FULLY REDEEMED

Mom and I have lately been listening on the "boob tube" to an old bible teacher, Les Feldick, out of Oklahoma.  Admittedly some points he brings out I disagree with, but, more often than not, his utter simplicity evokes complex thought and discussion between us.  Much like the gospel really.  "The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple."  Ps. 19:7.  

Today's discussion prompted such examinations.  Les pointed to his diagram on the chalkboard (yes, a chalkboard - I told you he was old....82 to be exact and still preaching the word of God!)  He had drawn the familiar three concentric circles:  body, soul, spirit and through them presented the very simple gospel.  I stress simple because we Christians know that its simplicity confounds the wise, yet in truth, the gospel is more complex than any subject we might ever study: the very reason why the 10 commandments become the 200 gazillion do's and dont's of explaining them.  

Likewise complex is the spirit and the soul.  All of us know how very difficult it is to explain the difference between the two.  What are they?  Our emotions?  Our thoughts?  How do you explain a "spirit"?  We can see neither.  God tells us how intertwined the soul and spirit are, how dependent upon each other.  Hebrews 4:12 says "the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."  The Mayo Clinic states that previously it was thought that bone marrow stem cells could only give rise to blood cells, but now they are thinking that bone marrow stem cells may be able to create at least muscle cells.  How intertwined the marrow is to the joint.  Yet God's word is so sharp it can divide the soul from the spirit as easily as it can the joint from the marrow.  

In this, I see a picture of one prompting the next.  The spirit moves me to think or feel something (soul), which moves me to do something (body).  I see it as the spirit directs, the soul processes, the body acts.  Proverbs 3:27 says, "As a man thinks in his heart, so he is,"  (an important variation to René Descartes, "I think, therefore I AM.")  But I would finish it with, "as a man is, so he does."  

I'll make brief here Les Feldicks' points as relates to the gospel as I understand them.  

Every aspect of our being was involved in the curse.  

The spirit.  Now we are confused.  We know both good and evil and both direct our thought processes.  The soul.  What we think and feel are now affected by what we give place to.  

The body.  What we act out is now directed by the former two. 

Romans 3:23  For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (spirit, soul, body)

Romans 6:23  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord

Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:  for there is no difference

Ephesians 4:22 Ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind.

Romans 6:7  For he that is dead is freed from sin.  

Romans 6:8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him.

John 12:24 Verily, verily I say unto you, Except a kernel of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

Romans 8:10  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness

If you do a careful reading of the verses above, you'll see that redemption comes full circle.  The spirit that gave Eve direction, caused her to contemplate, and resulted in her wrongful action is totally reversed in the work of Christ where he redeems our Spirit, renews our mind and resurrects our flesh.  Right now we consider ourselves dead to the flesh, but death in total is the last enemy to be conquered.  Since we as Christians have already died so to speak, we can in confidence, say "oh death, where is your sting!"  for we know to live is Christ, but to die is gain.  That's why we can say we are FULLY REDEEMED!  

In light of all this (and I hope that you've followed my convoluted thinking!), it caused me to consider how powerful all the symbols of the Bible are:  marriage, a symbol of Christ and the Church; truth, a shield and buckler; good Shepherd, Jesus; the Ark of the Covenant, Jesus' death, burial and resurrection; communion, Christ's death; baptism, our entrance into the gospel covenant, and on and on.  

I reread the scripture about the kernel of wheat falling to the ground and unless it dies....  and it bothered me.  I know that it is speaking of the spiritual, yet I couldn't help but think that it also was symbolic of hope, and I suddenly thought perhaps cremation is not acceptable to me as a Christian.  I know, I know.  My kids all say, "yes, but doesn't it say, 'dust thou art, and to dust thou shalt return.'?"  It does.  Yet, as Les Feldick said [paraphrased], "you can leave a seed on a shelf or keep it in a bag, but unless you bury it in the soil, it will not bring forth fruit!"  As I mulled over this, I thought, "yes! and that burial represents my hope that my body shall be resurrected in Christ at some future time." To not bury it, is to state to those mourning my departure that I don't have that hope.  

It's easy in this death-denying world to "outsource" our deaths, but, honestly, being with my father at his death was one of the most beautiful scenes I've ever witnessed.  Without considering it the least bit morbid, I easily could have wrapped his body in linen and anointed him with oil and precious herbs for burial just as easily as it would be as a mother to clean and anoint my newly born child for life.  His burial was so important...and respectful...for the children to see: a visible connection to the cycle of birth and death.  Something so few children see today, even in a garden or lack thereof!  Clearly it makes one examine their own life and mortality.  Contrary to somber, my father's death was a celebration - a time to talk of the hope of resurrection, the hope of being reunited, the hope of Christ's victory over death and our being FULLY REDEEMED.

What do you think?

1 Thessalonians 5:23, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."