Bible Ballistics: Are You Resurrected???    Vol. 5 #22

As we are in the mind of celebration that Christ Jesus was raised from the dead on the First Day of the Week, I’d like to call us to consider our own ‘resurrection’. How you might ask? Well, only in being “resurrected” with Christ can we have eternal life with Him—after sharing His crucifixion.

“Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.” Romans 6:4-12

Well said. When we die to self in repentance and faith, we receive new life in Christ Jesus—that eternal life that Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about in John 3. Have you found this life of Jesus!!! (See John 3:1-21)

Only one way to God—

to life—

to eternal life—

to eternity with God!!!

The power of God can be within us, if Jesus lives within us. It is the New Covenant promised by God, and accomplished by Jesus at Calvary, through His burial and HIS glorious “Resurrection”!!! Victorious over sin, death and hell! And because of HIS sacrifice and victory we can declare with Paul:

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Galatians 2:20-21

When I live the “crucified” life with Jesus, by His Spirit within me, I can ‘walk in the Spirit’ and ‘not fulfill the lusts of the flesh’. The Promise of God—

“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.” Jeremiah 31:31-34

Jesus bought our forgiveness and salvation and only by trusting in Him and receiving the ‘Promise’ can we walk in that “newness of life”, all by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: 13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:” Colossians 1:12-14

Forgiveness and salvation is in Jesus alone. And the “Promise” is our assurance and power—His Spirit within us. Have you received the ‘resurrection’ power of the Lord and Savior? Have you been empowered by Jesus to “walk in newness of life”? It’s found only in HIM!!!

1 Corinthians 11:23-26, “For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.” Jesus body and blood were broken and poured out for YOU!! Won’t you look to Him and receive eternal life and the promise of His Spirit.

Acts 1:4-5 & 8, “And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.……. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”

So one simple question, have you bowed before the Savior and found life at His Cross? If not, HE is still calling and awaits your response to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:1-6, “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that

Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

4 And that he was buried,

and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

5 And that he was seen

of Cephas,

then of the twelve:

6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once;

of whom the greater part remain unto this present,but some are fallen asleep.”

Just be sure you have real faith, not ‘vain’ faith!!! The question is of eternal import. Jesus still saves. You can have ‘resurrection’ life today.

Bible Ballistics: BBs #149 To Dye or To Die???

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

Jesus and Jesus alone died, was buried and resurrected for our salvation—according to the scripture (see 1 Cor. 15:3-5). Jesus alone, not anyone or anything else is worthy of our devotion and worship. To belong to Jesus Christ means we have died to ourselves and walk in the power of His indwelling Holy Spirit, who enables us to do that by God’s power, not our own. Empowered and expected to:

“I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians 4:12-13

Only by the blood of Jesus can I do any thing that God calls me to do in. ONLY through Jesus Christ and His Father, and ours, can we accomplish anything godly, or of eternal value. We are called to serve Him–not ourselves or the lusts of this world. The pull of this world is strong and we live in a culture that ridicules and rejects the call to holiness and separation from the world. While we are to live in the world we are not to be of it.

Jesus prayed for us just before He went to Calvary, will you heed His words?

“And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.”  John 17:13-15

Are we choosing evil over good? Are we more concerned with fitting in, than being fit for HIS service? These are hard questions, and only you can answer them. I simply ask that you examine the things you do and practice and measure them by the Word of God and the let His Spirit direct you. The choice is yours; just check whose glasses you’re looking through:

“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.” 1 John 2:15-18

What does all this have to do with “dye” or “die”? A lot really, because as we look at the activities of this weekend of celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ my Lord, I notice that we have often become so entwined in the world that we look more like them than the ‘body of Jesus Christ’. More people are ‘dying’ eggs, than ‘dying’ to self for HIM!!!

James was very clear to the people of his day, how much more do we need to heed his words and consider the choices we are faced with?

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.”  James 4:4-10

So??? Here’s our shot for today. Are you dyeing (being crucified) to self and living for Jesus, or are you so busy dying (coloring) eggs that you’ve missed the Savior who calls us to be holy and separate from the world. Are we so busy with the “holiday” that we’ve forgotten the “HOLYday”? It’s a question that only YOU can answer. Let’s celebrate and worship HIM EVERY DAY!!! To God be the glory—great things HE HAS DONE!!! What will you do?

“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.”  2 Corinthians 6:16-18