Suffering for Righteousness
Ligonier Ministries Daily Devotionals 12/7/2018
Martin
Luther’s teaching of “justification by faith alone” was a battle cry for the
sufficiency of the merit of Christ and for the graciousness of redemption. His
slogan sola fide (“by faith alone”) was merely an extension of Augustine’s
earlier credo, sola gratia (“by grace alone”).
What
is lacking in the afflictions of Christ is not merit. No one can possibly
subtract from or add to the merit of Christ. His merit is capable of neither
diminution or augmentation. Our best works are always tainted by our
sinfulness. We are debtors who cannot pay our debts, let alone accrue a surplus
of excess merit. To interpret Colossians 1:24 in the way I mentioned in the
previous reading is to cast a grotesque shadow over the utter perfection and
fullness of Christ’s meritorious suffering.
What
then does Paul mean by filling up what is lacking? If the lack is not merit,
what is it? Paul repeatedly stresses the idea that the church, the body of
Christ, is called to a willing participation in the humiliation and suffering
of Jesus. For Paul, as with any Christian, it was a singular honor to be
persecuted for righteousness’ sake. But it is one thing to suffer for
righteousness’ sake; it is quite another to suffer for merit’s sake.
Coram Deo
If
you are suffering, reflect on these questions: Is it because of your own bad
decisions? Is it because of your circumstances? Are you suffering for
righteousness’ sake or is your suffering self-inflicted?
Passages
for Further Study
1
Peter 4:13
Philippians
3:10
