Luke 9:23, John 11:25-26 - Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
I listened to a Resurrection Sunday sermon last night. While this is not a recap of the message, I was taken by a thought that was clearly evident within that sermon.
A crucified life becomes a resurrected life, or death becomes life. It’s a hard word. Look at this picture Jesus gave us: Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:24-25)
When we receive Christ we are called to die to ourselves and live in Christ. If we have received Christ and are born again, it is by His Spirit coming into us. This Spirit of God will then direct our new paths, open blind eyes, bring understanding where there was once foolishness. This is how we know He lives in us. And it’s all God’s doing. We do nothing but respond to something that urges us to commit our lives to Him.
This death to life can only occur now—while we are still alive. If we die before this we may have lost our chance at eternal life. Eternal life does not come upon our death, unless we have committed ourselves to Christ. Dying to self means we now can be ...hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—” (2Corinthians 4:8-9)
But God...paid the price, so we wouldn’t have to. He defeated death so we wouldn’t have to (spiritually) face it. He died that we might live; He died that despite the difficulties in this world, we can have the assurance that eternally we will now live and that the troubles of life are only temporary and nothing to the one who has the hope that Jesus brings.
We cannot rely on our good works or our church or religion. We have to rely only on Jesus, who paid the price and said on the cross, It is finished. We are called by God to seriously come to Him and receive His gift of eternal life. This is done by admitting we are sinners (and the Bible says we all are apart from God) and realizing His death alone paid the price that we would be reconciled to God. His life, death and resurrection alone.
Jesus holds the keys to life and death. No one else does; we cannot. We don’t have the final say in our life, God does. - Pastor J.D. Farag That works both ways—without Christ we experience eternal damnation. With Christ we experience eternal life. But it’s not just knowing the Lord in our minds; He must be in our hearts as mentioned above. We must totally trust Him. Our only hope is not in a job, money, things, self, it is only in Christ.
Life in the world is led by satan. Life in the Spirit is led by Christ. You are in one place or the other. No in between. Hard word. You don’t get to be led by Christ by your own will or resolve. You enter by submission to Christ.
This is why the name of Jesus causes trepidation, and might I say, offense. When saying or hearing His name is difficult, that is trepidation. We have the chance to choose today life or death and God s willing to receive anyone willing to do this...today, now. God doesn’t send us to hell; we send ourselves by our own choice, by not believing or having faith or trusting in Jesus. Again, not by our own will to be a “good” person, but by Jesus’ death and victory over sin and death.
All this is the Gospel of Jesus Christ—it’s good news. Christ has a free gift for each of us, this eternal life in Christ. But we must reach out to receive it. If you reject it, it’s your choice. If you receive it, your best life can begin. Some day God will ask you whether you have received it or rejected it...though He will already have known. The answer given determines where we will spend eternity.
Christ died and rose again that we might die to self and be resurrected with Him on the last day. Will you be counted in that number?
1Corinthians 15:57 - ...thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
