* Dying To Live Again

and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. 

And the third day He will rise again.

Mark 10:34

Even as Jesus died on the cross for us so that our sins may be washed away and we may have our eternal home with Him, we are to die to the world and the things of the world.  When we are baptized in the name of Jesus, the bondage of sin is to be broken and we die to the world and emerge in new life in Jesus Christ; 

dead to the world yet alive in Christ Jesus!  

Just as Jesus died in the world but emerged victorious through death to prepare our eternal home for us, so must we symbolically die to this world and emerge as agents for Jesus to help bring others to the realization of Jesus and what He accomplished for mankind.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we have new life while here on earth!  We can live better lives as new creatures in Christ Jesus even as we await His return.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  2 Corinthians 5:17

It is concluded that all are dead because of their sin and in need of a savior. Jesus was sent to earth to live a sinless life and then to die on a cross in our place thus reconciling us before God. Because of our salvation, we should no longer live for ourselves, but live to serve him.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.   Ephesians 2:8 – 10

Our spiritual birth is the work of God producing a new creation in mankind.

If anyone is born spiritually they are clothed with Christ’s righteousness and identified with him by our lifestyle. We are filled with his Spirit and become a member of the body of Christ. This is a body of many believers who one day will live in perfect unity and harmony with one another with Jesus Christ as our head. It will be a time in which the love of God is fully experienced by all.

Not only are we a new creation in which our old way of living is passing away to be replaced with Jesus living in and through us, but there is new in so many other ways. For example:

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.   Isaiah 43:18 – 19

And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.   Revelation 21:5

and

For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.   Isaiah 65:17

Through our spiritual birth we became a new creations.  Just like a natural birth, we start with what we can handle: 

I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.   1 Corinthians 3:2

There is the need for us to grow in our understanding of the word. Another verse that relates to this is:

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.   Hebrews 5:12 

As a new creation what is your spiritual growth like? Are we becoming more like Jesus or staying somewhat like we were?

Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.  Isaiah 43:18-19

That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.  Ephesians 4:22-24

If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:  For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.  But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:  Colossians 3:1-10

Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?  Ezekiel 18:31

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.  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:  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.  Romans 6:4-6

Jesus explained to the multitude that they who embrace Him are to be the salt of the earth:

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  Matthew 5:13

Our seasoning should be so distinctive that it's very savor should attract others to taste of it.  This can't be possible if our seasoning is non-distinctive from the world.  When you look at the resurrection of Jesus; when He emerged on the other side of death, Mary Magdalene did not recognize Him.  And so, we too, as believers and followers of Jesus, should be distinguishable from our former self.

But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 1 Peter 1:15-16

After His death by crucifixion, Jesus was buried but He did not remain in the tomb. 

And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matthew 28:5-6

And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here:  behold the place where they laid him.  Mark 16:6

Jesus reveals Himself to his disciples

Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.  And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.  John 20:19-20

Through His resurrection from the dead, Jesus gained victory over physical death. Those who become part of the Kingdom of God not only experience physical death just like Jesus, but they will also experience resurrection from the dead as He did. Because our King is eternal, we are part of an eternal Kingdom and have eternal life.

After His resurrection from the dead, Jesus continued to appear to the disciples. 

To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:  Acts 1:3

After Jesus appeared to the disciples over a period of forty days, He returned to Heaven. He remains there until time for Him to return and establish the visible Kingdom of God in final form. 

And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.  And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.  And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy:  And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.   Luke 24:50-53

Just before He returned to Heaven, Jesus gave His followers an important commission to be ambassadors of the Kingdom throughout the world.

Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.  Matthew 28:19-20

The Bible reveals that Jesus will return to earth in great power and glory to set up the visible Kingdom in its final form. The set up of this glorious kingdom upon Jesus' return can be found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. The account of the establishing of the Kingdom and the events preceding it is recorded in the book of Revelation. The Bible reveals that the Kingdom of Jesus will be eternal:  

And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.  Luke 1:33

Every kingdom of earth and the kingdom of Satan will be defeated by the King of kings. In the end an announcement will be made:   

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.  Revelation 11:15

We have much to look forward to at the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Until then, we are told to come out from among the world:

Wherefore come out from among them, and be be separate , saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,   2 Corinthians 6:17

Live a victorious life in Jesus after death to the world!  

Die to this world so you can live this life to live again.

Biblical Studies

02/18/22