The Daily Word of Righteousness

Death and Resurrection, continued

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 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. (Romans 6:1-4)

Because we have died with the Lord and have risen from the dead with Him we can, through the Holy Spirit, put to death the deeds of our sinful flesh. We can gain the upper hand over the forces of darkness in us that would deceive us into behaving in a manner the Lord God does not accept.

Because we are one with the Lord in His death and resurrection we will, if we faithfully abide in Him and continue to hide our life with Him in God, receive the redemption of our mortal body at His appearing.

Because of our union with the Lord in His death and resurrection we will, if we have patiently endured tribulation and have consistently sown to the Holy Spirit of God, be given a glorified body from Heaven that will clothe our redeemed mortal body.

For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. (II Corinthians 5:4)

Because we have counted our adamic nature as crucified with Christ and our new inner nature as risen with Him to the right hand of the Father, because we have pursued the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being changed into His death by the tribulations of life, we have been set free from that worst of all monsters—self-will.

Because we have been willing to give over our first personality to the death of the cross and to live by faith in His resurrection Life and power, we have become a source of righteousness and Life for unnumbered multitudes of people.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24)

We have set as the supreme goal of our life the attainment of the first resurrection from the dead, the resurrection that is found in the Person of the Lord at His appearing. Because He Himself is the Resurrection and the Life, dwelling in His Presence and Life for eternity is our eternal goal. All else is trash.

Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)

Let us not be lazy and careless. It is time to take the Kingdom. The Kingdom is Christ Himself—life lived in His Presence. The rewards go to those who, through the Lord Jesus, overcome all opposition. The prize is marvelous beyond all description. Whoever will choose to do so can gain the fullness of the inheritance.

He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Revelation 21:7) (from The Mainspring)