The obedience of faith

In all of Scripture, there’s a tension between God’s mercy and our responsibility. That easy enough to say in theological language, but it can be confusing to live this out.

After all, Jesus saves us from our sins–he did it all on the cross. But our obedience stills matters. When do we focus on what he did, and at what point is the burden on us?

In opening chapter of Isaiah at Mass this week, we read that God will wash our sins away, but that we must obey or be doomed. How do we reconcile the two?  In today’s reading, Jeremiah says that he will judge each “according to the fruit of his doings.”

The problem is, most of us tend to emphasize one extreme or the other: license–the burden is on God, or legalism–the burden is on us. But God is true to his entire word.

Here’s an illustration that helps explain the covenant and keep our perspective balanced.

The commander as protector

Imagine a commander agrees to protect another army, but he has a condition. He simply requires that they meet him at the clearing in the middle of the wilderness.  He gives very clear direction for how to get there, and if they go now, they’ll be free from harm. This is the old covenant and God’s law..

The Problem

But then the army gets distracted along the way, and don’t go to the clearing.  Instead, they get lost and surrounded by the enemy.  They didn’t keep the covenant!

New New Covenant and the Cross

What what does God do?  He goes to rescue them. God satisfies both the requirements and the consequences of the covenant on behalf of his people. This represents the new covenant and the cross.

At this point, it’s more clear than ever that Jesus is the Savior, and it’s not about what we do.  Yet we are still called to follow him to safety.  (Back to that clearing in the wilderness.)  After such a display of love, how could anyone not follow him?  And what’s more, he gives us his footsteps to follow and clears the way–which is his grace. The conditions of the new covenant are simply to follow in the path that he’s made.

Salvation and obedience after the cross

At this point, Jesus has saved us–he has not only shown us the way but become the way.  So while Jesus has rescued us, our obedience is simply to choose his path of love–which is to receive his salvation.

However, you can still refuse.  You can respond with willful unbelief, and refuse to depend on him, and then once again you’ll be lost.

But return, at any time–just call out to him like the thief on the cross–and he will lead you home.