Back from the Dead Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. Romans 6:11-13 I've read many accounts of people who were "brought back from the dead," and there's one common theme found in each account: The experience changed how they live their lives. See, getting a new lease on life has a huge impact on a person; Many of the things they thought were important suddenly pale in comparison to things like spending time with loved ones, being kind to strangers, and living a life that makes a difference. Well did you know... If you're a Christian, you too have had a "back from the dead" experience! Before Christ we were dead in our sins, but when we accepted Christ, the old sinful man died, and we were brought into the new life that Christ gives us. That's why Paul wanted to explain this reality, so that just like the person who has experienced physical death, and it changed how they live, we too would understand that we've been brought back from spiritual death, and therefore we should "present 'ourselves' to God as being alive from the dead," and live our lives in a way that reflects that reality. Being brought back from death is a life-changing experience, but the problem is that after you've been revived, you're still vulnerable to the power of sickness, disease, and eventually death. But when you've been born into the Spirit, you've been set free from spiritual death once and for all, and set free from the power of sin: And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. Romans 6:18 So, having been brought back from the dead, live your life in a way that reflects that reality. "Lord, thank you for giving me eternal life! Thank you for setting me free from the power of sin and death! Help me to live my life in such a way that reflects the new life that I have in You. Help me to live a life that matters." Pastor Clay |
No comments:
Post a Comment