Outside of Us

 What does it mean to be 'in' the world but not 'of' it?

Let's ask that in another way - what does Christianity bring to today that is entirely distinct and unique to what the everyday defines as 'life'?

Well, there are those who would want to rush in and say something dull like 'religion' (in an entirely negative sense), but a quick referring to the dictionary would show that the practice of such a behaviour is far more comprehensive amongst even atheists than most would care to admit, and if you follow that with a visit to Tom Holland's work, Dominion, you soon realise that Christianity has actually given the everyday world we all enjoy a great deal more than prayers and chapels, so, no, that's clearly not it.

Those who take a more 'religious' position amongst us than the secularist might then step forward and seek to speak of virtues like morality or piety as being the stamp we should parade, but again, any student worth the name would quickly reply to state how many different beliefs (and none at all in respect to a divine perspective) can and do produce people of moral virtue that have given all manner of aid to others through their lives, so again, that isn't it.

The point is that when we seek to look at the faith through these kind of 'spectacles', we will always miss its true place and purpose amongst us, because  there's a plethora of other things which can provide what we think we need, but there's only a singular remedy to what we truly require.

Here's what Paul states is the defining nature of the Christian faith:

"But now the righteousness of God has been extended towards us, distinct from a religion of law (although God's law and teacher's bear witness towards it) - God's righteousness evidenced through faith in Jesus Christ, bringing a justification because of this pure grace as a gift (to us), because our redemption is entirely in Jesus Christ" (Romans 3:21,22).

If we go on to unpack what Paul himself says this means in the rest of the book of Romans, then we see that Christianity is all about something entirely foreign and alien to us (Unmerited mercy and right-ness before God) coming to us as a unmerited gift (because we are ungodly) and entirely rescuing us, because Jesus Christ has come and exchanged His nature for ours, that we might be once again seen as God's children.

That's essentially it, and the "deeds" which have caused this to explode into our world are not ours, but Gods - we now live in the 'shadow' (forbearance) of such a wonder as those being made ready for a new creation.

We sell God short when we try and shape this truth into something else (like those I referred to above) - it isn't about us in respect to how 'we' want to make things - it is all about Him who has done all that counts to make the world as it needs to be to see 'a great number' become children of His astonishing goodness and care, forever.

That's why we can actually live well (beyond the merely 'here and now') in the day to day - there really is a brighter day ahead, and that amazing grace already shines in our world when we understand that the truth truly is uniquely in Jesus.