The Old Testament advocated the principle of “an eye for an eye” as a punitive measure intended to eliminate wrongdoing. These teachings aimed to deal decisively with lawbreakers among God’s people. Upon His arrival, Jesus clarified that His purpose was not to abolish the law and the prophets but to fulfil them. He emphasized this by stating that unless His followers were more righteous than the Pharisees, they would not enter the Kingdom of God, implying a stricter adherence to the law. A follower of Jesus is an aspirant to entering God’s Kingdom.
“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool’ will be in danger of the fire of hell” (Matthew 5:21-22)
You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right-hand causes you to sin, cut it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown to hell” (Matthew 5:27-30 NIV).
No records exist of anyone having strictly adhered to the guidelines proposed by Jesus. Nonetheless, Jesus aimed to guide His disciples towards harmony with their Creator. Following Adam’s transgression in the Garden of Eden, humanity was doomed to perish. This death sentence has to be self-imposed, by anyone intending to be a Christian, before judging others. As descendants of Adam, all humans are on death row. Yet, Jesus’ mindset assumes the responsibility for humanity’s sins instead of condemning them, according to John 3:16-17. Only hypocrites would absolve themselves while blaming others, implying that such hypocrites deserve to be adjudged harsher than those they condemn.
A common failure to understand is that humanity is currently under spiritual captivity. Contrary to the widespread belief that Jesus’ death paid the price of human sins, He actually came to demonstrate the path towards salvation. This path involves self-condemnation before judging others. Jesus exemplified this by sacrificing Himself on the cross. To confront the spirit, one must act contrary to what gives comfort to the physical body. Jesus instructed His disciples to love their adversaries. A person begins to view honourable conditions to be those adjudged as degrading just as the cross itself is degrading.
“For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous. Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this, we know love because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 John 3:12-16 NKJV).
The inability to love another person often stems from provocation or a refusal to forgive. Yet, those who do not forgive remain in a state of sinful bondage. They believe they are safer holding onto resentment, but this is a misconception. Instead of safety, they are trapped, unable to receive God’s grace, which is promised to His children. Not forgiving, even in the face of heinous crimes, does not liberate the victim from spiritual bondage. Those who inflict harm on others are unhappy, and so are those who cannot forgive.
Christianity is described as a path of self-sacrifice, led by Jesus. He exemplified this through His greater love for the condemned than for Himself, showing that this selflessness is the true path to God’s grace. This contrasts with the pursuit of sinful pleasures under the assumption of salvation by grace, due to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Those who fail to comprehend this grace are missing the essence of Christianity. Considering Jesus died for humanity without sin, it poses a profound question for the rest of us, born into Adam’s curse. Jesus serves as an exemplar, whose teachings should guide us before we claim His Lordship. Only by following His example can the wayward paths of Christianity be corrected.
One cannot truly practice love without making sacrifices for those living in sin. It begins with the understanding that love cannot be genuine if there is no empathy for the sinful. Florence Nightingale’s name echoes through history due to her role in the Crimean War. Historically, she is noted for her focus not on the political errors that caused the war, but on her dedication to aiding the wounded to reclaim their lives and offering them solace. While she might have been a devout Christian, records of her religious background are scarce.
The story of the Good Samaritan, as told in the parable (Luke 10:25-37), serves as a compelling illustration. This parable was shared in response to a lawyer’s inquiry about the conditions of God’s Kingdom, leading to a discussion on neighbourly conduct. The intention was not to depict Samaritans as superior to Pharisees, but rather to demonstrate, through Jesus’ teaching, the importance of showing genuine love towards one’s neighbour from God’s perspective.
The Jews and Samaritans harboured deep-seated animosity, with the Jews possibly holding greater contempt for the Samaritans than vice versa. The parable emphasized the importance of loving one’s neighbour. Commonly, people today interpret ‘neighbourhood’ as those sharing physical space with us. While this is true physically, it is not the case spiritually. For example, spiritually, the concept of race is considered irrelevant, and all humans are viewed as neighbours.
The parable’s narrative deliberately casts religious figures, such as the Levite and the priest, in a negative light. It portrays the Good Samaritan as meeting the Law’s demands, despite not being as devout as the Jews were perceived. Nevertheless, the lawyer recognized the actions of the Good Samaritan as embodying the principle of being a good neighbour. Jesus promptly advised the lawyer to emulate such behaviour if he wished to be part of God’s Kingdom.
This behaviour does not suggest that it meets the requirements for becoming one of Jesus’ disciples. If the lawyer were to conduct his life in such a way, he would be considered righteous. This refers to those who have provided Jesus with necessities and are deemed worthy of entering God’s Kingdom (Matthew 25:32-40). The frequent mistake is to equate precisely defined righteousness with being a follower of Jesus. This understanding is adequate on a human level but does not reach the standard of true Christianity.
To be one of His disciples, Jesus highlighted the need for the willingness to sacrifice one’s life as a means of preserving it (Matthew 10:39). Demonstrating this principle, Jesus led by example, consenting to crucifixion. It is crucial to understand that as humans, we were all destined to perish. The gift of life is extended to us upon our readiness to forsake our present physical states.
“When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:20-23 NIV).
Paul speaks about the attempts one might make to adhere to the law as best as they can, only to find such efforts in vain. The futility of clinging to the law is apparent as it leads to death; the more one tries to observe the law, the more one transgresses it. This results in the same mortal condition shared by all. In contrast, consider the Levite and the Priest who neglected to help a stranger in need. They considered themselves devoutly religious, focused on serving God, and anticipated rewards for their commitment. Yet, through the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus revealed that despite their pious fervour, they were actually at a loss. Paul offered solace to his audience with the promise of life through Jesus.
Dedicating one’s life to Jesus, who teaches the renunciation of all to follow Him, might appear to conflict with the notion of a gift. Yet, it is held that in forfeiting physical life, one secures eternal life; hence, entrusting one’s temporal life to divine care. This eternal life is the ultimate gift offered, notwithstanding the possible sacrifice of mortal life, as demonstrated by Paul. For Christians, valuing the continuation of physical life should be considered the lowest rational concern.
One cannot simultaneously value physical life and claim to be a “Christian.” Being righteous does not necessarily make one a Christian. A Christian is someone who has surrendered everything for the sake of Christ. Self-condemnation is not compatible with the protection of one’s physical body. For a Christian, acts of righteousness are manifestations of Jesus’ righteousness. Peter referred to this as being judged in the present, ahead of the judgment that awaits the rest of humanity.
“However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do well” (1 Peter 4:16-19 NIV).
The essence of being under grace is dedicating oneself to Christ’s service. One cannot claim to be a Christian while pursuing worldly interests, as following Christ requires complete sacrifice. In essence, leading a life akin to those who are worldly is incompatible with being a Christian. This principle is crucial, though it may not be accepted by everyone, but rather by the select few to whom God’s message is directed. Paul articulated the tenets of Christianity with greater emphasis.
“So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness” (Romans 8:8-10 NKJV).
The person described as ‘dead’ recognizes the sinfulness of the physical body and has ceased to glorify it. If this concept is not deemed challenging by the average person, then there is likely a gap in understanding that needs further clarification. The matter of grace is not about finding solace in the physical body; rather, it is about renouncing the physical body, no longer valuing it, so that Christ may prevail.
When grace is portrayed in such a manner, it frequently provokes disdain and resistance from different quarters. Many hold the belief that grace signifies physical freedom, presuming that Christ’s sacrifice was redemption for physical suffering. Yet, this view neglects the fact that placing supreme value on one’s physical existence does not distinguish one from the rest of humanity. Grace surpasses the physical domain, providing a route to spiritual enlightenment. It aligns us with God, in whose image we were created.
To truly love others is to be prepared to bear the cost of their wrongdoings. The path to salvation is akin to a labyrinth, intentionally indirect, to preserve the essence of grace. By limiting the route to truth, God seeks to safeguard the multitude until the predetermined moment. Those who identify as Christians must deeply reflect and fully assess the implications before reaffirming their commitment, as illustrated in Luke 14:25-36.
The world is not a place for Christians to indulge in earthly pleasures. It calls upon Christians to forsake all such delights in favour of spreading the teachings of Jesus. Individuals who pretend to have faith should not be labelled as “Christians,” as it diminishes the respect for Christ. It is time to speak the truth plainly, instead of perpetuating deceptions. May the grace of our Lord reach those ready to dedicate themselves to the Christian faith.
Andrew Masuku is the author of Dimensions of a New Civilization, laying down standards for uplifting Zimbabwe from the current state of economic depression into a model for other nations worldwide. A decaying tree provides an opportunity for a blossoming sprout. Written from a Christian perspective, the book is a product of inspiration, bringing relief to those having witnessed the strings of unworkable solutions––leading to the current economic and social decay. Most Zimbabweans should find the book as a long-awaited providential oasis of hope, in a simple conversational tone.
The Print copy is now available at Amazon.com for $13.99
Also available as an e-copy at Lulu.com for $6.99