The Path To Freedom
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who DIED TO SIN live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His DEATH? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into DEATH, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Now if WE DIED WITH CHRIST, we believe that we shall also live with Him. (Romans 6:1-4,8 NKJV)
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. FOR YOU DIED AND YOUR LIFE IS HIDDEN WITH CHRIST IN GOD. When CHRIST WHO IS OUR LIFE appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4 NKJV)
In this kingdom, ‘death’ is the path to freedom and life in Christ Jesus.
You must die to sin/flesh
ANYONE WHO HAS DIED IS MADE FREE FROM SIN’S CONTROL. In the same way, you should see yourselves as being dead to the power of sin and alive for God through Christ Jesus. But don’t let sin control your life here on earth. You must not be ruled by the things your sinful self makes you want to do. Don’t offer parts of your body to serve sin. Don’t use your bodies to do evil, but offer yourselves to God, as people WHO HAVE DIED and NOW LIVE. Offer the parts of your body to God to be used for doing good. (Romans 6:7,11-13 ERV).
You must die to self
If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and HIS OWN LIFE also, he cannot be My disciple. So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake ALL that he has cannot be My disciple. (Luke 14:26,33 NKJV)
Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him DENY HIMSELF, and TAKE UP HIS CROSS DAILY, and FOLLOW ME. For whoever desires to save his life for My sake will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.” (Luke 9:23-24 NKJV)
Denying yourself means giving up all that you are for His sake, trusting Jesus to perfect all that concerns you, letting go of selfish will and ambitions, and submitting to the will of the Father.
DAILY take up your cross and follow – cross signifies death and suffering. You die daily to sin and self. You must refuse to let sin and self rule in your bodies, put to death your members which are on earth and starve them by not giving in to its desires instead set your mind on the things above and long for the pure milk of GOD’S WORD that you may grow (1Peter 2:2).
Jesus Christ showed us the way of the cross
Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory? (Luke 24:26 NKJV)
Before Jesus was exalted, He had to go to the cross. There is no glory without the cross.
Does this mean we must experience a physical death? NO! Jesus paid the ultimate price, even though it was our fate (Romans 6:23). God made Him who knew no sin to be sin so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). Because of what Jesus has done, we no longer belong to ourselves; we have become slaves of righteousness and are no longer slaves to sin (Romans 6:18).
Therefore, sharing in His death means that we must die to sin/flesh and to self.
Jesus said, “I do nothing of Myself but only what I see the Father do, I speak only the things the Father taught Me (John 5:19; 8:28-29). Jesus was TOTALLY submitted to the will of the Father; fulfilling this will was food to Him (John 4:34).
Do not be deceived by this world’s flashy and attractive things; the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life – they will all pass, and only God’s word will stand. One day, this world and everything in it will be no more (1 John 2:16-17).
My questions for you are…
When it is all said and done, and the King appears in His glory to judge the whole earth, would you appear with Him?
Are you ready to deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Jesus while submitting to His Lordship and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide and govern your life?
Let us pray!
Lord Jesus, come into my life and make my heart Your home. Help me to surrender everything for You, take up my cross daily, and follow You. Grant me the grace to walk in obedience and endure until the end. In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Welcome to the family of God! Your journey with Christ has just begun, and He promises to be with you till the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).
Your Confession Now
I have been CRUCIFIED with Christ; it is no longer I who lives but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me (Galatians 2:20).
