He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all; how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things. Romans 8:32
Look at it this way: At the right time, while we were still helpless, Christ died for ungodly people. Finding someone who would die for a godly person is rare. Maybe someone would have the courage to die for a good person. Christ died for us while we were still sinners. This demonstrates God’s love for us. Romans 5:6-8 (GW)
Pause and think of the verses we’ve just read. As I’m doing what I’ve asked you to do, the words of this song come to my heart. I’ll share it:
You did not wait for me to draw near to you, but you clothed Yourself in frail humanity. You did not wait for me to cry out to You, but you let me hear Your voice calling me.🎼
That’s it my brothers my sisters! He didn’t wait! Or He’d still be waiting. He came without us asking because we were helpless and hopeless. I didn’t know I needed saving let alone a Savior. Just this once, if you’re inclined to only read what is written, please do me a favor and read Isaiah 53. I won’t even give you a hint of what it says,😊but I promise you’ll be blessed.
When Pilate, at Jesus’ trial told Jesus he had the power to save His life Jesus’ response was priceless. Here’s the exchange in John chapter 19. “ Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have the power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over Me if it were not given to you from above.” BAM!
You can’t kill someone who’s already dead. The Bible says this of Jesus. He’s the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world. Revelation 13:8 He knew His purpose. He came to die. Why? So that we through His death and resurrection may live. I’ve often told people, that dying is when we really begin living. Sounds weird but it’s true. This life is temporary, that’s why we die. But eternal life begins after we exit this body. So the decisions we’re making now directly affect the life we live eternally.
The apostle Paul got the revelation of this truth when he wrote: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
We too as believers in Jesus Christ, have been called to live a dead life. A life that is not controlled by fleshly desires, but a life lived out in Christ. We are more alive dying than living. We dress and groom this corpse as though it was intended to last forever, whilst simultaneously ignoring the real us that was designed to live eternally. Here’s who we really are: We are first spirit, second we have a soul, ( the seat of our intellect, will and emotions) and thirdly, all that is hosted in a body. So which comes first? Our spirit. If we will take care of that first, then the natural outflow to the outside, depending on who is in control, will be a demonstration of the real you. Oh...I hear a song coming on😊
Jesus on the inside, working on the outside, oh what a change in my life🎼
Do we dare to die? Die to self and live for Jesus? He’s already done the heavy lifting. We owed a debt we couldn’t pay. Sin had separated us from the Father. The penalty was death. He heard the verdict and before we could be eternally sentenced to a life of total separation from God, He said “ I’ll pay.” Our Redeemer paid the full price for you and me. Born to die so I might live🎼 yeah another song😊
We’ve gained everything while He gave up everything. The writer of Hebrews made this remarkable statement. And I’ll close with it.
We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received it’s just punishment, (speaking of judgment under the law or old covenant) how shall we (under grace) escape if we ignore so great a salvation?(the sacrificial death of Jesus that brought salvation)
Since the children (us) have flesh and blood, He too shared in their humanity so that by His death He might break the power of him who holds the power of death-that is the devil; and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Hebrews 2:1-3,14-15
We who are in Christ Jesus no longer fear death. We have voluntarily died to the dictates of the flesh, to live by faith in His finished work. Does this living to Christ mean we’ll never mess up? Far from it! But it does mean we sin less. We’re more conscious of the new man than the old. We strive to daily bring this unruly flesh under the authority of Jesus. We understand that we are only victorious in and through Him. So will you dare to die today, so that you can truly live?
Most of us are familiar with the accounts of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. They were not the only Hebrews taken in captivity to Babylon, but they’re the only ones we read about. Why? Because before they got to Babylon, they had already made up their minds that they would remain faithful to God, even if it meant death. They had dared to die. When the testing came, all four survived, because you cannot kill what’s already dead. They had died to self. We gain God’s honor when we’re willing to forsake all others and cling to Him. Go refresh your memory and read their testimonies in the book of Daniel. I used to say these words to my daughter when she was in middle school. “Dare to be a Daniel and stand alone.” With all the peer pressure at that age she needed to know it was alright to be a child of God, and stand out unashamedly. Dare to die!
Father in the Name of Jesus,
I accept Your Son’s finished work on the cross as full payment for my sins. I couldn’t earn nor did I deserve such love poured out for me. I will not neglect this great salvation, but wholeheartedly embrace with gratitude this free gift. Free to me, but a great price for you. Thank you for saving me and restoring my fellowship with You. In Jesus Name. Amen 🙏
God had Christ, who was sinless, take our sin so that we might receive God’s approval through Him. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (GW)
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit.
W. Tennant