Dead But Alive
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:1-11)
Today’s Morsel: For one to become a Christian, they must die to self, and the world and become alive unto Christ and his ways. Repentance is death. Baptism is buried with Christ. And the infilling of the Holy Ghost is Resurrection power. Yes, we are still alive in this flesh and living in the world, but we must be dead to it. What do we mean when we say the world? John tells us that it is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). Think about those things for a moment. Lust is what draws us. Lust is oftentimes associated with a desire, craving, or longing for what is forbidden. The lust of one’s flesh: The desire for physical pleasure and self-gratification. The lust of one’s eyes: Greed, boasting, the temptation for covetousness and materialism, being enticed by the things that you see. The pride of life: Trusting in oneself, their status, and successes. John says that these things are of the world. But Christians should not struggle with these things because they are dead to them. These things should not have power over you any longer, these things should not draw you or pull you into them. We are dead to sin but alive to God. And sin should not have dominion over you.
Sing: The world is not my home, I’m just a passing through, my treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue. The angels are beckoning me, from heavens open door, and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.
Thought For Today: “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)
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