It's all in the mind

Apparently, at least according to Descartes, 'I think, therefore I am'. But what do I think? And what does that say about me?

A couple of weeks ago we started looking at part of Paul's letter to the church in Rome. And one of the things that Paul is wanting to do in this letter is to give the Christians in Rome the framework that will allow them to think like Christians. Because the way that we think affects the way that we behave. So if we think like Christians then we'll act like Christians.

In Romans 5:1 (which is building on chapters 1-4) Paul is reminding these first century Chrisitans of something that happened in the past. He is reminding them that because Jesus died on the cross they have been justified*. So when God looks at them he doesn't see all the rubbish and the things they've done wrong. Instead, because of Jesus, it is just as if they'd never done anything wrong. So they no longer need to fear the punishment for the things they've done wrong. There is no longer anything to damage their relationship with God. They can experience 'peace with God' in the present, and they have an incredible hope for the future.

So when we're anxious or worried - what would Paul say to us?

Think back to the cross and the fact that this event in history means you can know peace with God.

[* Justified. In terms of our relationship with God, being justified means that when God looks at me he doesn't see my sin, instead, because of Jesus it is just as if I'd never sinned.]