"That [which] He did in our manhood, beginning at the sweet Incarnation and lasting to the Blessed Uprise on Easter-morrow: so long dured [endured, lasted] the cost and the charge about our redemption in deed: of [the] which deed He enjoyeth endlessly, as it is aforesaid."
Julian of Norwich (Ch. 23)
Christ joined HImseld with our humanity, clothing Himself in a robe of human flesh. Thus united with deity, we were involved and were included in everything Christ did for our redemption. In order to redeem or free us from a way of life trapped in sin and confusion and death, He paid the ultimate price, giving up His own life for us. He went down to the grave and defeated sin, death and confusion by rising up from death into resurrection life, life that can never be tainted with sin, misaligned through confusion, or defeated by death. This life is indestructible and perfect, and since Christ united with our humanity, and humanity was included in all He did, we too have died to the old way of living that ended in death, and we too have risen to new life that can never die! It's a life in union with God, a life lived 'from' heaven and not trying 'to' get to heaven. It's a life that is effortless because it is really Christ living through and in us. It's a life free from condemnation and bondage and corruption. All this cost of our redemption was done by Christ from the incarnation, through the cross, to the resurrection. It is now finished. There is nothing more to 'pay' or 'work' for. We do not have to try by our own effort to reach up to God; Christ by His perfect effort already brought us to God. The work of redemption is complete; we are free!
"For we must never forget that He rescued us from the power of darkness, and re-established us in the kingdom of His beloved Son, that is, in the kingdom of light. For it is by His Son alone that we have been redeemed and have had our sins forgiven."
Colossians 1:13-14 (PHILLIPS)
A Prayer: Thank You for bringing us out of darkness and into Your light, out of death and into Your life!