God the Peacemaker 7
Chapter Seven: The ‘peace dividend’
What a great title for chapter seven in God the Peacemaker. The sacrifice of Jesus Christ brings shalom – at three levels: personal, corporate and cosmic.
And our author, Graham Cole, notes that this peace is objective – think in terms of ‘peace with’ or ‘peace between.’
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Personal
The personal benefits that flow from the atonement include union with Christ, forgiveness of sins, cleansing from sin, justification, redemption, adoption and reconciliation. Here are some points that caught my eye in Graham’s excellent treatment:
- Union with Christ: foundational and secured by the Holy Spirit. ”…the same Spirit who animated Christ’s humanity animates that of the believer’s own. Thus the gap between the one and the many is bridged , and that that between past and present.” The challenge for everyone is: ‘are we in Christ or in Adam?’
- Forgiveness: absolutely key in salvation. The reality of sin means that unless sin is dealt with, the individual faces the prospect of divine judgment. Especially emphasised in Luke/Acts. Forgiveness shows itself in doing good to the other (eg. Gen 50:21). This ‘blessing’ aspect of forgiveness is emphasised in the forgiveness seminar, part of the extremely practical Grant Mullen training DVDs, Transformation, featured in our monthly Free-in-Christ at Deep Creek.
- Justification: Cole does not agree with the NT Wright/New Perspective equation of justification=covenant membership. Why? Because of the themes of wrath and condemnation in Romans. However, our author comments, “I am more comfortable in seeing covenant membership as a benefit of justification.” Cole also expresses concern with NT Wright’s position on final justification on the basis of an entire life. According to Cole, this negatively impacts personal assurance of salvation. So is Cole slamming Wright? Not at all. He expresses appreciation for “Wright’s many fine contributions to New Testament scholarship.” And this is so wonderfully characteristic of Graham Cole’s irenic tone in interacting with others. It is seen throughout God the Peacemaker; I witnessed it again over the weekend during Graham’s keynote address and a seminar on the ‘Trinity without tiers’ at the just concluded Christians for Biblical Equality (CBE) International Conference 2010.
- Adoption: the ‘crowning blessing’ secured by Christ’s redemption. Cole dismisses ‘second blessing theology’: there is no separation between adoption and the gift of the Spirit.
- Reconciliation: a cause for celebration! Genesis 3 to Revelation 22 is the unfolding “story of estrangement and reconciliation.”
Corporate
God is building a new humanity – reconciled with Him; reconciled with one another (Eph 2:19-22). Cole comments powerfully:
“Christians who maintain walls of hostility between themselves and others at the interpersonal level need to revisit the cross, the Pauline practice and the words of Jesus himself ‘Blessed are the peacemakers (Matt 5:9).”
Cosmic
“The scope of the reconciliaiton and peacemaking effected by Christ is breathtaking” (see Col 1:15-20). How are the ‘powers and authorities’ (Col 2:15) disarmed? Through the forgiveness of sins on the basis of the cross (Col 2:13). In one sentence, our author summarises much deep theology: “Christus Victor needs the explanatory power of substitutionary atonement.” Absolutely!
Read chapter seven of God the Peacemaker slowly, with your Bible open and let the wonder of what Jesus has done, what He is doing, and will bring to completion, fill your heart with great joy, impacting the way we live now.