But now he has reconciled you [to God] by Christ’s physical body through death …
Summary: The means of reconciliation is not an intellectual exercise. Rather, it is an act of love so profound that it blinds us to anything else.
Have you ever found yourself amid a theological struggle? Theology, defined as the study of God (from ‘theos,’ meaning God, and ‘logos,’ meaning word), is meant to deepen our understanding of the divine. However, it can shift our focus to abstract ideas about God rather than fostering a genuine relationship with Him. This can lead to confusion and frustration, as we grapple with complex doctrines instead of seeking to truly know God.
When we try to describe God with words, we are up against an impossible task. In the first place, no one has ever seen God except for Jesus (John 1:18, 6:46). In the second place, God is way smarter than we are (Isaiah 55:9). Asking anyone except Jesus to explain God is a bit like asking a four-year-old to explain calculus. The answer might be entertaining, but you won’t walk away with any useful information.
And so we come to Paul’s letter and his statement about Christ’s physical body and why he had to die. Is this theology?
Technically, no.
Simply put, Paul is a messenger. He is sharing information given to him directly by Jesus. Because Jesus has already ascended into heaven, he has to communicate with Paul differently than he did to his disciples when he was on earth. He gets his message to Paul through “revelation” (Galatians 1:11-12).
Before Paul became an Apostle of Jesus Christ, he was a student of Gamaliel. He was in training as a Pharisee, meaning he was a member of a Jewish sect that held itself to the strictest standards of the Mosaic law. Before meeting Jesus personally, Paul could only study about God. I think it is fair to say that his studies qualified as theology. The Jews of Jesus’ day had lots of ideas about God, but they were so obsessed with their studies that they didn’t recognize God when he came in the flesh.
When Paul met Jesus, his “theology” was shattered. Meeting the Son of God left him stunned. He was instantly transformed from an enemy of Jesus to a devoted apostle.
What changed?
Did Jesus sit down with Paul and reason with him, trying to convince him to accept the facts?
No.
Paul was confronted by the living Lord (Acts 9:1-6). We don’t know what happened at that moment, but he was definitely touched by God. We also know his heart was changed. And isn’t that what we are all hoping for, that God will touch our hearts?
Application: Lean into Jesus with your heart.
Food for Thought: How does being reconciled to God affect our hearts?
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