REDEEMED FROM DEATH
”Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentile through Jesus Christ, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” (Galatians 3:13-14 KJV)
The first curse which God said would come upon man for breaking His law is found in Genesis 2:17: ”But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shall not eat of it: for in the day that thou eateth thereof thou shalt surely die.”
Man is a spirit who possesses a soul and lives in a body (1 Thessalonians 5:23). It was the fall of man that has made ”new birth” imperative if anyone would see the kingdom of God. ”Ye must be born again.” (John 3:4,6). The real man is the spirit. The Spirit operates through the soul: the intellect, emotion, and will. The soul operates through the body. The real you (your spirit) and your soul live in a physical body. When you die physically, your spirit and soul leave the body and go to your eternal home.
Luke 16:19 – 24 shows the experience of the rich man and Lazarus. Notice that both Lazarus and the rich man were still conscious. Man is not dead like an animal. There is no such thing as ”Soul Sleep.” There are three types of death: (1) Spiritual death, (2) Physical death, (3) Eternal death or the second death which is being cast into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. Spiritual death means separation from God. When Adam sinned, he became separated from God, necessitating God to ask: ”Adam where art thou?” Jesus said to the pharisees, ”Ye are of your father, the devil” (John 8:44). Man is lost today not because of what he does but because of what he is. The good news is that man can be reborn. His nature can be changed. He can become a new creature in Christ Jesus!
”For as the father hath life in himself, so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself.” (John 5:26)
John says:
”The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life,and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)
How may we appropriate this wonderful gift of abundant life? ”But as many as received him gave he power to become the Sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
Through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we were redeemed from the curse of spiritual death. All glory to God!
A C T I O N P O I N T
Choose life. Give your life to Jesus Christ. Make Him your Lord and Personal Saviour.
P R A Y E R
Heavenly Father, I worship you. I thank you for the wonderful gift of life through your Son Jesus Christ. I acknowledge I am a sinner. Please forgive me and cleanse me with the precious blood of your dear Son. Jesus, I surrender my life to you. I believe that you died and rose from death to set me free from death. Thank you so much. Grant me the grace to live for you. My destiny is secured in your hands. I belong to you forever! Amen.
D E C L A R A T I O N
May the LORD grant you the grace to be all He wants you to be and to accomplish all he wants you to accomplish, and may the rest of your life be the Most blessed in Jesus’ Name. Amen
E D I F I E R
