"Something more glorious"
Monday, April 26, 2010 at 9:07AM “For God is not merely mending, not simply restoring a status quo. Redeemed humanity is to be something more glorious than unfallen humanity.” – C.S. Lewis
Here's the key part of that quote: "something more glorious than unfallen humanity." At what point in history did we have unfallen, untarnished humanity? Of course we have to go way back to Adam and Eve. Is it possible that we today, as restored by Jesus work, have a capacity that Adam and Eve did not -- even in their unblemished and shame-less state, prior to their Fall?
So how can you have people that are better than Adam and Eve began as? Well, we can't say that these "more glorious" ones Lewis is talking about would never sin like Adam and Eve; because even in our redeemed state as Christ-followers, we may still sin.
We also can't say that we now have God at our side to help us, for they enjoyed the tangible presence of God as well.
So what's our advantage over our unfallen Parents?
Alongside vs. Inside: While God may have walked alongside Adam and Eve in the Garden, he now moves inside us - on a permanent basis; inextricably bound to our bodies, hearts, minds and souls. He has enmeshed and entangled himself in us, through the restoring work of Jesus for us. We are now flesh of his flesh and he flesh of our flesh, spirit of our spirit, mind of our mind.
"Christ in you, the hope of glory" is not a description of the future alone: it is who you are right now.
What is better about this inside-you, God-bound-to-you, gift we were given?
- Because Jesus cannot die, you cannot die.
- What Jesus knows about living well, you can know as well.
- Jesus' capacity for living well is yours now.
Do you see any other ways in which we in Christ are "more glorious" than unfallen Adam and Eve? (Leave your comments.)
Reader Comments (7)
I think this IS the good news! God in us -- the hope of glory. He's inside us ... part and parcel. Entwined. Intimate. One with us. We are no longer alone. Even when God walked with Adam and Eve ... they could still be "alone" inside their minds and hearts. He resides inside us ... even in the darkest valleys ... He is truly with us and in us. This is good news. This is great news. This news can restore, captivate and transform.
Lynn, I like your indication that Adam and Eve, though they walked with God, could "still be alone inside their minds and hearts."
Hi Jim & Lynn,
Well, my first answer to how we are more glorious than our foreparents was simply, "clothes". :0)
Seriously though...
I believe Christ has always been around. I took a class for fun in my undergrad years and it was about the Bible in the original Hebrew and Greek and even in Genesis, God refrerred to himself in pluraility in Hebrew. I believe Father, Son, Holy Ghost....
I love Lynn's answer how we are no longer lonely in our hearts and minds... Also, I remember how they ate from the "tree of knowledge". I wonder exactly what that meant, but there is so much joy and pleasure in knowledge and the aquisition of knowledge and wisdom---some sadness too! But learning is so thrilling! Particularly Psalms and Proverbs are replete with references to the importance of becomming wise and attaining knowledge.
I have always imagined heaven as a place with huge libraries (minus nasty musty smell) with ways of learning about things I never imagined and universes not reached even by our most advanced sciences. And maybe ways to watch history unfold as though we are really there. I definitely think knowledge has made us more glorious! I'm sure having Christ in us increases our knowledge....I think it would have to. :0) It's maybe like having eternity written on our souls...
Thanks for the question in this one Jim! It is way out there! :0)
Meredith
Hey Meredith,
I've wondered about the reference to knowing good and evil. I think it may have something to do with *experiencing* a reality of good and evil, rather than acquiring facts or information. I don't know exactly in what way, but it's a start.
Hey Jim,
Good point! And I think that Adam and Eve knew a little about evil...the serpent showed up in the Garden. Who invited him???? :0) ha ha ha... They knew there was a force opposite of God telling them something opposite of what God said. I think after dining on the tree of knowledge and we were required to work instead of God directly handing us what we needed....(and this is way out there I know) I wonder if the innovations that came from work was some of the knowledge we came privy to....There's little motivation to work or innovate if everything is being handed to us....lack of personal growth....innovation...
I wonder what kinda stuff was going on in the Garden...This is going to sound weird...but it sounds a little boring. Hanging out, having everyhing handed to them, no clothes...and even the cutest companion can get boring after a while if there's nothing else to do. Maybe they were bored...
I would sooooo be kicked out of church for this post if I still went....:0)
Meredith
I think we really have the perspectiove of hindsight when it comes to Adam and Eve.
Their fall was inevitable, in my opinion. But we see the dynamic at work concerning ego, pride and selfishness in A&E. Wanting something more......more than we need. Is it too simple to just be obedient to God's will? I think it is. But we have the hearts God created for us, and therein lies our hope for salvation. The struggle is what molds us and keeps us free. The paradox is that we do sin again, then struggle some more.....but the victories we win make us strong and good again.
Mike P
Hey Mike ! You're right, our salvation lies in the new hearts God has given. That was an extension of God's grace for us, and in us.
Just curious -- why do you think Adam and Eve's Fall was inevitable? I hadn't heard that before, and am wondering your thoughts on this.