Crucified Life, Resurrected Life

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.

Not Quite There

Galatians 2:20a - I have been crucified with Christ...

Boy,oh, boy. Oswald Chambers hit a sore spot in his March 8 devotion from My Utmost for His Highest.

It spoke about relinquishing all. When we receive Christ I've mentioned before there are sacrifices we must make. No doubt there's a reason why I'm prompted to continue to be directed to this. Perhaps there's something I still need to learn--about sacrifice.

More of verse 20 states that it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. Now those are not my words but God's. Before you think me boastful let me say it is another difficult concept to believe that because I have accepted, received and profess to follow Christ that He now lives in me. But He does. Does it show in me? I can't answer that.

It goes on to say in verse 21 that the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Yes, He loved me. He wooed me and called me. I remember that day very well. If you have no recollection of a time like this it might be you have not fully received Him. I live by faith in this new life in Christ. I would love for someone to ask me about Jesus. I would be open to telling all I know.

Chambers says "No one is ever united with Jesus Christ until he is willing to relinquish not sin only, but his whole way of looking at things." I know I look at so much in a totally different way...but have I relinquished all?? We're all in various stages of growth in Christ. A friend tells me although I don't see a growth she does. She knew me before I accepted Him. I knew her too. I know she has grown. But we're not there yet! It's a continual thing this growth. How impatient I am at not growing faster.

Chambers goes on to say which I think I've mentioned in one way or another is this: "What Our Lord wants us to present to Him is not goodness, nor honesty, nor endeavor, but real solid sin; that is all He can take from us." We cannot in any way, shape or form consider ourselves good enough--apart from Him...apart from our turning to Him and becoming "in Christ." No works, no thinking we're basically good people, no religion. If we claim these words as our belief we are Jesus' followers, we have been poorly misguided. He gave His life for all people; only some will not accept this. These are hard words...and narrow thinking. But it's what God tells us.

Galatians 2:20b - it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me... Does that sound like a boastful statement? Can we claim that right? If we have received Christ, yes. If not, no, we cannot. That also is a hard and narrow statement to make; it's saying only some people have Christ living within them. But it's also true. When we realize this we need to claim it. We need to live it. Am I? Sometimes...but sometimes isn't what He wants. He wants all the time. So, maybe that's why I keep going back to this sacrifice thing. What do I need to sacrifice? God will show me. Will I respond?

When I read this yesterday it caused my heart to pound and brought a catch to my spirit. I've seen this scripture many times; it's one of those that should flow off our tongues. I am hoping that this means I have come to a crossroad in my life or am ready to get off the fence for Jesus, that He's readying me for a new level.

Chambers gives this searing word: "When a man really sees himself as the Lord sees him, it is not the abominable sins of the flesh that shock Him, but the awful nature of the pride of his heart against Jesus." Ouch. When we live thinking Jesus has done a great thing for us and carry on in our own lifestyles this is the pride being spoken of, I believe. It means we have not sacrificed all. I realize that sacrificing is a scary thing. We're comfortable where we are. But God wants us to grow in Him. We are comfortable in the world but greater things await in Him.

The last part of the above scripture tells us that our righteousness does not come from keeping the laws (which we fail to do perfectly). No works, remember? It's receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior alone. It's a free gift. Receiving, accepting, being born again, saved or whatever phrase best describes the circumstances of a relationship with Christ is the first step.

Galatians 2:21 - I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.

It's all about that free gift God gave us through Jesus Christ. His death on the cross. His grace extended to all--free for the taking if you ask Him. There's that verbal condition. Then there's the next step of relinquishing...giving all the bad stuff to Him. Not trying to give to Him what we think is good. I believe this is what causes a lot of people to not receive from Him. They don't think they're good enough for a holy God; God would not want them. But...nothing we have, apart from Him, is good or worthy; it's that unworthiness He wants to take from us.

I'm reminded of the time Jesus spent in the Garden of Gethsemane in prayer. It was then that the Father showed Him the horror of our sinful nature. Those sins of all men past, present and future were applied to Him. He wore them on His back on the way to His crucifixion. He was beaten for every sin ever committed or to be committed. Imagine all the weight of the sins of the world upon Him. How He must have grieved--knowing it didn't have to be that way, but that we chose that path. And He chose to die in our places. We sometimes can't possibly imagine what He did for us. We really do have a tendency to think more highly than we should about ourselves. Shame on us...shame on me.

What do I still have to relinquish? Time will tell.