DEAD TO SIN, ALIVE IN CHRIST: THE STORY.

 

DEAD TO SIN, ALIVE IN CHRIST: THE STORY.

Well, Jesus died and resurrected. We all know that but was there something symbolic to apply in our everyday life. Well, yes.😕

Jesus was crucified and on the third day he rose again and many people saw Him. But God used this to our advantage, he loved us so much that he laid the life of his only son down for us. Jesus also laid his life down for us to free us from sin and to make us new in Him.😰

His death to life involved two major processes; his death (crucifixion) and resurrection. Every process –having been spoken about- mean totally different things and applies differently in our salvation.

    His death and how it applies to us.

Jesus died on the cross. This symbolizes that our sin dies when we become children of God. Such a simple prayer holds so much power. Immediately we pray for salvation, God answers us and at that point we die with Christ and our sinful nature also dies with him. The sin addicted mind is totally destroyed, since we have been crucified and dead to sin.

Will Christ die again? No, Christ will certainly not die again. So, if we give our lives back to sin after God has given us grace through his word, we would be destroying the sacrifice that God made for us on the cross of Calvary. If after, accepting him we still continue to sin, that means we are killing Jesus Christ all over again.

Many of us have heard this statement a million times. I also heard it several times but I still went back to sin after trying many times to stop myself. However, the temptation would not allow me to rest. I still found the world interesting and the word very boring. I felt God was the slave driver who expected me to do what I was not empowered for. I even recited, “God is faithful, He will not let us be tempted above what we can bear.”

Keep it in mind that God does not want us to kill His son all over again like we do when we become born again. So immediately you become born again, try to get God’s help to live above sin. You will need it very much. And of course, keep it in mind that that the sinful part of you has died. Do not resurrect it or it will become much worse. Totally harder to break away from.

                                   His resurrection power in our lives.        

                                       

However, the process does not stop there, it continues. The story did not end at Jesus death. Christ rose up again. This also signifies, that it does not end at the death of our sins. We get justified and reconciled through his resurrection. We become transformed through his resurrection. Our sin may die at his death but we become transformed, having a different life in Christ through his resurrection. We become new people in God. We have hope outside of sin.

This is an opportunity to be different in God. Our lives do not end once we stop engaging in the sin that seems to define us. I wonder how many of us have felt like that before. I felt that way too.

I used to think that if I gave up reading some books, arguing and some other things that defined me I would not be the same person that I and several other people loved. Nevertheless, it is not about what I want or what others want but about what God wants. I also felt that all forms of happiness in my life would die. But each passing day, He is showing what He wants Iyiola Eniola to be in Him. I am learning to define myself not by the world but by the word.

But this did not just happen. I devoted myself to reading God’s word through His help and Christian counsel. I kept myself busy in God and in my academics. As Bishop David O. Oyedepo once said, “You are 75% responsible for your training”. This means that if you want God to help you, you must first do your part that will make him speak to you. You have to make the choice, then grace will follow to keep that choice alive. I felt God speaking to me on what to do concerning each sin, habit, godless chatter.

I did not keep myself empty. This will just make you yearn for sin. In spiritual terms, if you send one demon out without occupying yourself with godly things, it will come with seven other demons since the vessel is empty.

NOTE:

1. Occupy yourself with godly and beneficial things. If it is not beneficial to you, do not do it.

2. See sin (in any form) as death and dead to you. 

3. Do not kill Christ again and again. It helps you in many ways.

• Feel free to share more insights in the comment session.(Personal experiences are also very much allowed)