Sermon Central
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Life And Death Experience Series
Contributed by David Welch on Jul 11, 2018 (message contributor)
Summary: Message 10 in our exposition of Colossians dealing with out death with Christ.
Chico Alliance Church
“A Life and Death Experience”
The foundation principle is our co-death with Christ freeing us from the old life as slaves to the law of sin and death and our co-resurrection with Christ enabling us to walk according to the law of the spirit of life in Christ.
Our life and death in Christ
Why should we understand this truth? What difference does this make in my everyday walk? This truth is the foundation of what God does for every person who embraces Christ for salvation. Unless we understand this principle we put ourselves back into slavery again rather than live in freedom. This work transcends the physical. This work is not just positional truth but describes an actual work done on our behalf. We are born dead to God and alive to the law of sin and death. This work describes how we become alive to God and dead to the law of sin and death. It is truly a life and death experience. Why did God have to deal with Law? Scripture is clear that the Law could not save anyone. The Law as a communication of the righteous character of God is a tutor illustrating our need for Christ. Since no one can keep the law, which consisted of nearly 700, separate commandments and the law could do nothing to help us keep the law God sent Christ.
For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness 19(for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God. And inasmuch as it was not without an oath (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,
"THE LORD HAS SWORN And WILL NOT CHANGE His mind, 'Thou art a priest FOREVER' ");
so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. And the former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers, because they were prevented by death from continuing, but He, on the other hand, because He abides forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Hence, also, He is able to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:18-25
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. Romans 10:4
Paul in Romans 5 spends considerable effort demonstrating that we have been transferred from the line of Adam into the line of Jesus Christ. All of us were born into Adam’s line. Through faith we are born into Christ’s line. Whereas sin and death reigned through the law on those in Adam, righteousness and life reign through grace on those in Christ. Romans 5 declares that the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased grace abounded all the more, that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Chapter 6 begins by anticipating an objection to this radical truth concerning grace.
vs 1 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may increase?”
The answer – vs 2 “May it never be?”
Paul reason for answering so strongly is based on our current thought concerning our death with Christ.
vs 2b “How shall we who died (point time) to sin still live (future) in it?”
Paul wants them to remember a vital doctrine.
vs 3 “Or are you ignorant (continually) that all of us who have been baptized (point time passive) into Christ have been baptized into His death?”
Paul is not talking about water baptism here. He is talking about identification with Christ. Why did God cause this identification?
vs 4 “Therefore, we have been buried (point time passive) with Him through baptism into death in order that (purpose) as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk (point time) in newness of life.”
Paul continues to hammer home the importance of this life and death experience.
“FOR if (since) we have become united with Him (perfect) in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also (united with Him) in the in the likeness of His resurrection,”
vs 6 “knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him (point time passive) in order that our body of sin might be rendered in operative (point time), that we should no long be slaves (present, continual) to sin; for he who has died is freed (perfect) from sin.”
It is important to understand who died. Remember this is a vital reality based in the spiritual realm that has significant implications for our everyday life. Who we were in Adam, under a curse of death by reason of imputed sin, inherited sin and individual sin actually died when Christ died.
