God's not dead, but we should be
The title has a two-part meaning and I think both are equally important in our relationship with Christ.
1.) Christ died for our sins. Here is a man, who obeys the covenant of God, lives righteous, dies blameless, for us. Those were our nails, on our cross.
2.) Christ lives through His resurrection, we should in turn die to ourselves. We are called to be reborn. How can we be reborn?
Nicodemus asked this to Jesus in John 3. "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus responded, "“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
You see, when Jesus died and resurrected He promised to send us a special gift. I'm talking about the greatest gift you could ever imagine. Think of every Christmas preset you've ever received and/or wanted and multiply it by infinity. He sent the source of is power, what allowed him to live a sinless life and speak directly into heaven.
John 14:26
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."
Well, it only makes sense that if we are going to strive to be like Christ, that we have the tools he used. Now, how are we supposed to die to ourselves? The Holy Spirit is crucial in this. Through communion of the Holy Spirit we are able to grow closer to Christ day by day, and by doing so we begin to strip away the sin nature we have become accustomed to.
Romans 8:13
"For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."
The title has a two-part meaning and I think both are equally important in our relationship with Christ.
1.) Christ died for our sins. Here is a man, who obeys the covenant of God, lives righteous, dies blameless, for us. Those were our nails, on our cross.
2.) Christ lives through His resurrection, we should in turn die to ourselves. We are called to be reborn. How can we be reborn?
Nicodemus asked this to Jesus in John 3. "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus responded, "“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God."
You see, when Jesus died and resurrected He promised to send us a special gift. I'm talking about the greatest gift you could ever imagine. Think of every Christmas preset you've ever received and/or wanted and multiply it by infinity. He sent the source of is power, what allowed him to live a sinless life and speak directly into heaven.
John 14:26
"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you."
Well, it only makes sense that if we are going to strive to be like Christ, that we have the tools he used. Now, how are we supposed to die to ourselves? The Holy Spirit is crucial in this. Through communion of the Holy Spirit we are able to grow closer to Christ day by day, and by doing so we begin to strip away the sin nature we have become accustomed to.
Romans 8:13
"For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."
So we the live we now live we live by the Spirit of God. It sets us apart. The reconciliation through Jesus has given us the ability to not only come before God, but to also walk with God again! We have become an entirely new creature when we accept Christ as our savior and the Holy Spirit in our lives.
2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
Today, I want you to do two things, and I'm going to do them as well. One, remember what Christ did for us. Not only did he take on our sin to reconcile us, but He might us righteous in the sight of God through His sacrifice. (2Cor5:21). Then, besides just saving us, He went above and beyond to equip you to overcome every obstacle in your life. Secondly, die to yourself! Use the Spirit of God to cleanse yourself. If you don't know what needs work in your life, just ask! Everyday we're constantly striving to get closer to God!
Remember, NO ONE stays unchanged in the presence of a Holy God!!!
Blessings,
Deuce
10/28/2013
Remember, NO ONE stays unchanged in the presence of a Holy God!!!
Blessings,
Deuce
10/28/2013