… becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.
Summary: Paul’s words about “attaining to the resurrection from the dead” lead us to consider how we get to the point where we can actually understand what he is talking about.
For some reason, people don’t like to think about death.
People have different reactions to the topic. Some of us obsess about death, some ignore it or make jokes about it. Human psychology has a variety of ways to deal with the unthinkable.
Paul is not afraid to think about death. In fact, he is looking forward to it.
Why?
Because he knows the secret to life after death.
Understanding this secret requires understanding something else. We have to acknowledge that there is more to life than “self.”
In his letter to the Colossians, Paul talks about taking off the “old self” and putting on the “new self” (Colossians 3:9-10). The “old self” is what we are born with. The “new self” is given to people who believe in Jesus.
At some point in a believer’s life, they become aware of another unthinkable: I am not more important than everyone else.
The “old self” Paul talks about wants to be in charge. It was the “old self” in Cain that killed Abel (Genesis 4:8-11). It was the “old self” in Pharaoh who refused to let the Israelites go (Exodus 9:35). It was the “old self” in the Pharisees and Sadducees that wanted to kill Jesus (Mark 3:6).
The “new self” is different.
The “new self” is all about people who recognize that there is a power greater than “me.” When we learn to acknowledge God, our “self” gets demoted. When God is in charge, “self” becomes secondary. When the “self” becomes secondary, something amazing happens — our eyes are opened to the possibility of life after death.
Paul was one of the first people to see this clearly.
Well, perhaps “clearly” is too strong a word. Even Paul admits this is a hard concept to grasp (1 Corinthians 13:12). Yet, he knows enough to firmly believe that Jesus is alive, even though it is beyond question that he was, for a time, dead.
Paul wants what Jesus has: eternal life. He doesn’t make wild claims. He doesn’t demand that we want the same thing he does. He just knows where he is going. He knows what he wants.
He wants to live.
Application: Choose life with Jesus.
Food for Thought: How do you explain that becoming like Jesus in death leads to the resurrection from the dead?
Good devotion and good question.
Jesus lived as man, suffered as man, was tempted as man, yet He lived a righteous (sinless) life, and He chose to use His righteousness to pay for our sin. Through His death and resurrection He satisfied the just debt of death (separation from God) that sin requires.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Accepting His sacrifice and making Him Lord of our life enables us to enter into a relationship with God through Him, a relationship where God redeems our lives through the transformation from our old self to one that emulates Christ. Becoming like Jesus in death is denying our own selfish desires in order to serve and obey God’s Will.
God’s intention is to transform us from our sinful state to the one He originally created us to be. We were dead in sin, our thoughts and actions were destructive, self-centered, and self-gratifying at the expense of others. Seeking God’s Will, obeying God’s Will, this is where He gives life, we are fruitful, we give and receive the love of God. The resurrection is being alive in Christ. Christ living within us brings us life. The resurrection is of our hearts, minds, and after physical death, our bodies. Resurrecting us from the death of our mind, the death of our heart, and finally the physical death of our bodies.
Romans 6:5-11
5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Thank you, Chris!!
I love the goal you point us to: “a relationship with God”
Yes!
How do you explain that becoming like Jesus in death leads to the resurrection from the dead?
Like this world, and everything in/on it, these physical bodies were never intended to last forever. However the spirit of every human being is eternal.
Look at Jesus on the cross. He ministered to others, until it was time to go. He took time to encourage the thief on one side, “ This day you will be with me in heaven. “ And he insured His mother Mary would be cared for as he gave her to His disciple John, and at the last, He provided for the salvation of all as He spoke. “ Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
Jesus has done all the work, and John 16:8 explains, the Holy Spirit is the power of God convicting this world of sin, righteousness, and judgement to come. Let Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, speak through us as He reveals the truth to all those brought to us by God.
At 81 with a heart condition, I am at peace in every possible way, I know I am an eternal spiritual being, temporarily confined in a physical body, so Jesus Christ, according to His will, may minister to those around me. I know this knowledge comes from God, not from man. It is His peace that is given to all His people so we receive stability and sanity in this increasingly insane world. My last days are being spent making sure everything is in order, so that my family will not be burdened by broken things, or financial surprises when I am no longer physically here.
We know the expiration of these physical bodies is not the end, but actually the beginning of life without the burden of this temporary housing of self-centered flesh. Do all we can to assure our loved ones of this truth as we pass into the arms of Jesus.
John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
2 Peter 1:3, His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
2 Corinthians 1:5, For as we share abundantly in Christ ‘s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57, O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Nicely said, Ron!
I love where you point out that “Jesus has done all the work.” So true!
Good devotion, Thanks
Thanks, Paul! 😁