A Gospel of Two Dimensions So, which is it? Are we to ‘rest,’ or are we to do good works? Are we to let God love us with no reservations, or are we to love God with all our hearts? Are we the pearl of great price, or is He the Pearl of great price? The answer is ….. ‘yes!’ It seems that there are two dimensions to the gospel and failure to understand this reality creates a tension between certain groups who feel that the dimension they emphasize is the only dimension. Most of this can be demonstrated in one short passage. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Eph 2:8-10) Two dimensions: 1. The incredible, unsearchable grace of God, and 2. The purpose of God for those who have received His grace. We could call these the vertical dimension and the horizontal dimension. The vertical dimension describes His grace and love, and our rest in His finished work on our behalf. We have peace with God! But the horizontal dimension is also our reality. We are His body in the earth. We are created unto good works. Talking about the horizontal dimension doesn’t diminish the vertical dimension. The horizontal only has meaning if we have a revelation of the vertical. Our relationship with God will manifest in a purpose driven relationship to the world in which we live. We are pleasing to Him vertically, but we must also please Him horizontally. How we relate to others, how we live, how we give, sacrifice, serve, bless and proclaim His love are just as important as understanding our ‘vertical’ rest in the finished work. This two dimensional dynamic can be found throughout the New Testament. Once we become aware of these two realities, the tension disappears and we are free to ‘rest’ and ‘work’ at the same time. He that abideth in me (rest), and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit (good works): (John 15:5)
Posted on: Mon, 08 Sep 2014 11:00:00 +0000
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