Kingsway

John 10:10 (ESV)      The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  

We all want life… we all seek after it. We all desire to be rescued from this existence into something greater … LIFE. Believers and non believers alike are hungry for life … a full, abundant, overflowing life.  And Jesus offers us that life … he is the life giver. The reconciliation of God and people brought about by the redemptive life and death of Jesus. We are reconciled to God … all of it is paid for … taken care of … we are delivered … the atoning sacrifice of Jesus God’s son. There is nothing now to separate us from God … ransomed by Christ, totally pardoned from every thought … every action … everything TOTALLY.

We are totally forgiven for everything … IT IS FINISHED. This is total truth and complete reality for those who have been found and rescued. The cross did something amazing for us, it made a way, and it bridged a gap to a deep, meaningful and life-changing relationship with God … the creator and Lord of all. I am deeply grateful for God’s forgiveness … it truly takes my breath away. But I don’t want to live in a place where I am continually having to come to God with the same stuff … forgive me …forgive me … I want to change and have those things disentangled from my life. To be true … to be restored; not just whole … but holy.

This is the second part to the work of the cross … not only forgiven and pardoned for our sin …but set free to not sin again.  It’s not just what the cross did for us; it’s what it can continually do in us. It is not just an event for us, but an ongoing experience in us. It’s more that what the cross did for us all those years ago, although that in itself is a precious gift, it’s what is does and can do in and through us everyday.  I don’t have to be a slave to sin any more … and the good news is I don’t have to. I am not captive to sin … I am free. But there is more to the incredible work of Christ than the cross … if that’s not enough … we are not only forgiven and set free … we are given LIFE.

The power, richness, blessing and beauty of an abundant life through the resurrection of Christ. Jesus resurrection is also our resurrection, not just in eternity but now.

Romans 5:10 (ESV)      For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.   Ahh yes the cross is amazing … breathtaking … but how “much more” are we saved by His life. His death is one thing … but His life … ohh how much more.     Romans 5:17 (ESV)      If, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.  Romans 5:17 (MsgB)      If death got the upper hand through one man's wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides? 

How much more …. “Reign in LIFE”. Adam’s impact on the world was massive … huge … devastating … we live in a world in the direct consequences of Adam and his betrayal of God. Look around …the impact is incredible. But, Paul says … the impact of Christ’s resurrection … his Life … is so much more. So much more …  If we reduce salvation to the forgiveness of sin we face a miserable existence. Salvation is more than forgiveness … it’s LIFE.  You really can be kind …You really can be generous …You really can overcome … You really can be free from resentment …  We really can be restored to LIFE in all its fullness. Jesus doesn’t make false promises you know. 

George McDonanld (1885 – Unspoken Sermons)Let us in all the troubles of life remember-that our one lack is life-that what we need is more life-more of the life-making presence in us making us more, and more largely, alive. When most oppressed, when most weary of life, as our unbelief would phrase it, let us bethink ourselves that it is in truth the inroad and presence of death we are weary of. When most inclined to sleep, let us rouse ourselves to live. Of all things let us avoid the false refuge of a weary collapse, a hopeless yielding to things as they are. In a word, He came to supply all our lack-from the root outward; for what is it we need but more life?  Low-sunk life imagines itself weary of life, but it is death, not life, it is weary of. Never a cry went out after the opposite of life from any soul that knew what life is. Why does the poor, worn, out-worn suicide seek death? Is it not in reality to escape from death?-from the death of homelessness and hunger and cold; the death of failure, disappointment, and distraction; the death of the exhaustion of passion; the death of madness-of a household he cannot rule; the death of crime and fear of discovery? He seeks the darkness because it seems a refuge from the death which possesses him. He is a creature possessed by death; what he calls his life is but a dream full of horrible phantasms. It is not death he truly seeks … but life.

Romans 6:4-11 (ESV)      We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.     [5] For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.  [6] We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.  [7] For one who has died has been set free from sin.  [8] Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.  [9] We know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.  [10] For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.  [11] So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.  The truth is … we are alive to God in Christ.

Romans 8:2 (MsgB) A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death. 

There is a life we need that God wants to give us, but the world is in the way. The world is distracting us from the very life God wants to bring … and that life is in him. We wont experience from doing, from achieving, from business … but from him … He is the giver of Life.  We want the life … we wonder why we don’t have it ... the peace, the inner strength, the clarity, etc … Jesus said my yolk is easy and my burden is light … we want that don’t we … but we won’t get it from business, drivenness and activity …  Jesus is the life giver and the very life he gives I believe comes via the way of our hearts.

Proverbs 4:23 (ESV) Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

As there is a DAILYness of the cross … there is also a DAILYness of the resurrection … ABIDE IN HIM. He is source of all life … and when we abide in him the life power from God flows from God to us and we are laden with life … we reign in life … Recognise where the life is … and go there. The purpose of spiritual disciplines like prayer, solitude, worship and meditating on His word … is not discipline, drudgery, punishment, duty … the purpose is LIFE friends. There’s no life in that … but in his resurrection we  have LIFE … in all it’s glory … in all it’s fullness …  

God, where do I go for the life I so desperately desire? … Jesus, I come to you now for that life …