In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known[c] to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ[d] 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven and things on earth in him.
Recently I was listening to a Christian radio station (something I do not do very much any more) and among the well-produced songs was an older, out-of-date song, “The old account was settled long ago.) I reflected in my journal that I am not sure about the doctrine that the cross was a legal or financial transaction. There is some of that in the Bible: “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors” and “He nailed the written indictment against us to the cross” (Col. 2:14) and references to down payment, for example. But there seems to be in the New Testament about covenantal and relational violation and restoration. It might be our Western proclivity to define things in legal and financial terms rather than communal and connective terms.
We also say, “The cross was for our good and His glory.” I think that might very well be backward. Are we the beneficiaries of the act God did to set the world right and make Jesus King or is God the beneficiary of an act for our salvation or redemption. Are they equal and not codependent? Or they have to go together and yet one is secondary. Hummmm.
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