"BC and AD" You

May 11

Read: Hebrews 1:1-3

God and Time

“BC and AD”

“Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son…” (Heb.1:1)

*The world’s calendar is marked by Jesus. What we know to be true is this: when Christ shows up, there is always a distinct channel marker… a turning point… a paradigm shift… a “right of passage”. God interacted with humanity differently before Christ; for instance “he spoke to our fathers by the prophets”. The coming of Christ marked a shift in how God communicated with his people. We see this unpacked even more in Acts 2:17 and following:

“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,

that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,

and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

and your young men shall see visions,

and your old men shall dream dreams…”

The point being that God is interacting enough with time, present enough “in time”, that there were and are very real differences between the time before Jesus had come and the time AFTER Jesus had been born, ministered, suffered, died, was buried, raised, and ascended to the Father. Another example of this is the way that the scriptures speak about our “sin payment”. Those people of God who died before Christ came and paid for our sins on the cross are said to have their “sin payment deferred” in light of the fact that Jesus would come in the future and pay the price for them. (cf. Romans 3:21-26) It seems to me as though God is very much aware of time and the time before Christ died on the cross is markedly different than the time after Christ died on the Christ… even in terms of How God interacts with humans in it.

The introduction of Jesus will always split time into life before Christ and life after Christ. This is true for us in a micro sense… in our own personal lives as well. God interacts with us differently before and after Christ in our lives. We do not function the same, communicate the same, nor carry our sin weight the same after Christ has redeemed us and called us to himself. Our lives ought to be marked with their own version of “BC and AD”! God is with us in the midst of this growing process and he knows where we are on our own timeline. He is patient and kind with us as we learn and grow in this “newness of life”. (Romans 6:4)

Part of the problem is that many leaders, pastors, and our “Christian folklore” does not recognize this transformation. They make the mistake of swirling together “pre-Christ” truths with “post-Christ” truths. They are sloppy with their “time” because they have been taught that God is “outside of time” so time doesn’t really matter! Let me close with some encouraging words about your “AD” life… your life in Christ:

God no longer communicates through others… but speaks directly to YOU. (cf. Heb. 1, Acts 2, etc.)

God has not grown distant, and wants to empower your life with the same energy you had when you first believed in Christ. (cf. Phil. 1:6)

You are no longer a sinner - you have been made new in Christ. Your sinful nature is gone. You are a new creation. You WERE a sinner before Christ, you are one no longer. (cf. Gal. 2:20, 2 Cor. 5:17, Rom. 6:4 etc.)

You used to be “under the law” as it was a “school master” or “tutor” that led you to Christ, in Christ you are no longer under the law… you no longer need a “tutor” to lead you to him. You have been set free from the law. Set your gaze on CHRIST not the law. (cf. Psalm 19:7, Gal. 3:24 etc.)

Your sins have been REMOVED from you… you carry them no longer! Instead, be “yoked” to Christ and carry his “yoke”. (cf. Psalm 103:7-12, Matt. 11:29,30 etc.)

Works do not matter for your salvation, but they matter very much for your life in Christ. ( cf. Eph. 2:8-10, 1 Cor. 3:10-15 etc.)

So here is to our “AD” life… our life after Christ has come to us. Everything changes in that moment. God’s interactions with us are uniquely different before and after Christ. There are expectations for us in Christ. Stop today and take a moment to price the Lord for HIS work. Thank him that he is present with you and interacting in time with you. He knows where you are at in your journey. He is working in you and through you! Love you guys. - JDP

*Think of how history is marked BC and AD, even though there is an effort to wash this away with BCE and CE.