Mar 18 2022

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In this verse, we have a vivid reminder that we are dead to sin. In other words, we are no longer slaves to our old ways and passions, but instead, are free and able to reject sin and live as Christ has instructed us. Today, we'll think about what it means to be dead to sin—and alive in Christ.

Because Jesus has given us a new life and new desires, we are no longer alive to sin. He paid the cost for our sin on the cross, and we can stand before God without a blemish because of what He did for us. We no longer have to give an account of our sins because God has already forgiven us.

We must, Paul writes, reckon ourselves dead to sin. This means we have to intellectually understand and put on the truth that we are dead to sin. We have power over sin because we are dead to it, so when we are tempted to sin, we have the ability to deny it. We don't have to fall into its grip any longer because Jesus has set us free. Paul wants us to both intellectually understand that we are free from sin and take on the power that comes from it.

We are not simply dead to sin and then left with a vacant part of our bodies. Much to the contrary, we become dead to sin when we become alive in Christ. Where sin once had dominion, Jesus now reigns. While we once had no power to control our gossiping tongues, laziness, pride, lust, and greed, we now have Jesus, who has given us a new heart and new desires.

It is possible to become more and more alive in Christ each passing day. When we first become Christians, we are alive in Him from Day 1. However, we mature by becoming more and more alive in Him—and deader and deader to sin. As we learn more about who Jesus is through actions such as prayer, Bible study, worship, and attending church, we will become stronger in Christ. We will love Him more and want to please Him even more. At the same time, we will be more and more repulsed by sin. We will discover the life that is in Jesus, and the death that is in sin.

Dear Lord, thank you for making me alive in Christ and saving me from being dead in sin. I used to live as a slave to whatever passion came my way, but now I serve the Lord, whose love for me is my greatest passion. Help me to become more and more alive in Christ. In Jesus's name, amen.

Mar 17 2022

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. :

In his first letter, Peter delivers the solemn message that suffering is inevitable in the Christian life. We will face trials and difficulties of many kinds, but we can endure because Christ will give us strength. Indeed, as Paul writes in today's verse, Jesus was no stranger to suffering—He stepped into it so that we could be redeemed.

Peter's letter reminds us that we should not be surprised when suffering comes. Sometimes, the shock of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. However, if we are expecting—not with anticipation or dread as much as through an acknowledgment that we are not immune to the brokenness of this world—to encounter suffering, we will be more prepared to handle it in a godly way.

Jesus lived a perfect life. He was blameless in every respect. However, His life ended with one of the most painful methods of execution ever devised: crucifixion. He did not deserve this, but He took it upon Himself willingly. He had a long view of His suffering, knowing that three days after the nails pierced His hands, He would rise again. In the same way, when we endure suffering, we can take the long view of it. We can remember that while it may not be redeemed this instant, the Lord will work everything for the good.

Finally, in times of great pain, it is easy to feel as though we are all alone. It can feel like no one could possibly understand what we are going through, and it seems like the whole world is against us. Jesus knew what this felt like. He willingly stepped into suffering and endured horrific pain. He knows what it is like to be unjustifiably abandoned, rejected, and physically wounded. He did not step back and avoid suffering, but instead entered into our world and the multitude of suffering it contains. He did not spare Himself because He loved us deeply.

If you are suffering, think about Jesus. Reflect on the love that He has for you, and remember that He knows from first-hand experience exactly what you are feeling. Even if no one else knows how to comfort you, He does—and He will.

Dear Lord, I thank you for loving me so much. I do not deserve your love, and yet you give it freely. Thank you for the goodness that you have shown me day after day. Help me to endure the many trials I have in my life. Make me like you, and help me to hope in you. In Jesus's name, amen.


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