From dead in sin to alive in Christ

We easily use ‘dead’ as a euphemism for sleep — “Last night I slept like a dead person” — but the Bible uses it as a description for all people because we are by nature dead in sin. Death means separation from life, and in the case of sin, separation from God.

In the divine legal system, every person is born legally dead. Some are less corrupt than others in the sense of expressing their sinfulness, yet all have no spiritual life. Sin does that. Sin is the expression or evidence of death and sooner or later produces corruption. Being dead, we are unable to help ourselves and have no power to make ourselves alive.

When Lazarus died, his sisters were utterly dismayed that Jesus had not come to heal him. When He did show up, they told Him exactly how they felt, but He had something to say also:

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” (John 11:21–27)

This narrative is a test. It asks me the same questions. I’ve people in my family who are growing close to the end. Some know that Jesus is the Christ and are not fearful. Others do not and are afraid. What about me? Will the knowledge of Jesus Christ ease the dismay of death? Or will I be utterly dismayed by it and by the loss of someone I love?

Some questions cannot be answered until the challenge is actual and the issue must be addressed. Herein is the value of the Gospel. Before I knew Jesus, that question would swirl unanswered until the crisis came, but because of what He has done, I already know at least how I will react at the dying of those who know Jesus also. This Word from God is for them and for me:

“And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:1–7)

We who believe have already been given life from death! It starts with the new birth, not a decision we made, nor a group effort between us and God. It is a resurrection to life from being dead in sin, and incredible gift from God. This new life goes beyond physical life too. That is, when my body dies, I live on, and like Lazarus, I will hear the voice of Jesus calling me out from the grave. The difference is that unlike Lazarus, I will not die again, but from that point on will walk into eternity with Jesus, forever alive with a life that began when He caused me to be born again.

In other words, we who believe in Jesus already are alive from the dead. Physical death is simply that life moving from our bodies to another place that He has prepared for us, a place with no more tears, no more sorrow, a place where we will be together with Him forever.

^^^^^^^^^

Jesus, I’m aware today more than ever of the fleeting nature of this life, but this life is not all that I have! You have given me new life, Your life and because of that, there is more beyond the end of things here. Without this promise and this hope, some will say that “the best is yet to come” — little do they realize how true that is for those who know You!

This post is dedicated to my cousin, Norman who passed from this life to the next early this morning. He was my buddy when we were young and leaves many who will miss him very much.