Ye Shall Live

Obviously the Apostle was not speaking of living physically because we live physically whether or not we put to death the deeds of our body. In any case the context reveals that the issue here is spiritual life, in particular the making alive of the mortal body.

If we live after the flesh we will kill our own spiritual life and consequently produce a resurrection of corruption.

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken (make alive) your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11)

Far more than is realized in our day, the purpose of our Christian life is to attain to the resurrection to eternal life, in particular, the crown of life and righteousness.

The Apostle Paul toward the end of his life was seeking to attain to the first resurrection from the dead.

If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. (Philippians 3:11)

The resurrection of the dead, the out-resurrection that is the subject here, must be attained. It is not gained by making an initial profession of belief in Christ. If it were, Paul would not still be seeking such perfection after serving the Lord for so many years.

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)

Let us think for a moment what it means to "attain unto the resurrection (out-resurrection) of the dead."

After we receive the forgiveness of sins through the blood atonement made by Christ, and are baptized in water and in the Holy Spirit, we find that we now have a choice. We can continue to live as an adamic man, our mind being involved with the things of this world.

For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (Romans 8:5)

Or we can begin to enter into the things of the Spirit of God by praying earnestly each day, meditating in the Scriptures, and having fellowship with fervent Christians.

We can seek to save our life, or we can present our body a living sacrifice that we may prove the will of God for ourselves, finding what area of service He has in mind for us.

After having been a Christian for fifty-two years it is our opinion that there are few believers who truly are presenting their body a living sacrifice, who are taking up their cross and following the Master. There are some, but they are but a handful compared with the number of people who profess faith in Christ. This is true in the United States of America. Whether it is true in other countries we are not qualified to say.

As we learn to walk in the Spirit, being guided and helped by godly elders (for walking in the Spirit is an art that requires many years to perfect; and there are dangers!), we find we have in our personality a tendency to look to the things of the world for our security and survival, there are lusts, passions, and appetites in our flesh that are not holy, and we have a strong will that is determined to accomplish its own desires.

These three areas, trust in the world, fleshly lusts, and self-will bring spiritual death.

As we are faithful in cooperating with the Spirit in overcoming the world, our flesh, and our self-will we are given to eat of the body and blood of Christ. We increase daily in eternal life. Christ is formed in us. The adamic personality continually is being crucified. This is what it means to attain to the out-resurrection from the dead.

As the sins in our personality are brought to our attention, and we confess and renounce them, we actually are passing before the Judgment Seat of Christ. If we are faithful in confessing and renouncing our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. These sins never will be brought up again. It is an eternal judgment.

Since we have been sealed by the Spirit to the day of redemption, and since the Scripture teaches that to those who look for Him the Lord will appear the second time without sin unto salvation, it seems safe to say that the sins that have not been dealt with during our lifetime because of lack of time, or for some other reason, will be removed by the Lord when He appears, on the basis that we have been faithful in every opportunity we have had.

And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. (Zechariah 3:4)

But if we have not cooperated with the Holy Spirit when He has pointed out our sins to us, have not confessed and renounced our sins, have not taken up our cross and followed the Master, we will receive the evil we have practiced. We have not been faithful in the lesser, we will not be trusted with the greater. We have wasted the talent given to us. The outer darkness will be our portion.

If we have been faithful in confessing and renouncing our sins, then, in the day of resurrection, we will be clothed with a sparkling white garment of righteous deeds.

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness (righteous deeds) of saints. (Revelation 19:8)

If in addition to being faithful in confessing and renouncing our sin we were faithful in entering the sufferings of Christ so that His resurrection life could spill over to those around us, thus turning many to righteousness, we will receive not only a white robe of righteous deeds but also a crown of eternal life and righteousness. When we are crowned with eternal life and righteousness we will possess the authority and power to command righteousness throughout the area of the creation of God assigned to us.

Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. (II Timothy 4:8)

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (Revelation 2:10)

In order to participate in the first resurrection, the resurrection of the royal priesthood, we must be cleansed from sin to the point that the second death, the Lake of Fire, which has authority over sin, no longer has authority over us.

Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power (authority), but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. (Revelation 20:6)

The thrones that govern the creation of God are reserved for those who attain to the crown of life and righteousness.

And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (Revelation 20:4)

The Apostle Paul was seeking to attain to the out-resurrection, the resurrection that will take place when the Lord appears. He continually brought his physical body under subjection so he would not sin and thus be disqualified. Paul had a keen appreciation of the value of the rewards assigned to the overcomer.

How about you and me? Are we willing to lay all else aside that we may learn to live by the power of Christ's resurrection and to share Christ's suffering-suffering that is continuing to this day as Christ is pressed by the evil in the creation?

Will we count all else as garbage that we may win Christ and be found in Him, not having the righteousness that comes from keeping the Law of Moses but the righteousness given to everyone who trusts in Christ and follows the Spirit of God?

Will it be death or life for you and me?

It will be death if we choose to live in our adamic nature.

It will be a glorious resurrection filled with incorruptible life in spirit, soul, and body if we choose to walk each day in the Spirit of God, looking to the Lord Jesus in all that we think, say, and do.

Death or life! It's up to you and me to decide.