We see this vividly in Paul’s life. He was able to overcome incredibly adverse circumstances frequently throughout his life and ministry simply because he lived from another reality – Christ and his kingdom. The ‘unseen world’ affected his view of the ‘seen world.’ This did not make him in-human or oblivious to the realities of living in a fallen world in some form of escapism. It simply enabled him to live ‘above’, as it were, the natural circumstances of his life, knowing that whatever may be happening around him, Christ was alive in him and reigning over all. [Note his perspective in the following statements: Acts 20:18-24. 2 Cor.4:7-18; 5:1-10. Phil.4:4-7; 11-13]
We too, as followers of Christ, are now ‘in Christ’ and part of the kingdom of God, a kingdom of light (vs.3-4). We are to live life from God’s perspective – seeing everything through Christ and our position ‘in Him.’ We have a new orientation and focus for our lives. Eugene Peterson paraphrases Paul’s comments this way:
A recent survey of Christians revealed that most believe that God is forgiving (97%) and loving (96%), but far fewer believe that God is judging (37%) or punishes those who do wrong (19%). Obviously, some people doubt that a God of love could also be angry at times. Unfortunately, when we think of anger, we tend to think of someone in a burst of temper, lashing out in annoyance and frustration. We must not project onto God our understanding of human anger, painting a picture of him erupting into some sort of tantrum and sending lightning blots to zap sinners here on earth (a common comic strip caricature of God).
Paul pictures God’s anger coming because of sin (vs.6) and elsewhere, in an extensive discussion about God’s anger, he portrays God as giving sinners over to themselves (see Romans 1:18-32). If we choose to disobey God’s intentions for our lives, God does not interfere with our free choice but simply turns us over to the consequences of those choices. The problem with sin is not only with God (although it is an assault on his character); it is with us. Choosing to sin is like drinking poison – it will eventually cause damage to our lives and the lives of those around about us. Sin carries its own destructive force. It ruins lives, distorting and destroying human relationships and our relationship with God. In other words, we are punished by the very sins we sin.
Paul’s list of virtues is not an outline of religious rules we are to try to keep in our own strength in order to earn our salvation. Law codes cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit. We are saved by grace through faith, not through human effort or good works (see Eph.2:8-10). Rather, these virtues are to be the overflow of who we are now in Christ. Because we are already loved, accepted and forgiven, we now need to live as children of God reflecting his life to the world. It’s about transformation not moralistic legalism. It’s about becoming who we are in Christ, not trying to patch up the old sinful nature through self-effort. We are to now act consistently with who we are in Christ, allowing his life to live through us in our character and conduct.
2. Discuss the “anger” of God. What do you think when you hear about “God’s wrath?” What picture do you have of God and what has influenced that image?
3. Discuss the concept of sin being like a “poison” that damages our world.
4. Discuss the image of taking off an old pair of clothes (our old sinful nature) and putting on a new set of clothes (the new nature of Christ living in us).
5. What does it mean practically to do everything ‘in the name of’ or representing Christ? What does “everything” include? How can we live this out on a daily basis?