“Once there lived another man within me,

Child of earth and slave of Satan he;

But I nailed him to the cross of Jesus

And that man is nothing now to me

Now another Man is living in me,

And I count His blessed life as mine,

I have died to all my own life,

I have risen to all His life Divine.”

J. Oswald Sanders

Part 3. The victorious Christian

There was a young man who had reserved a cabin retreat for his wedding night. It came highly recommended by several people, and so with great enthusiasm he rented a room for his new bride and himself to kick off their new life together. Because they would be arriving late, the cabin keeper assured him that the door to their room would be unlocked and they could go right in, but when they arrived, they found the room to be nothing like it had been described. It was a small room about two hundred square feet with a solitary couch and bathroom at the end. He looked closer at the couch and sure enough it was a hide-a-bed so, exhausted, they pulled out the bed and slept uncomfortably the entire night.

In the morning the frustrated honeymooners went to the front desk. With a bright smile the man at the front desk said, “So, you’re the honeymooners! How did you like the room?” Disgusted, the young man replied, “It was horrible and inadequate, the hide-a-bed was uncomfortable, the room was tiny and we want a refund”. Horrified at this news, the man replied, “ Oh no, you poor children spent the night in the entry!” He took them back to the room and opened a door; a door that they assumed was the closet. It opened up into a beautiful and expansive room; fully equipped with a hot tub, a king sized bed, and beautiful fireplace. Several candles had burn down to nothing and the fire had long since gone out.

In the last 2 articles I have dealt with the death and burial of the old man, in this third article, I want to deal with the resurrected life. It is true that most Christians excited about their betrothal to Jesus Christ never make it past the entry way of their Christian experience. In fact, instead of enjoying all that God has for them in Christ, they find restlessness, and discomfort in their Christianity. Wondering, with disappointment, what happened to the abundant life Jesus talked about? Is an enjoyable Christian experience even possible?

I guess the first thing that I must address is the reason for our failure to enter into the “rest” that He intends for us. The bible warns us of this possibility in Hebrews 4:1, “Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it.” What is this wonderful rest that is promised to us as believers? It is nothing short of yielding your life to Christ that He might accomplish His work through you. Hebrews 4:10 says, “ For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works.” Is it possible that we can find rest in this life, that we can cease striving to please God, or trying to be good enough, and allow Christ to do all that is necessary, to live a life fully pleasing to God, in and through us? Paul in addressing the Galatians said, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” Gal 2:20. The reason that we fail is that we believe that the Christian life is something that we can do. That, somehow, we must try to muster up the power to live righteously, and live a life that proves our worthiness. The truth is that we are unworthy, in fact, so unworthy and deserving of death, that God had to manifest Himself in the flesh, took upon himself our punishment, and died, in order to redeem us from our unworthiness. To believe that somehow there is enough good within me to live a life that is acceptable to God, is complete folly. I suppose it is human nature to think we should do our best to please God, but the Bible is clear that we are not capable of pleasing Him outside of faith in Him. Isaiah the prophet said, “But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” Isaiah 64:6. The word Isaiah used for filthy rags here, describes the rags that have been taken from a leper’s body, filled with blood and ooze. It is important that we realize that, at our best, we are like a pile of nasty rags in the sight of God. It is only the righteousness of Christ that is acceptable before the Father, and only through Him can we live a life pleasing to the Father.

If we try to establish our own righteousness through good works, believing that through good works we can please the Father, we have rejected the grace of God. Looking again at Galatians chapter 2:21 Paul said, “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain." Paul jumps from there directly into Chapter 3 with a strong rebuke, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain; if indeed it was in vain? Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” Gal 3:1-5.

It is strange, that those of us who are believers, so readily accept Jesus Christ as Savior of our eternal soul, but neglect to allow Him to transform our lives from corruption by His Spirit of grace. We search the scriptures to find the right way do things, the next law to follow an ordinance here and requirements there, seemingly without any realization that we are incapable of pleasing God by our efforts or practice. The gospel of Jesus Christ is that He has completed it, and now I can rest in Him! Gospel means literally in the Greek, good news! And last time I checked, it still is good news, not “what must I do” but what he has done. By now we understand that our old nature was crucified with Christ, but did you know that if you have put your trust in Him for salvation that you are currently also raised with Him in His resurrection. We are resurrected into newness of life by the Spirit. Paul said to the Colossians, “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.” Colossians 3:1-3.

How do we experience this “life hid with Christ in God?” How do we “walk in the Spirit” or “enter into His rest?” The only thing difficult about the answer is how simple it really is. First, if you haven’t already, you must believe on Jesus Christ for your salvation, acknowledging that you are a sinner, and believing that He died on the cross in your place to pay for your sins, was buried, and then on the third day rose from the dead. After you have trusted Him for your salvation, trust Him with your life. Surrender your life to Him, whether you feel like it or not, acknowledging that His plans for your life are better than yours. Develop a relationship with Him by reading His word (the Bible), and talking to Him about everything (prayer) just as you would talk to your most intimate friend. Learn to trust Him (faith) and obey what He tells you to do. When you fail, quickly turn to Him (repentance) and confess your failure to Him and He promises to forgive and cleanse you (1 John 1:9). I have found in my walk with Him, that I find my greatest victories when I realize that I am helpless and I need Him to intervene. With that, He forgives, restores, and accomplishes His will in and through me.

John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” ~ Jesus

All biblical references are from the NKJV of the Bible.