“He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
John 1:11–13
What is the difference between a right and a privilege?
According to legal scholars, a right is something that cannot be legally denied, such as the right to free speech, press, religion, and raising a family. A privilege is something that can be given and taken away and is considered to be a special advantage or opportunity that is available only to certain people.
This explains the difference in secular law between a right and a privilege. I would like to suggest, however, that in the religious realm, a right and a privilege are pretty much the same. We talk of the privilege we have to bow before the throne of grace and carry our petitions to the source of infinite power. While this is indeed a privilege, a special advantage or opportunity that is available only to certain people—and that would be those who believe in a superior power—it is also something that cannot be legally denied. While laws may well be passed that prohibit in a certain degree open prayer, nothing can stop someone from silently praying.
We indeed have a right to pray. While it is also considered a privilege to bow before our Creator, legally we cannot be prevented from praying. The time may well come when we have to pray silently, but as true believers, we know that God hears even our silent prayers.
In nearly every one of Paul’s letters, he exhorts his readers to understand the wonderful privileges they have as followers of Christ. He often expressed these privileges in terms of prayers. This is especially evident in his letter to the Ephesians.
“For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:14–19
Here Paul writes of his desire that the brethren at Ephesus might come to understand the height, the fullness of the Christian’s privilege. He opens before us, in the most comprehensive language, the marvelous power and knowledge that we might possess as sons and daughters of the Most High. It is our privilege “to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man,” to be “rooted and grounded in love,” to “comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge.” But the prayer of the apostle reaches the epitome of privilege when he prays that “you might be filled with all the fullness of God.”
This is the exact same condition that Christ experiences in His relationship to His Father. “For in Him [Christ] dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” Colossians 2:9. Paul prays for that same fullness for us!
Let’s take a deeper look at this prayer. Paul prays that his readers—and indeed all Christians—might comprehend the love of Christ; then he acknowledges that that love passes knowledge.
It is incomprehensible.
It is an interesting contrast in understanding that we can comprehend the love of Christ, although it passes knowledge. The Greek word that is translated passes in this text can also be translated exceeds or excels. Christ’s love for us exceeds knowledge, although we can comprehend it and are aware of it. It is revealed to us in the fragrance of every flower, the song of every bird, the beauty of the sunrise. Indeed, throughout nature God’s love is revealed to us when we sense and perceive that love as He wants us to, as He has given us the privilege to, and indeed, the right to.
In his letter to the Colossians, Paul sets forth the rich blessings granted to the children of God. He says: We “do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.” Colossians 1:9–11
Another prayer; another set of privileges for the Christian. Here, Paul prays that the Colossians, and again, all Christians, may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will. What exactly does that mean? Knowing and doing God’s will is a salvational issue. There is absolutely no hope of my crossing the Jordan if I am not actively engaged in seeking to know His will and following through with action. If it were not important, the Holy Spirit would not have moved upon Paul to compose that prayer.
A walk worthy of the Lord.
Paul also prays that Christians may walk worthy of the Lord and be fruitful in every good work. Whether or not a person is worthy can be a hot topic. It is true that on my own I cannot now nor will I ever “walk worthy of the Lord,” as Paul puts it. However, as we all know, it is the Christian’s privilege to be clothed, by faith, in the righteousness of Christ, and therefore, be found worthy of everlasting life.
Indeed, we are promised in Zechariah 3 that the Angel of the Lord will perform the miracle of miracles by removing those character traits that defile us—our filthy garments—and replacing them with His own righteous nature.
“Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the Angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at His right hand to oppose him.
“And the Lord said to Satan, ‘The Lord rebuke you, Satan! The Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?’
“Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel. Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, ‘Take away the filthy garments from him.’ And to him He said, ‘See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.’
“And I said, ‘Let them put a clean turban on his head.’ So they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.
“Then the Angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “If you will walk in My ways, and if you will keep My command, Then you shall also judge My house, and likewise have charge of My courts; I will give you places to walk among these who stand here.
“ ‘ “Hear, O Joshua, the high priest, you and your companions who sit before you, For they are a wondrous sign; For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the Branch. For behold, the stone that I have laid before Joshua: upon the stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave its inscription,’ ” Says the Lord of hosts, ‘ “And I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. In that day,’ ” says the Lord of hosts, “Everyone will invite his neighbor under his vine and under his fig tree.” ’ ” Zechariah 3:1–10
I don’t fully understand every verse of Zachariah 3; however, the final verse depicts a time of peaceful and tranquil Christian fellowship that the saved will experience after the destruction of the enemy of peace. This experience is a privilege that is open to all.
We can engage in endless discussions about the legal difference between a right and a privilege. But in religious terms, I don’t think it matters that much. Although legally, while a right cannot be denied, I can choose to reject salvation. If I choose to disregard the privileges that I have as a believer in the salvation that Christ has afforded me by His death on the cross, I have no right to reside where the peace and blessings of Jesus reign supreme, and where “everyone will invite his neighbor under his vine and under his fig tree.” If I, by my own choices, am lost, then there is no place for me among the saved, neither here nor there.
It is my hope, indeed my prayer, that all who succeed in overcoming, which it is our privilege to do, will have a fruitful vine and a shady fig tree near their country homes in the earth made new and enjoy wonderful fellowship as we invite others to join us there.
John R. Pearson is the office manager and Steps to Life board member. He can be reached by email at johnpearson@stepstolife.org or by phone at 316-788-5559.