Pastor Bell's Words To Live By

If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been freed from sin (Romans 6:5-7 NIV).

Death is part of our life cycle. We are born, we live and then we die. And because of this natural order, some people see death as the culmination of everything. It is final and there seems to be nothing after this.  It is a fate that no one can escape, and throughout history many people groups have tried to avert it by using technology such as cryogenics for example, prepared for the afterlife by removing the brain from the dead person and embalming the body or by sacrificing children to their gods so that they can live on and on.

However, throughout history and the events as recorded in the biblical narrative, there is one death that was unique. This was the death of Jesus.  Death on the cross was not unique, but the fact that he did not stay dead was.  There are many who still question whether this death was real. All the biblical accounts record that he died and when the soldiers came to break Jesus’ legs they did not because he was already dead (John 19:33). So one of them pierced his side with a sword and water and blood flowed out. This indicates that Jesus was dead and he died from a ruptured heart. If he was still alive when he was pierced, spurts of blood alone would have flowed out of his side and they would have broken his legs.

The spiritual significance for us is that when Jesus died all our sin died with him.  Similarly when someone dies of cancer the cancer that kills them dies also. It has no more power over them. But if that individual then comes back to life with a new body then the cancer remains in the dead body but the person is now alive because they are in a new body.  So the death that killed Jesus was itself killed and the resurrection life he has, is made available to all who are united with him. We who are in him have this great hope beyond the grave, so rejoice today for he is not dead but is alive for evermore.

Read Romans 6