“We preach Christ crucified”
1 Corinthians 1:23

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My Beloved Is Mine

Posted on by newmanforchrist

From the Song of Songs (verse 2:16; 1:2; 1:3; 2:3; 2:4; 5:16; 8:7; 5:16; 2:8; 2:10; 7:10; 8:14; 2:10; 1:4; 8:5; 1:4)
© 2007 Samuel House Ministries 
www.ChristCrucified.info

This is my love song to Jesus.  The words are from the Song of Songs because they so perfectly describe my feelings of devotion to the Lord.  This is a very prophetic song and it has many layers of meaning.  Every time I sing it, the deeper meanings become clearer to me.  My prayer is that, as you grow in the Lord, the meanings of this song will become clearer and clearer to you as well, and that you will sing it to Jesus as your love song too.

My Beloved Is Mine

My Beloved is mine and I am His
His love is sweeter than wine
His Name is like oil, purified
In His shade I sit down and delight

His fruit is so lovely and sweet to my taste
His banner o’er me is love
His mouth is so full of sweetness
He is greatly to be desired

Many waters cannot quench His love
Nor shall the mighty rivers overflow
This is my Beloved and this is my Friend
Oh daughters of Jerusalem

Listen, my Beloved He comes
Climbing the mountains, leaping on the hills
Arise my darling and come away
His desire is for me

Make haste my Beloved, my Beautiful One
Draw me after You, together we shall run
Who is this leaning on her Lord?
Oh draw me after You

The River

Posted on by newmanforchrist

A Warning for America
(This vision was received in May 2016)

   I was standing beside a very wide, slow moving river in America.  There were no houses or buildings in sight, just trees alongside the river, which ran through a very flat area.  It was a very sunny, warm day with no clouds in the sky.  As I stood beside the river, I began to notice small American Indian canoes drifting down the river toward me.  This was deeply concerning, for I knew what lay ahead:  an enormous waterfall, only a short distance away.  I began to yell at first, and then began to wave my hands as well, trying to warn the people in the canoes to pull over to the side of the river and get out of the current.  I could tell by the sounds of their voices that they had no sense of what was happening or the danger they were in.  They were laughing and talking like this was just a pleasant summer paddle down the river; they had no idea that within moments they were going to be headed into terrible danger and death.  I began to shout at the top of my lungs, and wave my arms over my head, trying to get their attention and direct them to safety.  This I could not do.  I saw one person look over at me briefly, as if thinking, “What’s her problem?” and then turn to her friend behind her, and laugh.  I increased my efforts to warn them, but none of them seemed to be hearing me or heeding my calls.  They seemed to think this was a pleasant river cruise, just an enjoyable pastime on a lazy, hot summer day.  Then with horror, I saw them getting caught in the pull of the strong current that was leading to the waterfall.  Suddenly, they began to realize what was happening to them, and frantically tried to paddle to the side of the river to break free from its grip, but it was too late.  The river now had its hold on them and there was no escaping it.  With great sadness and sorrow, I watched as they were all swept away around the bend toward the huge waterfall and to their death and doom.

   This vision perfectly describes how I feel everyday as I warn my neighbors, friends and family of what lies ahead in the future concerning the world situation and their spiritual condition.  I know there is a waterfall of doom and judgment ahead.  I know how to escape the world’s treacherous current of sin and I know how easy it is to be spiritually deceived into thinking it is just a “lazy summer day,” and to be lulled into spiritual apathy.  I do not seem to be able to get anyone to heed my warnings or listen to me concerning these things and, with great sadness, I watch them float past me and get caught in the pull of the ever-increasing current that leads to the waterfall.  One by one they all slip by me and I am left alone by the side of the river.  If you are reading this and you can hear what I am saying, turn your canoe to the side right now and head to the river bank.  Believe in the Lord Jesus and His deliverance for you from the power of sin, and His guidance during the difficult days ahead.  This is no lazy, summer day.  You are headed toward the waterfall and spiritual death and judgment.  Why not listen to God calling you before it is too late?

“Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says, ‘Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.’”  Hebrews 3:7-8

The Coming Winter

Posted on by newmanforchrist

(This vision was received in 2006)

One night as I was praying and seeking the Lord, I was greatly troubled and burdened about the spiritual state of the church.  I was deeply distressed that the body of Christ, which outwardly looked like a beehive of activity, had so precious little of Christ’s life and power.  I asked God how His will and purpose for the church could ever emerge from this dismal situation.  As I entreated the Lord, He then gave me the following vision.

   I saw a large forest with thousands of trees.  Many of the trees in the forest were old oak trees that were at least sixty feet tall.   I saw that many of the branches were intertwined so that a thick canopy of leaves covered the forest.  As I was observing this scene, a gentle wind began to stir all the leaves on the trees.  The Lord said, “The forest is the body of Christ and My Spirit is breathing on the body.  As a result, many in the body are restless and dissatisfied with the condition of their spiritual lives.”  The Lord then said, “It is now autumn, and this present stirring is only the beginning.       All this activity that you see in the body is not the long-awaited outpouring of the Holy Spirit.  For the body of Christ does not yet know that it has died.”

  “First must come the winter,” said the Lord.  As soon as the Lord spoke these somber words, the wind began to quickly increase in force and I saw all the leaves shrivel and die.  A strong gust then blew all the leaves completely off the trees and I saw them scatter in the wind.  Then, just as suddenly, a fierce and bitter cold winter came upon the land and blew through the forest.  Dark gray winter clouds covered the skies as far as           I could see.  I surveyed the forest and saw that the bare trees now looked desolate and vulnerable on the frozen landscape.  Powerful gusts of freezing cold wind blew continuously upon the trees.  The Lord said, “The wisdom and strength of men will fail them in the coming winter and the works of their hands will be destroyed.”  I then saw many tree branches break off in the strong wind and fall to the icy ground.  Even some of the largest trees in the forest were uprooted and toppled.  The harsh winter caused great destruction and seemed to last for a long time.  The Lord said, ‘Many will fall away from the faith during this time.  Only those whose roots are deep in Me will endure the coming winter.”  The Lord then said, “I am sending the winter to prepare the body of Christ so it can receive the outpouring of My Spirit.”  When He said this, I had a strong impression that He was sending the winter because of His great love for His people.

   The winter then came to an end and the forest became still.  I saw a spring rain begin to fall on the earth.  It grew until it was a continuous downpour, which soaked the barren ground under the old trees.  The Lord said, “This is the promised latter rain!”  Then sprouts of new life – new trees – began to rise up everywhere on the forest floor.  I said to myself, “This is how God’s purpose for His body would be fulfilled – from out of the death of our natural strength would spring the resurrection power of Christ’s new life.”    I saw that God would use the coming winter to bring His people into this truth: we have been crucified with Christ and we no longer live, but Christ lives in us; and the life we now live, we live by faith in the Son of God (Galatians 2:20).  Then the Lord said to me, “Record the vision so that those who hear it may run.”

“Record the vision and inscribe it on tablets, that the one who reads it may run.    For the vision is yet for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal and will not fail.  Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay.”  Habakkuk 2:2-3

The Big Trouble

Posted on by newmanforchrist

(This vision was received in 2007)

I saw before me an enormous, cresting wave.  It was massive, like a tidal wave, full of destructive power.  The Lord said to me, “A great and terrible time of trouble is about to encompass the whole earth.  Many people are going to come to Me during this time.”  Immediately following this wave of trouble was another huge wave, just as big as the first and also cresting.  This was a wave of the Holy Spirit.  As I looked at this second wave, I saw that it was going to be a wave of God’s Spirit that would bring salvation, sanctification, comfort and revelation to all those that turned to God.  Although I was distressed to know that this “Big Trouble” was coming, I felt assured that God’s Spirit was following behind it with His healing and delivering power.  This was in itself a great comfort.  I was immersed with this thought:  Jesus is all that we need; all that we truly have in this world.  Instead of feeling frightened, I felt eager to see the Lord’s Spirit at work, and blessed to be living in such a time as this on the earth.

  Then the Lord began to give me instruction: We were to live in Him in a totally undivided way – in complete consecration.  There was no time to waste – all distractions must be put aside.  Everything that entangled and everything that diverted us from the will of the Lord must be cut off.  This word was urgent; there was no time to delay.  Our houses (our lives) must be built solidly on the Rock, which was Christ.  The first wave was signifying that a great storm was on its way: Batten down the hatches!  Secure the foundation!  Close all the windows and be prepared!  “But how can we prepare, Lord?”  I asked.  “Be filled with My Word,” said the Lord, “and be filled with My Holy Spirit.”  I knew what He meant:  He wanted us to be completely sanctified to Him in every way and to live continually under His Sovereignty.  This is how we would be able to endure in the midst of the Big Trouble. “Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus (Revelation 14:12).”  The Lord’s people do not need to fear.  Through Christ’s death on the cross, God has made His people completely capable of remaining faithful to Him during this time.  The strength of men will fail and all that depend on their own strength will perish.  “But the people who know their God will display strength and take action (Daniel 11:32).”

“The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.  This is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.  This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”  Psalm 118:22-24

The Ark of the Lord

Posted on by newmanforchrist

(This vision was received in 2009)

A great and barren desert stretched before me, as far as the eye could see.  There were no plants or animals of any kind.  The sand on which I stood was hard and flat, like concrete – it was a desolate wasteland.  In the distance were low, rounded hills that had nothing growing on them.  The entire landscape was lifeless.

  As I stood before this scene, I saw a beautiful, gold, ornate box in front of me.  I immediately recognized it was the Ark of the Lord.  Its dimensions and gold overlay also made this evident to me.  But I was puzzled because there were no winged cherubim or carrying poles on the Ark.  The Ark sat on the ground.  I thought to myself that the Ark looked very small, alone and strangely out of place in these surroundings.  There was not a sound anywhere.

  As I was looking at the Ark of the Lord, the earth began to tremble, as if some gigantic animal was approaching from far away.  I looked toward my right, at the horizon.  I could see nothing.  But the tremors in the desert continued to grow stronger and louder, and it was obvious that something enormous was walking toward me.  I stood still and watched.

   All of a sudden, a huge beast appeared in the distance.  I knew immediately who he was – the enemy of the saints.  He was about twenty-five feet tall.  He was red all over and I noticed that he had very thick legs, huge muscles, a monstrous scowling face, large sharp teeth, and horns all over the top of his head.  As he walked straight toward the Ark, the earth trembled under his feet.

  When he approached the Ark, he picked it up with his giant claw-like hands.  He seemed to think there was something inside the Ark that he wanted to destroy.  His rage and violence were terrible.  He roared in fury and was delighted that the Ark was finally in his possession.  He began to try to destroy the Ark and everything in it.  He wanted to devour it.

  He picked up the Ark again with his two hands.  With an earth-shaking scream, he threw it to the ground.  He was surprised that he was not able to crush it.  He screeched again, picked up the Ark, and threw it repeatedly to the ground.  He was infuriated that the Ark could not be demolished or broken apart by the force of his violence and hatred and that he could not reach what was inside.

  Then a voice said to me quietly, “Look inside the Ark.”  Immediately, I was able to see what was inside of it.  Hidden in this beautiful, golden Ark were the saints of the Lord.  Every time the enemy threw the Ark to the ground, the saints inside the Ark were not spiritually harmed in any way.  In fact, the opposite was true.  In the Ark was a small glorious army with banners!  They were silently marching and each one held a large, colorful, unfurled flag up high on a pole.  I looked at their faces; they were all jubilantly smiling and radiant with the Lord’s glory.  “These are the saints of the Lord,” I thought, “And what a joyful, triumphant army they are!”  Nothing could overcome them.

  The Ark was their hiding place.  They were safe inside the Ark.  The beast could not penetrate the Ark or touch them.  It was an Ark of refuge, victory and peace in the middle of great spiritual darkness and evil on the earth.      It was the Ark of His Presence.

   So much can be said about this vision.  I will not interpret it at this time.  Those for whom it is meant will understand its meaning without an explanation.  This vision is an instruction.  This vision is a warning of things to come.  Take heed and find refuge in the Ark of the Lord.

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony and they did not love their lives even when faced with death.”  Revelation 12:11

The Wedding

Posted on by newmanforchrist

(This vision was received in 2007)

I was invited to a wedding. I arrived at the reception hall, which was large enough to hold many thousands of people. The guests were standing around in groups of eight to ten and laughing, drinking wine, and enjoying trays of food that were being served by waiters. Everyone was busy conversing; there was great happiness and excitement – a very jovial atmosphere. I looked up at the ceilings: they were at least forty feet tall, with huge concrete beams spanning the immense room. I looked from one end of the reception hall to the other. There was no furniture and no decorations of any kind. It was very plain. The hall seemed almost endless; I could not even see a wall at either end. I felt happy too; we were all here for a great occasion, and there was a feeling of anticipation in everyone – or so I thought. I joined in, eating and drinking and making merry for a very long time.

Then I began to look around me, wondering when the wedding would begin. I walked from group to group, chatting pleasantly with everyone, and occasionally asking someone, “When is the wedding going to begin?” I saw no signs of a wedding, although I was sure I had come to the right place on the right date. Since everyone else assured me they were here for the wedding too, I tried to be patient, but I was increasingly restless and bored. I continued to ask others about the wedding, but they began to be annoyed with me for asking. One person even said to me, “Isn’t this great already? Why do we need to go to a wedding?” and then he turned back to socializing. Well, this wasn’t “great” enough for me! I had been invited to a wedding, and a wedding was what I wanted! I could not get anybody to be interested in this wedding. They looked at me like I was crazy to be even thinking about it. So, I decided I would wander around the perimeter of the enormous reception hall to see if I could find a door to the wedding, which I was sure was about to begin. I could not understand how any of the other guests could be satisfied with just a reception.

It took me a long time. There were no doors opening into a wedding chamber. But I could not be dissuaded; I knew I was going to find the place where this wedding (that I had been invited to) was going to occur. After I had gone nearly three-quarters of the way around the hall, I found a little, wooden, brown door hidden behind what looked like a shelf for storing things used in the reception hall. The door was only three feet tall and about a foot wide; hardly a door at all, I thought to myself. It had a very old fashioned door knob too, like door knobs made hundreds of years ago, and I couldn’t imagine that it was anything but a storage closet, perhaps. But I was looking for a wedding, so I tried the door knob, turning it slowly – and it opened! It seemed dark and I couldn’t see anything beyond the doorway. So I put my head through, and then I turned my body sideways (I was on my hands and knees) and pushed myself through the opening.

I pulled myself up to a standing position, and was stunned by what I saw: I was in a very elaborately decorated and well lit throne room. In comparison to the reception hall outside, it was small. The walls were carvings of gold and there were tapestries of blue, purple and red hanging from top to bottom on these walls. In front of me, a wide red carpet led to the left and then straight toward some stairs. Standing on either side of the red carpet were about four hundred men and women. They were all dressed in wedding clothes; beautiful wedding clothes of fine linen, of many different colors. They all looked at me and smiled at that moment. They seemed to have been waiting for me to arrive! It dawned on me all at once – they were waiting for the bride – and I was the bride! As I began to walk slowly down this red carpet like a bride walks toward her groom, they began to clap softly, as if they knew something that I was just beginning to discover.

I looked ahead of me and there He was – Jesus – the love of my life – standing at the top of the stairs at the end of the carpet – waiting for me. He was smiling lovingly at me; He had His arms held in front of Him, opened wide.

As I walked down the carpet toward Him, everyone continued clapping. I had a strong feeling that, at one time, they had each done this very same thing, and that they were very glad I had also made it to the wedding. I had the most wonderful feeling that this wedding had been planned from before time and that these people were my spiritual family. I felt completely one with them. I knew them and they knew me. There were no strangers here at the wedding.

As I walked toward Jesus, something miraculous happened. My appearance began to transform into an entirely new looking person: a stunningly beautiful bride. My wedding dress was white, with a slight tinge of light blue, and was made of a material I had never seen before. It looked like cobwebs of the finest and lightest lace, finer than any lace ever woven on earth. The train of my wedding dress elegantly flowed behind me as I approached my bridegroom, Jesus. My beauty increased as I walked toward my Lord! My eyes were fixed on Him and I was radiant.

And then the vision was over. I wept for joy at what I had seen and what the Lord had revealed to me. There is much symbolism in each part of this vision. I will give no explanation at this time but will leave room for God to speak to your own heart of its interpretation. This vision of “the Wedding” has given me great comfort, especially during times of severe distress or when I have been deeply discouraged or spiritually weary. I hope it comforts you in the same way that it has comforted me.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14

Dead to Sin but Alive to God in Christ

Posted on by newmanforchrist

Truth We Can Count On

“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” Romans 6:11

   This is the final verse and summary of the first section of Romans Chapter Six (verses 1-11).  This verse declares the powerful outcome of Christ’s work on the cross.  When Jesus Christ died on the cross, His last words were, “It is finished! (John 19:30).  With His death, Jesus Christ knew He had fully completed the divine work that God had sent Him to earth to accomplish.  Christ completely redeemed us from sin – from sin’s punishment and from sin’s power so that we might serve Him in holiness all the days of our life (Luke 1:74-75).  The Bible says, “Christ Jesus… gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession (Titus 2:13-14).”  This is Christ’s complete and victorious salvation, which He purchased for us by His death on the cross!  Let us now look at this verse:

  • “Count yourselves dead to sin.”  The King James Version uses the word “reckon” here instead of “count.”  The Greek word for “reckon” or “count” is logizomai, a bookkeeping or accounting termwhich means to “credit to the account.”  Accounting is the precise reckoning of facts.  There is no uncertainty in mathematics.  Two plus two equals four in every language of the world.  To reckon yourself dead to sin means you can count with certainty on the divine fact that your sinful nature has been crucified with Christ and you have been freed from sin.  It means the question of our complete salvation (freedom from both the penalty of sin and the power of sin) has been settled by God’s accounting and purchased by Christ’s death on the cross.  In the previous ten verses in this chapter of Romans, the apostle Paul stated seven times that we have died with Christ.  Based on the New Testament Greek, this is not just a symbolic or theoretical death.  Our inner sinful nature, which was central to who we were and at the very core of our self-identity, actually died when we received Christ.  Therefore, our death in Christ is not merely conceptual or positional; it is a Biblically-proven fact, which we can count on and base our Christian life on.  However, mere mental assent will not give you this kind of absolute conviction in your spirit; only divine revelation from the Holy Spirit can settle this matter in your heart, and give you the faith to take hold of this divine fact.  

   Why is it important to spiritually know (believe and act on) the certainty that you have died with Christ?  This central fact of Christ’s Atonement is the foundation which upholds a number of other important Biblical truths and promises.  When Paul introduced Romans Chapter Six, he asked, “What shall we say then?  Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? (Romans 6:1).”  Paul responded, “Absolutely not,” because something profoundly radical happened to us when we were born again – we were immersed into Christ’s death and we died to sin!  Since you have died with Christ, then you no longer have a sinful nature (Romans 6:6).  Since you no longer have a sinful nature, you have been freed from the power of sin (Romans 6:7; Galatians 6:14).  Since you have been freed from sin, you are capable of serving God with a pure heart (Romans 6:18; 1 Peter 2:16).  Since you are God’s bondservant, you can walk in sanctification (Romans 6:19).  And if you walk in sanctification, you will then know the Lord (Matthew 7:23; Hebrews 12:14).  And if you know the Lord, you will then inherit eternal life and reign with Him in the age to come (Romans 6:22; Revelation 21:7).  Conversely, if you do not know that you have died with Christ in order to overcome the sin of the world, then you will not receive any of these divine promises.  The Bible says, “He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be His God and he will be My son (Revelation 21:7).”

  • “Alive to God in Christ Jesus.”  Because we have died in Christ, we are now alive to God in Christ.  This is the first time that Paul uses the phrase “in Christ” in the his letter to the Romans.  This precious phrase appears more than eighty times in the New Testament.  All the promises of God belong to us who are “in Christ.”  “Blessed be the God and Father God of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).”  The truth that we have died in Christ is a divine fact.  Whether we believe it or not, it is the truth.  When Christ died, we died in Him and our sinful nature has been removed from us so that He could sovereignly live in us.  This is the gospel (good news) of Jesus Christ.  However, if we never believe and act on this divine truth, this good news will never become real in our life, and we will never experience the truth of what happened on the cross.  All the divine promises associated with this divine fact will come to naught unless we believe and act on God’s word.  Jesus said, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free (John 8:31-32).”

   Therefore, we cannot “reckon” or “count” ourselves alive to God in Christ (Romans 6:11) unless we “know” by faith that our sinful nature has died in Christ (Romans 6:6).  And we cannot spiritually know that we have died in Christ unless God has given us divine revelation on this truth.  We need to receive revelation from God Himself in order to inwardly receive this divine truth with spiritual conviction and not just mere mental assent to doctrine.  Revelation will spontaneously lead us into reckoning.  Just as there should be a definite date that we can mark as the day that we know we were saved by Christ; in the same way, there should be a definite date that we can mark as the day that we know we have died in Christ.  Of course, both these spiritual events actually occurred on the same date – the day we were born again.  However, God will not spiritually reveal this divine truth to us unless we are willing to give Him complete sovereignty over our life.

   A dramatic spiritual breakthrough will occur in your life when God shows you that He has dealt a death-blow to your sinful Adam nature when He crucified you with Christ.  When you know that your sinful nature died with Christ, you will recognize the futility and evil of depending on your natural personality and ability to serve Christ.  You will agree with God’s assessment that your heart was desperately wicked and beyond reform.  You will agree with God’s decision that execution and not reformation was His righteous verdict.  After God has revealed to you that you have died with Christ, He can then begin to show you the difference between your spirit and soul and how your unsubmitted soul is of no use to Him.  God can then train you to hear and obey the voice of His Spirit and be filled and empowered by His indwelling Spirit instead of continuing to think and act ignorantly out of your soul-power (your natural wisdom and ability).  When God reveals to you that the divine purpose and verdict of the cross was not only for Christ to die for you but to also make sure that you died with Christ, you will cease to have confidence in your natural ability to serve Christ and bear His fruit.  From that time on, you will no longer want to depend on your natural energy and talent to serve Christ, but instead you will want to always look to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, to sovereignly live His life through you, as you continually believe that you have died in Him. 

   Once you really know (believe and act on) the truth that you have died in Christ, there will be a progressive outworking of this truth in your life.  However, this working out of your salvation (which Jesus called the bearing of your own cross daily) must always occur from a position of faith in the divine fact that you have already been crucified in Christ and have already died to sin.  Therefore, you are not trying to be crucified in some distant future by some extraordinary effort on your part.  God tells you to reckon or count yourself as dead because it is a divine fact – you have already been crucified in Christ – you are dead to sin!  This is not just “make-believe.”  We are not trying to believe something into existence.  Our faith rests in something that has already occurred.  This is an actual event (the death of our sinful nature) that occurred when we were born again and spiritually immersed into Christ’s death on the cross.  Why are we dead to sin?  We are dead to sin because our sinful nature is dead and gone.  Just as Christ died to sin once for all, in the same way, we have died to sin once for all.  Once you really know this divine fact, you can count on it and act on it by bearing your own cross, and all the divine promises of God will become experientially yours.

   We fervently pray that you would wholeheartedly believe and act on the divine truth of the cross of Christ so that God might be glorified through your life.  May God give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the true knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ and may the eyes of your heart be enlightened to know the fullness of Christ’s completed work on the cross so that you might receive all the riches of intimately knowing our great and glorious God.

Dead to Sin Once For All

Posted on by newmanforchrist

“For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.” Romans 6:10

   The apostle Paul uses the word “death,” “died” or “dead” twelve times in the first eleven verses of Romans Chapter Six.  Many of these verses also refer to our spiritual death in Christ.  For Christ not only died to sin once and for all eternity; He also died for our sins once and for all eternity.  “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.  He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit (1 Peter 3:18)”.  When Christ died to sin, God included us in Christ’s death.  Therefore, our sinful nature died with Christ once and for all.  The New Testament Greek word for “died”, which Paul used in a number of these verses, is apothnesko, which means expired or died and conveys a sense of finality – of being very dead.  It is important to understand that this word “died” is expressed in the Greek aorist tense, which refers to a single action that occurred in the past.  In this context, “died” does not mean that we aredying to sin (present tense) nor does it mean that we will die to sin (future tense).  “Died” here means a decisive, past action – a death that has already occurred.  We have died (past tense)!  For example, in Romans 6:7-8, Paul wrote, “Anyone who has died has been freed from sin… we have died with Christ.”  We have been freed once and for all time from both the penalty of sin and the power of sin and we now have newness of life in Christ.  The Bible says, “Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4).”

   Paul declared that he preached the gospel of “Christ crucified” (1 Corinthians 1:23).  Paul’s instruction on the spiritual meaning of our crucifixion with Christ is the foundation of his apostolic teaching to the church.  “For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2).”  Paul told the churches in Galatia that he had clearly explained the purpose of Christ’s crucifixion to them (Galatians 3:1).  He taught the believers in Rome that they had been crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6).  He told the church in Colossae that they had died with Christ (Colossians 3:3). 

   How often do we hear a sermon that we have died with Christ?  How often do we hear teaching on what this profound and powerful truth of Christ’s death on the cross means to us and so that we can practically apply it in our lives and bear our own cross?  This is the gospel of the cross of Christ, which was Paul’s divine commission.  Today, many Christians only want to hear that they have an abundant life in Christ.  However, the divine order is that death must always come before life.  You cannot experience Christ’s abundant life unless you first learn to abide (stay united by faith) in Christ’s death and bear your own cross.  If you never believe and act on the Biblical truth that you have died in Christ and apply this truth in your life, you will never experience the power of Christ’s resurrection life.  This is why many Christians are still spiritually weak and worldly even after they have been saved for many years.  This is the reason why so many Christians have fallen away from the faith and succumbed to the deceitful power of sin.  Let us now look at this verse:

  • “For the death that he died, He died to sin once for all.” Since God has included us in Christ’s death, our sinful nature does not secretly inhabit our physical body just waiting to be “resurrected” and overpower us.  Our sinful nature does not reside within us like a dormant volcano, which can spontaneously erupt into life and cause destruction and havoc at any time.  Absolutely not!  Our sinful nature was crucified and buried with Christ.  It has been destroyed – it is dead and gone!  “For the death that he died, He died to (put away) sin once for all.”  Since we have died with Christ, we have also died to sin once and for all!  “For he who has died has been freed from sin (Romans 6:7).”
  • “But the life that He lives, He lives to God.”  Since Christ was made alive in the Spirit, we too have been made alive in the Spirit and raised with Him (Ephesians 2:4-6).  “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you (Romans 8:11).”  Since God included us in Christ’s resurrection, we now can also live to God.  The Bible says, “We are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.  And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again (2 Corinthians 5:14-15).”

   Because we are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, we too have the ability to fulfill God’s will.  As the apostle Peter instructed, “so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God (1 Peter 4:2).”  The Bible says we will reign as overcomers in life through Christ.  “For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).”  This is our glorious destiny and present day reality made possible by faith in Christ’s death and resurrection!

Tomorrow: Romans 6:11

Death Is Not Our Master

Posted on by newmanforchrist

“For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he can never die again; death is no longer master over Him.” Romans 6:9

   Our Christian faith rests on Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead.  The apostle Paul said, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless and you are still in your sins (1 Corinthians 15:17).”  Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead is God’s witness to three great facts.  First, it testifies to the immense power of God Himself and His absolute sovereignty over life and death.  To believe in Christ’s resurrection is to believe in God Himself.  Second, it testifies that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  And third, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a testimony to the future resurrection of all believers in Christ.

   All other religions were founded by a man whose end was the grave; however, the grave could not hold Jesus Christ.  Only Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and then rose from the dead on the third day (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).  Because Jesus is the Son of God, death could not hold Him in its grip (Romans 1:4; Acts 2:24).  The Bible says that over five hundred eyewitnesses personally saw Jesus Christ after He was raised from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:6).   The resurrection of Jesus Christ not only proves that Jesus is the Son of God; it also proves God has the power to raise us from the dead.  It guarantees that those who believe in Christ will not remain dead, but will be resurrected into eternal life.  Unlike other religions, Christianity alone has a founder who rose from the dead and who promises that His followers will do the same.  Because Jesus Christ rose from the dead, death no longer has any power over Him (Acts 13:34) and because we are in Christ, death no longer has any power over us!  “Now God has not only raised the Lord from the dead, but He will also raise us up through His power (1 Corinthians 6:14).”  Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he died (John 11:25).”  This is our blessed hope!

   Through Christ’s death on the cross, we have been freed from the power of sin and death.  “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death (Romans 8:2).”  Since death has no more dominion over Christ, it has no more dominion over us.  By His resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ has conquered both sin and death for all those who love and obey Him.  Christ has become “the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep,” meaning that we will follow Him in resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20).  “This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished deathand brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (2 Timothy 1:9-10).”  Since Christ has freed us from the power of death, we have also been freed from the fear of death.  “By the grace of God He might taste death for everyone… that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives (Hebrews 2:9, 14-15).”

   Jesus spoke of that day when the dead will hear His voice and be resurrected.  “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear it will live (John 5:25).”   All those who practice hearing and obeying Jesus’ voice now will hear and obey His voice then, and rise from the dead in that day.  Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death (John 8:51).”  The apostle Paul wrote, “For if we believe the Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus… for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thessalonians 4:14-16).”

   How will we be raised from the dead?  We have God’s imperishable, heavenly seed – Christ – living in us.  Therefore, just as Christ was raised from the dead, we also will be raised from the dead.  “Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and the mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, ‘Death is swallowed up in victory.  O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?’  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:51-57).”

   What a glorious day that will be when all of God’s people rise from the dead to join their bridegroom Jesus Christ in eternal companionship to reign in triumph with Him.  “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, ‘Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and their will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain… and there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever (Revelation 21:2-4; 22:5).”

Tomorrow: Romans 6:10

The Big “If”

Posted on by newmanforchrist

“Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.” Romans 6:8

   What does it mean to live with Christ?  It means that Christ’s life has become our life.  “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with Him in glory (Colossians 3:3).”  The life of Christ is a holy life.  It is a life free from the deceit and destructive power of sin.  It is a life of complete submission to God’s will.  It is a life of unbroken fellowship with God.  It is a life that is fully satisfied in God.  It is a life filled with God’s love, peace and joy.  It is the life Jesus spoke of when He said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly (John 10:10).”  It is an overcoming, triumphant, powerful spiritual life.  It is a life that cannot be shaken by the changing events in the world.  It is a life that cannot be wrecked by the schemes of the devil.  God has ordained that Christ’s life is to be our life.  Christ’s life is our spiritual destiny and Christ’s life can be our present reality.  This is the life that Christ purchased for us when He died on the cross.  The Bible says, “You shall call His name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21)… to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve Him without fear in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days (Luke 1:74-75).”  The life we have in Christ is not an impotent salvation in which we confess our sins every Sunday only to be defeated by sin every week.  Absolutely not!  Christ’s death on the cross has not only saved us from the penalty of sin; His death has saved us from the power of sin!  The cross of Christ has given us a complete and victorious salvation!  “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57)!

   However, Romans 6:8 contains the big “if” and it also assumes that we believe the big “if.”  All of God’s promises contain this big “if” even if it is not expressly stated.  If you believe God and His Word, you will receive His promises.  For example, 1 John 1:9 can only become experientially real to you if you believe it is true; otherwise, you will doubt that your sins are forgiven when the devil accuses you and condemns you.  Therefore, Romans 6:8 might also read: “Now if we believe that we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.”  In other words, we must believe and act on the Biblical truth that we have died with Christ, in order for our belief that we live with Christ to become real.  This was the apostle Paul’s testimony: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live; and the life that I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God (Galatians 2:20).”  If we don’t believe and act on this divine truth, we will doubt that our sinful nature is dead and gone when we are tempted to sin.  We will eventually give up believing that we are dead to sin in Christ.  This is particularly true in any area of your life where in the past you have had great difficulty overcoming sin.  You must stand firm by faith in the truth that your sinful nature has died with Christ and has been removed in Christ so that you can experience freedom from sin – every sin!

   There are many professing Christians who think they have Christ’s life, but their words and deeds do not demonstrate that they believe and act on the truth that they have died with Christ.  Many of these same Christians also think they still have two natures within them (Christ’s new nature and their old sinful nature).  They believe that both the presence and power of Christ and the presence and power of sin indwell them and whichever one they yield to the most gains the upper hand.  This belief is not based on the Bible.  Our faith must be based on Biblical truth to be real and effective.  Anyone who still believes that the malignant presence and power of sin indwells them has no choice but to try to live the Christian life by the power of their natural personality and strength even while they mistakenly think they are living the Christian life with “the help of” the Holy Spirit.  

   The life of Christ is an exchanged life – not a changed life.  There is a great difference.  If my old car is in need of repair, I could change its carburetor.  If it breaks down again, I could try changing its transmission.  If it fails again, I could keep changing more parts and hope it will work.  Or, I could decide my old car is beyond repair and exchange it for a brand new car.  This is similar to the divine exchange God accomplished in us.  He knew our old man was beyond repair and our sinful nature could not be changed, fixed or improved.  Therefore God completely disposed of our old sin nature and exchanged it for Christ’s divine nature.  “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).”

   We could never spiritually change ourselves; that is why God exchanged our sinful nature for Christ’s holy nature.  It is only by faith in this divine exchange of the cross of Christ that we can experience the life of Christ.  The overcoming life of Christ is not a life that we can earn by our willpower and self-effort; it is a gift of God that we receive by faith in Christ’s completed work on the cross.  “For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).”  If we believe and act on the truth that we have died with Christ, then Christ will be our life – today, tomorrow and forever!

Tomorrow: Romans 6:9

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