“One died for all, therefore, all died; and He died for all that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.” 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
Here is a wonderous thing. Jesus requires us to die. This is not literal, although at times it could be, but this is the kind of dying that enables us to become like Jesus. He emptied himself and became a servant who humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:7-8)
“Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be the slaves of sin.” (Romans 6:6)
Jesus gave us some very simple commands to obey. While they are simple, they are not easy. The reason they are not easy is because the flesh hates to die, and to keep these commands we must become willing to die. We must choose to put to death those parts of us that want to continue to live and justify doing wrong.
For example: Jesus said that we must forgive our brother an unlimited number of times. (Matthew 18:21-22) We are commanded to love our enemies. (Matthew 5:43-44) We must also die to things we love and enjoy (even when they are not sinful), so as not to cause a brother or sister in Jesus to stumble. (1 Corinthians 8:1-13)
There is no possible way we can keep these commandments unless we die. We must die to self. I make the choice to die, and God resurrects me into the image of Jesus by making me something new. I make the choice to love and forgive, but in myself I have no power to do so.
I repent of resentment, anger, rage, bitterness and all of these things. Then I pray for the power to love and forgive, which is impossible for me to do on my own. I put to death my natural inclinations to hate and resent by refusing to give place to them anymore. Then, in a very real sense, I put to death the part of me who hates his brother and cannot forgive him. I choose to obey the Lord and make up my mind to love and forgive someone.
Then God takes over. In answer to my prayer, God changes my heart. Miraculously, my inability to love is replaced by God’s compassion and a genuine ability to love my enemy. This may be a process that takes some time, or it may happen suddenly. I am reborn through my decision to obey Him and die to my self-will. God gives me the ability to genuinely love someone I could not love before. But we gotta die first.
“I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
Here is a wonderous thing. Jesus requires us to die. This is not literal, although at times it could be, but this is the kind of dying that enables us to become like Jesus. He emptied himself and became a servant who humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:7-8)
“Knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be the slaves of sin.” (Romans 6:6)
Jesus gave us some very simple commands to obey. While they are simple, they are not easy. The reason they are not easy is because the flesh hates to die, and to keep these commands we must become willing to die. We must choose to put to death those parts of us that want to continue to live and justify doing wrong.
For example: Jesus said that we must forgive our brother an unlimited number of times. (Matthew 18:21-22) We are commanded to love our enemies. (Matthew 5:43-44) We must also die to things we love and enjoy (even when they are not sinful), so as not to cause a brother or sister in Jesus to stumble. (1 Corinthians 8:1-13)
There is no possible way we can keep these commandments unless we die. We must die to self. I make the choice to die, and God resurrects me into the image of Jesus by making me something new. I make the choice to love and forgive, but in myself I have no power to do so.
I repent of resentment, anger, rage, bitterness and all of these things. Then I pray for the power to love and forgive, which is impossible for me to do on my own. I put to death my natural inclinations to hate and resent by refusing to give place to them anymore. Then, in a very real sense, I put to death the part of me who hates his brother and cannot forgive him. I choose to obey the Lord and make up my mind to love and forgive someone.
Then God takes over. In answer to my prayer, God changes my heart. Miraculously, my inability to love is replaced by God’s compassion and a genuine ability to love my enemy. This may be a process that takes some time, or it may happen suddenly. I am reborn through my decision to obey Him and die to my self-will. God gives me the ability to genuinely love someone I could not love before. But we gotta die first.
“I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
Posted in Disciple-Making Discipleship Updates