Alive in Christ
Written by Sherri Bergmann
Last Easter we posted the blog, “Christ Alive in Us.” This Easter’s blog is focused on how we’re alive in Christ.
Dead to Sin
When we sin, we are dead. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” Ephesians 2:1-2
Although we’re breathing, it’s our inner self, or our spiritual self, that decays when we sin and we die inside because we separate ourselves from God.
Instead of relying on Him, we rely on drugs. Instead of being satisfied with what we have or trusting Him to provide, we steal. Instead of letting Him enact justice, we get revenge. Instead of turning to Him, we become corrupt. When we become corrupt, we harden our hearts. When we try to hide to cover what we’ve done wrong, we live in fear.
“They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.” Ephesians 4:18
"The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a lion." Proverbs 28:1
When we sin, we can go into a free fall where we don’t wake up until we realize what we’re doing is wrong, or hit rock bottom. Or we don’t wake up at all.
The weight of our sins can lead to severe anxiety and depression. We can feel dead inside and numb to what is right. Sometimes we can feel so dead and trapped that we wish we were dead.
Alive in Christ
Because Jesus lives, those who are in Christ will live also. “For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” 1 Corinthians 15:16-17.
However, because Jesus rose from the dead into eternal life, we can overcome, too, and feel alive again. He alone can free us from our prisons.
“I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation 1:17-18
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
How are we alive in Him?
He gives us the fruits of His Spirit:
• Love • Joy • Peace • Patience • Kindness• Goodness • Faithfulness• Gentleness • Self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)
His Spirit grows in us when we turn away from our sins and follow Him. As we follow Him and love others instead of hurting them, we’ll feel a deep sense of inner peace and joy even while the world around us falls apart. Our patience will calm us and others. As our love impacts others, broken homes will heal and friendships will be restored; our kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control will restore others’ trust in us.
Last Easter we posted the blog, “Christ Alive in Us.” This Easter’s blog is focused on how we’re alive in Christ.
Dead to Sin
When we sin, we are dead. “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.” Ephesians 2:1-2
Although we’re breathing, it’s our inner self, or our spiritual self, that decays when we sin and we die inside because we separate ourselves from God.
Instead of relying on Him, we rely on drugs. Instead of being satisfied with what we have or trusting Him to provide, we steal. Instead of letting Him enact justice, we get revenge. Instead of turning to Him, we become corrupt. When we become corrupt, we harden our hearts. When we try to hide to cover what we’ve done wrong, we live in fear.
“They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.” Ephesians 4:18
"The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a lion." Proverbs 28:1
When we sin, we can go into a free fall where we don’t wake up until we realize what we’re doing is wrong, or hit rock bottom. Or we don’t wake up at all.
The weight of our sins can lead to severe anxiety and depression. We can feel dead inside and numb to what is right. Sometimes we can feel so dead and trapped that we wish we were dead.
Alive in Christ
Because Jesus lives, those who are in Christ will live also. “For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” 1 Corinthians 15:16-17.
However, because Jesus rose from the dead into eternal life, we can overcome, too, and feel alive again. He alone can free us from our prisons.
“I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.” Revelation 1:17-18
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23
How are we alive in Him?
He gives us the fruits of His Spirit:
• Love • Joy • Peace • Patience • Kindness• Goodness • Faithfulness• Gentleness • Self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)
His Spirit grows in us when we turn away from our sins and follow Him. As we follow Him and love others instead of hurting them, we’ll feel a deep sense of inner peace and joy even while the world around us falls apart. Our patience will calm us and others. As our love impacts others, broken homes will heal and friendships will be restored; our kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control will restore others’ trust in us.
- Our life will be bright. Instead of hiding in fear, we’ll walk in truth and the light, and our light will shine on others. Our purpose to love and serve others and God will spur us to look forward to the next day.
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14-18
- We will feel like a bubbling spring is welling from within us. Jesus said, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” John 7:37-39
“Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:14 - We are not condemned. “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” Colossians 2:13-14
“Even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.” Ephesians 2:5 - We are free. “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Hebrews 2:14-15
- We aren’t weighed down. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
In following Him, we don’t collect baggages of sin along the course of life that weigh us down. When we are tempted to do wrong, it may seem hard at times to follow Him, but life is easier when we do. - We have a sound mind and real peace. “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3
- We live life to the fullest. “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
- We have faith and hope. "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Jeremiah 29:11
“Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13
In spite of the troubles in our lives and in the world, we have confidence that Christ will keep His promises and will help us to overcome as He has overcome, to see us through, and that even though we don’t understand everything, He does. Our confident faith and hope in Him gives us daily strength and something to look forward to as we wait to live with Him forever.
Without faith and hope we feel doomed. Without Christ, we are.
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