Living the Blessed Life

Romans 6: 1 - 4, What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. NIV

Do you remember the day that you received Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord? If you haven't yet made the decision to do so, then I pray that you will today, because Paul tells us in Romans 3 that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.  Jesus came to earth as the Lamb of God to take away our sins, all because of His love for the Father. Yet, when we come to Jesus...even as someone that is broken... we are coming to Him filled with "self."

All Christians who choose to live a godly life in Christ must go through the process of dying to self. Let me explain what I mean. The other night I was preaching on the subject of abiding in the vine (who is Jesus) and of how we are the branches...with His life flowing through us, and I used an analogy about a cantaloupe to illustrate. Jesus tells us in John 15 that we must abide in Him, and He in us, lest we wither and be burned. A cantaloupe can't say to the vine, "I don't like the requirements being placed on me (that I must be connected to you) so I will disconnect myself and grow beside you." What would happen? The cantaloupe not only would not ripen...it would rot on the ground!

Once we become born again, there is a process that every true believer must go through in order to be converted from the "self" nature into a believer who is being filled and motivated by God's love. Until we all choose to deny self, take up our cross, and follow in Jesus' footsteps, we can't have any part in Him nor experience the blessed life. If you will read Ephesians 5, you will see that Paul uses the marriage relationship as a natural demonstration of a spiritual relationship between Christ and the Church. We must leave all others and cleave only unto Him and be faithful to Him. This principle is especially important in the initial stages of becoming a disciple of Christ.

We must cling to His life in order that it might empower us to die to our individuality (or self nature). Remember, it was "self" that caused Lucifer to sin against God. It was "self" that reared its ugly head in the Garden of Eden and separated mankind from our Creator, God. Paul teaches on this principle even greater in Colossians 3, Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. NIV

As we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, we will be transformed by the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, who resides within us, into children of God. As we continue in His Word, whether we feel like it or not, the Word will begin to transform our hearts... which will then change what we desire or seek after. Once this begins to emerge in your life, you will begin to experience the blessed life. But, that's not all; once you begin to experience the liberation and the freedom of living the blessed life, don't stop there, because that is only the beginning! When we grow beyond the point in our walk where we pursue God just to be blessed, and we continue on to pursue Him for "more of Him," then He will begin to reward us for being diligent seekers of God.

It's amazing how we can begin our faith walk being so filled with self, but, as we continue to abide in Christ and His Word, we become filled with the love of Christ; He then constrains us to live a holy and joyful life...all while living in a fallen world. You will know the love of God is replacing self when you love obeying the Word of God instead of "having to keep the Word."
 
Loving the Blessed Life in Christ,
Pastor Asa