in him and his successor require a certain reaction. Jesus compares them to the encouragement of a child. He calls such receptivity faith or trust placed in him. This includes the regret of putting ultimate trust in someone else or something else. This faith manifests in the worship of God through the Son through the Holy Spirit. The gift is given to all unreservedly. There are no prerequisites that could exclude any beneficiaries. The receipt of this unconditionally granted gift, however, is coupled to an expense on the part of the recipient. This requires the full task of his life and his responsibility to Jesus, the Father and the Holy Spirit with him. The effort is not to pay anything to the Lord, so that he is inclined to surrender to us. It is the effort to free our hands and our hearts to accept Him as our Lord and Savior. What we receive for free is bound to an expense on our part, so that we can participate in it; because it takes a departure from the old, corrupted ego to receive new life from it.
What we require to receive God's unconditional grace is carried out throughout the Scriptures. The Old Testament states that we need both a new heart and a new spirit, which one day God would give us. The New Testament tells us that we need to be spiritually reborn, need a new being, stop living out of ourselves, and instead have to lead a life under the reign of Christ, that we need spiritual renewal - recreated after that Image of Christ, the new Adam. Pentecost not only refers to God's sending of the Holy Spirit to indwelling his own, but also to receiving his Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of Life, receiving him, and being filled with him.
Jesus' parables make it clear that the response he expects us to receive the gift he offers requires an effort on our part. Consider the parables of the pearl of great price and the purchase of a field containing treasure. Those who respond appropriately must give up everything they possess in order to receive what they have found.Mt 13,44; 46). But those who prioritize other things—be it land, home, or family—will not share in Jesus and his blessings. (Lk 9,59; Lk 14,18-20).
Jesus' interactions with people make it clear that following him and receiving all his blessings requires relinquishing everything we might value more highly than our Lord and his kingdom. This includes renouncing the pursuit of material wealth and possessions. The rich leader did not follow Jesus because he could not part with his possessions. Consequently, he could not receive the blessings offered to him by the Lord. (Lk 18, 18-23)Even a woman convicted of adultery was called upon to undergo a fundamental transformation of her life. Having been granted forgiveness, she was to sin no longer. (Joh 8,11)Think of the man at the Pool of Bethesda. He had to be willing to leave his place there, as well as his sick self. “Get up, take your mat and walk!”Joh 5,8, Good News Bible).
Jesus welcomes everyone and accepts them, but a reaction to Him does not leave anyone as he was before. The Lord would not love man if he simply left her as he found her at the first meeting. He loves us far too much to simply leave us to our fate with pure empathy or compassion. No, his love heals, transforms and changes the way of life.
In short, the New Testament consistently proclaims that the response to Christ's unconditional offering of himself, including all that he has in store for us, involves self-denial (turning away from ourselves). This includes relinquishing our pride, our self-confidence, our piety, our gifts and abilities, which also includes our self-empowerment of our lives. In this regard, Jesus states in a shocking way that if we are to follow Christ, we must "break with our father and mother." But beyond that, following him means breaking with our own lives—with the false assumption that we can make ourselves the masters of our lives (Lk 14, 26-27(Good News Bible). When we commit ourselves to Jesus, we cease to live for ourselves (Romans 14:7-8), because we belong to another. (1Kor 6,18)In this sense, we are “servants of Christ”. (Eph 6,6)Our lives are completely in his hands, subject to his providence and guidance. We are what we are in relation to him. And because we are one with Christ, “it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” (Gal 2,20).
Jesus indeed accepts and welcomes every single person. He died for everyone. And he is reconciled with all - but all this as our Lord and Savior. His welcome and acceptance are an offer, an invitation that requires a response, a willingness to accept. And this willingness to accept is bound to receive exactly what he, as he who he is, holds for us - no more and no less. That is to say, our reaction involves the ability to speak-the detachment of everything that prevents us from receiving from him what he offers us, and what hinders our fellowship with him and the joy of life in his kingdom. Such a reaction is costly - but an effort that is well worth it. Because for our loss of our old self we receive a new ego. We create space for Jesus and receive his life-changing, life-giving grace empty-handed. Jesus accepts us wherever we may stand to take us on his way back to his father in the Holy Spirit now and for all eternity as his fully became healthy, spiritually reborn children.
Who wanted to participate in something less?
from dr. Gary Deddo
