If we believe we died, then we must also believe we are Alive. This is the secret to living a GraceFull life.
“For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism.” – Romans 6:4a
I have never seen a dead man feel condemnation, shame or pain over the past – have you? This is what is taken away in the second we Believe that it is taken away by simply believing that it was taken away by Christ on the cross.
Do I live every moment in the realization of this? No, certainly not! Its a growing process and I am learning to Not be so hard on myself even when all those around me want me to be hard on myself.
This was not an idea that my religious upbringing brought me to – this was the desperation of a suicidal young man who was Blessed by The God Who Is Love beyond human imagination to be brought into an idea and a belief that Radically altered my length and ability to Live life. I consider my days of religion as an existence at best with glimmers of hope but without the substance of Hope.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1
So why die? Die because all the condemnation leaves you. Die because it takes you from being under the law (which produces condemnation – see Romans 8:1, 2 Cor. 3:9, Romans 5:18) to being under Grace by Faith alone and as we can see Faith is just Resting, Hoping in what was promised. Die because through the death I am writing about here in this short devotional you Will have the Life I will write about tomorrow in “Why Live?” – I hope you will read it but if you want to get a head start on understanding this “newness” click the link below: