THE DEATH OF CHRIST AND THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

THE DEATH OF CHRIST AND THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

Some say the Death of Christ is Wholly a Theological Dogma, and that it has no Necessary Connection with Spiritual Life. Nothing could be More Untrue!

The Great Practical Purpose of the Cross was to Bring us into Right Ways of Living

Christ Died in Order That we Might Live:

A life of Righteousness. Rom. 8:3-4; 1 Pet. 2:24 "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."
 A life of Holiness. Col. 1:22 "In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:"
A life of Unselfishness. 2 Cor. 5:14-15 "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."
A life of Unworldliness. Gal. 6:14 "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."
A life of Victory. 1 John 5:4-6; Heb. 12:1-3 "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth."
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds."

A life of Service. Heb. 9:14 "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
How Does the Death of Christ Make us Live Right?
What is the secret of moral and spiritual power? The Cross:

Separates us from the world - Gal. 6:14 "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world."
To accept the Cross as Paul accepted it will separate you forever from the world. So complete that to me the world is dead, and to the world I am dead! cf. Heb. 13:12-14 "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come."
Sets our conscience free from dead works - Heb. 9:14; cf. 10:22. "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"
"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."
As long as men try to be saved by works, the conscience is never free. Every sin, every failure increases the burden of guilt. It is like a man trying to pay a legal debt that keeps increasing. At last he will become discouraged and defeated. The death of Christ clears away the burden, and keeps it cleared. No matter what our failures, every moment we can begin anew with a clean slate.
Unites us with His Own Omnipotent Life - Rom. 6:1-11 "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."
People say, if the death of Christ pays all our debt and takes us out from beneath the obligation of law, then morality is imperiled,
But the same atonement that pays our debt and takes us out of the realm of law, also unites us with the Eternal and Omnipotent life of the Holy Son of God.
This guarantees the ends of Christian living.
Sets before us a Supreme Example of Unselfish Obedience and Godly Suffering. Phil. 2:5-7; 1 Peter 2:20-23 "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:"
"For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:"
Opens the door into the presence of an Infinite God. Heb. 10:19 "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,"

Here we may come for pardon and help, moral and spiritual. And we are to enter "boldly."
Puts us under an infinite debt gratitude to Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 6:20; 2 Cor. 5:15 "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."
"And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again."

The most powerful motive in human life is gratitude.

How can you say, "Christ loved me and gave Himself for me," and then go out into the world and deliberately go on sinning?
The answer is, you can't, if you are born of God.
Conclusion: Those who truly accept Christ and Him Crucified do enter into a new way of life. And that new life begins at the Cross. The death of Christ is the foundation of all true Christian living.