BELONGING TO CHRIST

TO MANY MODERN READERS, THE NEW TESTAMENT SEEMS TO PORTRAY AN EXTREME VIEW OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE.BELIEVERS ARE CALLED TO FORFEIT THEIR RIGHTS, SUFFER, AND EVEN DIE FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST (MARK 8:34-36).THEY ARE TO TURN AWAY FROM THE THINGS OF THE WORLD THAT SOMEBODY

ELSE LIVES FOR AND EVEN TO DESPISE THEIR LIFE IN THIS WORLD (JOHN 12:24-25). SO ALSO PAUL ENCOURAGES THEM TO GIVE UP THE NORMAL DESIRES FOR MARRIAGE AND FAMILY AND REMAIN SINGLE FOR CHRIST, IF THEY HAVE THAT SPIRITUAL GIFT(1 COR 7:7).

WHAT LIES BEHIND SUCH AS APPARENTLY EXTREME VIEW OF LIFE? FOR PAUL, IT IS THE AWARENESS THAT BELIEVERS ARE CLAIMED BY CHRIST AND SO BELONG TO HIM, BODY AND SOUL. WHEN CHRIST DIED HE BROUGHT THEM FOR HIMSELF.THEY MUST NO LONGER LIVE SIMPLY FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR OWN DESIRES.HAVING DIED TO THEIR OWN PERSONAL INTERESTS, THEY RE CALLED TO LIVE ENTIRELY FOR THEIR LORD (ROM 14:7-9).

FOR TRUE CHRISTIANS, OBEDIENCE TO CHRIST IS NOT AN ONEROUS BURDEN, BUT A WAY TO EXPRESS THEIR LOVE AND LOYALTY TO THE ONE WHO DIED FOR THEM (MARK 12:30). FOR THE PEOPLE OF CHRIST, THE WHOLE OF LIFE IS TO BE A JOYFUL EXPRESSION OF THANKS FOR THE GRACE GOD HAS SHOWN THEM IN JESUS CHRIST. THEY GLADLY YIELD THEIR LIVES TO SERVE THE ONE WHO GAVE UP EVERYTHING FOR THEM. BY DYING TO THEMSELVES, THEY MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR HIM TO LIVE IN AND THROUGH THEM (GAL 2:19-20).