Are we "Cristocentric"?

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
(1 Corinthians 1:26-31)

This might seem like the "same ole thing" that I have been writing about lately, but it has been such a comfort and (honestly a really weird thought) that Christian Salvation is being united to a person...a person! The root word of salvation is save. If we need saving I would think that it would be from "something" to "something".

Obviously, the Scriptures do make it clear to us that if we are not born again then we are in darkness (a place). It makes clear that we are "in sin" (sin is something or many somethings).

When we are saved by Christ we are transferred from that darkness to light (another place): But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9).

When saved we are no longer a slave to sin (Romans 6:6), which again is something. We are then made a slave to righteousness (Romans 6:19)...which is "something" else.

Revelation 21:4 says, He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. This argues that we will finally be free from death! reasons for mourning! and occasions for tears and pain!!!

Don't these things argue that Christianity is about obtaining peace and serenity?...cause we'll get that!!! Isn't it about getting abundant life??...which Jesus Himself promises us in John 10:10 (The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly)?!

The benefits of being saved by Christ ARE given to us. We will experience them in many degrees here on earth and fully in Heaven. We will have peace, security, comfort and eternal life, but Jesus didn't save us to experience His benefits. We will experience the benefits because we have been saved to know the benefactor.

Jesus Christ saved us in order for us to know Himself!

We were saved from something (and not to belittle the fact we were saved from the possession of Satan as well, who Jesus calls the father of unbelievers in John 8), but ultimately we were saved TO someOne.

In so many ways we are guilty of making the Gospel about getting things. Dr. Lane Tipton, of Westminster Seminary says, "In the contemporary setting today, as it was in Calvin's day, there is a tendency to emphasis the forensic dimension of the Gospel as being perhaps the entire Gospel...such that Justification begins to eclipse the very person of Christ Himself."

He then goes on to say..."Calvin would have none of that. You first possess Christ and then in Christ, you are justified. Likewise, if you want to be holy, you must first possess Christ, and in Him you are sanctified. The priority for Calvin was Christ, and that breeds, I think, a very healthy "Cristocentrism"...a very healthy "Christ-Centeredness" in our understanding of the Christian life. Believers are united to a PERSON."

Our priority should be the PERSON of CHRIST...not His benefits.

The Christian Life and Heaven are about Him. Does this reality bring you comfort and joy? Does the idea of Cristocentrism bring you peace and security? If it is not good news to us, then as Christians, we will be gravely dissapointed in this life and in the next!!! If we are Christians and we look to find comfort, joy, peace, love and security outside of Christ in this life He will knock those things out from under us. He doesn't do this because He is mean. Neither does He do this because those things to which we would look are bad...often they are the very best things. He does so ONLY because He is good and because He LOVES YOU AND ME. Nothing outside Himself will ultimately satisfy and He is a jealous God. Would we want our spouse running around with someone else...even if we are married to them?

No.

If this reality is not good news to us, then Heaven will be the very worst Hell we could imagine because it will be a place that is all about Him. Samuel Rutherford said, "Sure I am that He is the best half of Heaven; yea He is ALL Heaven, and MORE THAN ALL HEAVEN."

Life is about Christ and we experience and have all other things from His person.

Christ, in your mercy make us Cristocentric!! (1 Corinthians 1:26-31).