organic union

A while back Megan received a doctor’s bill for some treatment having to do with Ashley’s birth. As I recall, it was for some tests that were done that our insurance company required further documentation in order to pay for. The doctor’s office was supposed to have sent the information. Anyhow… there was this bill that was due some time after Ashley was born. In other words, it had been many months since the treatment, and the first bill, and the talking with the insurance and all that. So when I called the doctor’s office, and began discussing the issue with them, they were not very cooperative. Eventually, the lady I was talking to laughed at me and told me I was not responsible for the bill anyhow, since Megan’s name is on the account, and not mine. I informed her that I was responsible for the bill, since Megan is my wife, and I am responsible for her. Long story short, they finally sent something to my insurance company, and the insurance company agreed that the test was reasonable, and paid the bill. Happy ending for us.

But yesterday’s quotes from Hoekema, and Jason’s comments about those quotes, reminded me of this incident and the close analogy it is to what Christ has done for us.

Can you imagine how strange the relationship would be if Megan got the bill, and then we made a transaction in our separate bank accounts… she gave me her bill, and I gave her the money for that bill, and that was the end of it? That is such a sterile, external, mechanical type of relationship. Instead, what happens is that I am responsible for all of Megan’s needs and burdens. Because she is my wife, everything that is hers is mine, and all that is mine is hers. There is no individual, one-to-one transactions between us. The bill comes in her name, but immediately without a second thought I take responsibility for the bill, and take care of it. It is a living, organic relationship. We are united.. we are one.

That is what Christ has done, and is doing for us. We are in Him, and He therefore take responsibility for all our needs and our debts.