How Does The Resurrection Affect My Daily Life?
As we said yesterday, though Easter Sunday is the greatest day in the Church year, it doesn't mean we forget about the resurrection the rest of the year. We surmised that if it the Spirit of God that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us, we possess a power much greater than any natural power.
Paul says this about how the resurrection is a model for our Christian lives. He says,
"For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin." Romans 6:5-6
In chapter 6, Paul is writing to the Romans about how the resurrection can affect their daily lives. Paul begins by rebuking the Romans for thinking that because Jesus has forgiven them, they can keep on sinning. Paul uses the analogy of baptism to say we have been baptized or buried with Christ. Or, we have "died" with Christ. Then as Christ was raised from the dead, we too may lead a new life in His power!
So even through we are baptized once, each day we can say we "die" to sin and be raised in Christ's power to new life. What does this mean? Each day we die to self and live for God. We can die to having to have it our way. We can die to lust, pride and greed. In this way each day can be "Easter" for us. Death and resurrection become a way of life, via the cross. When we take up our cross and die to sin, we are free to live in God's power. Jesus died for us that we would no longer be slaves to sin. He calls this being "dead to sin".
Where in your life do you need more power to live the new life Jesus has given you? Or, where are you tempted to go back things Jesus has freed you from? Where do you need to die to self and be raised to new life?
Paul says this about how the resurrection is a model for our Christian lives. He says,
"For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin." Romans 6:5-6
In chapter 6, Paul is writing to the Romans about how the resurrection can affect their daily lives. Paul begins by rebuking the Romans for thinking that because Jesus has forgiven them, they can keep on sinning. Paul uses the analogy of baptism to say we have been baptized or buried with Christ. Or, we have "died" with Christ. Then as Christ was raised from the dead, we too may lead a new life in His power!
So even through we are baptized once, each day we can say we "die" to sin and be raised in Christ's power to new life. What does this mean? Each day we die to self and live for God. We can die to having to have it our way. We can die to lust, pride and greed. In this way each day can be "Easter" for us. Death and resurrection become a way of life, via the cross. When we take up our cross and die to sin, we are free to live in God's power. Jesus died for us that we would no longer be slaves to sin. He calls this being "dead to sin".
Where in your life do you need more power to live the new life Jesus has given you? Or, where are you tempted to go back things Jesus has freed you from? Where do you need to die to self and be raised to new life?
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