A real life.
Wednesday night I was preaching at youth group on living the life that Christ promised us. I was discussing with the students my planned out sermon and I was stopped in mid-sentence. I was discussing how through the resurrection God gave us a life and how the church has largely missed that promise. And the thought came to my mind, what if knowingly or unknowingly we, either use the Cross as a crutch, or don't want to face the Resurrection life that God promised.
Now thinking more about this and it being the Easter season, I have pondered where I am, what I have done in the past, and why the church at large seems to preach mainly the Cross and neglect the power of the resurrection. Now, as Christians the Cross is at the center of our religion and our relationship with Jesus Christ. It is there He who knew no sin became sin so that we might be the righteousness of God through Christ. It was there he suffered a horrible and violent torture and death. Why? for us, so that we to may walk in newness of life. But the very thing that sent our Savior to the Cross, is the same thing we make excuses for doing. I myself have been guilty of this, sinning, feeling guilty, asking forgiveness. Wash, rinse, repeat you get the point? And why? It seems that there is a certain level of comfort knowing that we can sin and know that we can go to the Cross and all is forgiven. While for the most part that is true, how dare manipulate that grace! But there is good news! We don't have to struggle with this vicious cycle.
Pastor Randy Dean said it best "We've neglected the Resurrection out of what seems to be a fear that we will somehow diminish the Cross. I have found that to truly exalt the work of the Cross I must PRESS forward out of the finished work of His death to KNOW the power of His Resurrection". I am not saying that we should throw out the work of the Cross or I am somehow trying to "diminish" it's power. I am saying that we do have to press forward through the Cross and know the power of the resurrection. But why? This is the fun part!
I like how the the Amplified version of the Bible says it, 10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from his resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed[in spirit into His likeness even] to his death [in the hope].
11 that if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]. Philippians 3:10-11 Wow!
Need I say more, Romans 6:5 "For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be [one with Him in sharing] His resurrection [by a new life lived for God]. Just the verse before promises an "newness of life", a life in Christ through the power of His resurrection. His word says "the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in us, and so far in my life I have not realized that completely. At times I have used the Cross as a crutch for when I was lazy and didn't think it was possible to walk in that newness of life. Now after deciding to walk through the door or the challenge of that new life it has blown my mind. God seems to be more real and alive and blowing my mind daily.
I know that the cross and resurrection go hand in hand, but many have heard Christ crucified and stopped there. But there is so much more, it's not just Christ died for you and now you can go to heaven. It is a life full of the power of the resurrection and a newness like I have never experienced. I am excited to live this life and see what this adventure has in store. Bring on the revolution!
Now thinking more about this and it being the Easter season, I have pondered where I am, what I have done in the past, and why the church at large seems to preach mainly the Cross and neglect the power of the resurrection. Now, as Christians the Cross is at the center of our religion and our relationship with Jesus Christ. It is there He who knew no sin became sin so that we might be the righteousness of God through Christ. It was there he suffered a horrible and violent torture and death. Why? for us, so that we to may walk in newness of life. But the very thing that sent our Savior to the Cross, is the same thing we make excuses for doing. I myself have been guilty of this, sinning, feeling guilty, asking forgiveness. Wash, rinse, repeat you get the point? And why? It seems that there is a certain level of comfort knowing that we can sin and know that we can go to the Cross and all is forgiven. While for the most part that is true, how dare manipulate that grace! But there is good news! We don't have to struggle with this vicious cycle.
Pastor Randy Dean said it best "We've neglected the Resurrection out of what seems to be a fear that we will somehow diminish the Cross. I have found that to truly exalt the work of the Cross I must PRESS forward out of the finished work of His death to KNOW the power of His Resurrection". I am not saying that we should throw out the work of the Cross or I am somehow trying to "diminish" it's power. I am saying that we do have to press forward through the Cross and know the power of the resurrection. But why? This is the fun part!
I like how the the Amplified version of the Bible says it, 10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from his resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed[in spirit into His likeness even] to his death [in the hope].
11 that if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body]. Philippians 3:10-11 Wow!
Need I say more, Romans 6:5 "For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be [one with Him in sharing] His resurrection [by a new life lived for God]. Just the verse before promises an "newness of life", a life in Christ through the power of His resurrection. His word says "the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in us, and so far in my life I have not realized that completely. At times I have used the Cross as a crutch for when I was lazy and didn't think it was possible to walk in that newness of life. Now after deciding to walk through the door or the challenge of that new life it has blown my mind. God seems to be more real and alive and blowing my mind daily.
I know that the cross and resurrection go hand in hand, but many have heard Christ crucified and stopped there. But there is so much more, it's not just Christ died for you and now you can go to heaven. It is a life full of the power of the resurrection and a newness like I have never experienced. I am excited to live this life and see what this adventure has in store. Bring on the revolution!
posted by Mr. Molina at 4:38 PM
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