Letter from the Minister.

Rev Phil Summers

Clothed in righteousness divine

“Alive in Him, my living head, and clothed in righteousness divine” These are the words of Charles Wesley, written in a hymn that is familiar to Methodists (and others) across the world. Some of you will know it immediately, to others it will sound familiar, and the first line of the hymn will be on the tip of your tongue but you just can’t bring it to mind. Let me put you out of your misery. It’s ‘And can it be’, the line is from the last verse.

In many ways, And Can It Be is an Easter Hymn. A song that marvels at what God has done for us in Christ. Easter is a celebration of new life. The new life exploding around us in nature’s spring and the new life of Jesus rising from the tomb at first light. We can tell the story and wonder. We can see change all around us and be in awe. Yet this hymn, and indeed, the Easter celebration itself calls us to reflect on the change that God works in us.

We find new life in Christ. As Saint Paul tells us, our faith in Jesus is like putting on a new set of clothes. The old has gone and the new has come. And I love new clothes! What you may not know, is that the cheaper I can get them for, the better. I try not to buy anything that isn’t in a sale or from a charity shop. Call it environmentally aware or just tight fisted – if I can get it cheap, I’m happy.

‘Clothed in righteousness divine’. Wow! God dresses us in garments that put us in a right relationship with God. It’s not our good behaviour, it’s nothing we have done, we have no special quality or skill that makes God smile on us. The righteousness we receive in Jesus is divine. It’s from God. When we allow Jesus into our lives, then the resurrection story becomes ours too. We are put right with God – simply because that’s how God wants it. Our past mistakes are put behind us, we are released from chains that bind us, our old clothing falls away, we are dressed in righteousness, and we are ‘alive in Him, my living head’.

And here’s the best bit. It’s free. God’s love is found in the bargain basement with a sign saying ‘please take – it’s free’. And Charles Wesley was amazed at this; ‘And can it be? That I should gain?’ Well, yes, it can. We all gain. We can all be children of the resurrection. As Jesus said, ‘The Kingdom of heaven is at hand’, we just have to change our thinking and believe it to be so. His resurrection is a call to new living in the understanding that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Not even death.

‘No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in him, is mine!’

A very happy Easter to you all!

With love,

Phil

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