This Dead Man Is Now Alive

Jesus gives life to those that were doomed to die.

Ephesians 2:1-6  Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins.  2  You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil--the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.   

3  All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God's anger, just like everyone else.  4  But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much,  5  that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!)   

6  For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

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The best way to describe me before I put my faith in Jesus is that I was dead. Sure I had some life in me, I was walking around and using up oxygen and would probably continue to do so for a little while but even if that life lasted for one hundred years that isn't very much compared to how long I will be dead.

I was just like the rest of the world, living for my own pleasure and making decisions that pleased the devil instead of pleasing God. Ephesians 2:2 is a little bit scary to think about, the thought that I was taking my orders from the devil and doing what pleases him, to consider that I was allowing the "commander of the powers in the unseen world" to be in control of my life is a bit unsettling. I don't like to think that I could be so deceived that I would allow the one that is the source and the leader of all of the wickedness that is in this world and in the unseen world to be my leader as well.

I was doomed in this state of hopelessness because I could not cover the penalty of my sin and I couldn't make better choices and live a better life without God's help. All of us live for self and God has every right to leave us in the dead state that we are in but his mercy and love rose up and made a way for us to avoid his anger and his demand for perfection.

Buried with Christ.
Colossians 2:12-13  For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with Him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.  13  You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for He forgave all our sins.

Since I was already a dead man I needed to be buried but I didn't want to stay there for long. I was buried with Christ when I was baptized and then immediately after the burial I was raised from the dead. That's how it was for Jesus, he didn't stay among the dead for long before God brought him back to life, I will not stay dead for long before I begin my new life in heaven with my Savior.

I will live a new life in heaven but I also should live a new life here on earth, I had to make a change, I have taken the controls away from the "commander of the powers in the unseen world" and given them to God.

Thank you Lord for breaking the power of the "commander of the powers in the unseen world" and for giving me new life!

I Am Dying To Have A New Life

Death is a beautiful thing in God's eyes.

Colossians 2:12  For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with Him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

Colossians 3:1-4  Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand.  2  Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.  

3  For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.  4  And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all His glory.

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Most of us like babies, seeing a new life is exciting, it doesn't matter if it is a new addition to the human race or if it is a new addition to the animal kingdom, we all like a new life. We usually get anxious as the due date gets closer and we try and see the baby as soon as possible.

There is so much potential with new life but as the years go by the new wears off and we see how imperfect the new creation turned out to be, this could make us wish for a do over so that we could change some things. You may feel like you are stuck with a life that isn't much to celebrate. There is a solution to the problem, it is so simple, the Bible tells us that all we have to do is die.

We see death as such an ugly thing, it brings sadness and heartbreak, but God sees death from a different point of view. God asked his Son to die and he also wants us to die. The biggest game changer ever came about because of death, God used something so ugly to make something so beautiful for our benefit.

Jesus died to give me a new life

2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 17  Either way, Christ's love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.  15  He died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them. 17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!

I can start a new life with God in control, Jesus death provides the do over that many of us have longed for, we have the chance to start again. I can no longer live for myself, I must live my life with my sights set on the things of heaven, I must allow God to have control.

If I have my world view shaped by what the Bible teaches me is important then I will live a life that matters and I will live the most beautiful life possible. Striving for holiness and running from wicked worldly pleasures should be my standard operating procedure. The Bible makes it clear that if you are a child of God then your life will be a new creation that has been transformed through Christ. If your life still looks like the rest of the world then maybe you have never become a child of God.

I am so thankful that I have a new life in Christ, I am not perfect but thanks to Christ and the new life that he gives, I can never be the same again. I have a new way of thinking, a new world view and a Savior that did so much for me that I can never go back to living by the worlds philosophy.

God Has Good News For You

Scripture

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Romans 1

Observation

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Paul starts off his letter to the Romans by introducing himself as a servant of Jesus set apart for telling the good news, he is God’s man for spreading the gospel truth.

The gospel truth that was promised by God had now been fulfilled through Jesus. This is good news that is available to everybody through God's power we are made right with him.

Paul warns us that if we reject this truth that we are going to see God’s wrath instead of the grace that is being offered to us (compare verse 5 and verse 18).

God has revealed Himself to all mankind so that we are without excuse and when we reject Him and refuse to worship Him then we are inclined to set-up a god that we will worship. This sin sends us down a slippery slope that leads us into an ever-increasing pattern of rebellion (verses 18-31).

I can see now why there is so much badness in this broken world today, the scripture tells us that it is just a natural consequence of a world that does not accept the good news and come into a right relationship with our creator.

Application

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I will not be ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. -Romans 1:16

Prayer

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Lord I pray that I will be wise and not give glory away that belongs to you, I will continue to be a witness for you.