10 Always bearing about in the
body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made
manifest in our body. 11 For
we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life
also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
– 2 Corinthians 4:10-11
Why is Jesus alive? Pause to consider that question
for a moment. Yes, He’s alive because He rose from the dead—but why? Yes, He’s
alive because He is God—but why? Yes, He’s alive “because it was not
possible that he should be holden of it.” (Acts 2:24)—but why? What
purpose does His present life serve?
Over and over the New Testament tells us Jesus is
alive and active. He makes intercession for us, He comes before the throne of
heaven as our mediator, and He makes requests before the Father for our
moment-by-moment needs (Hebrews 7:25). Payment for sin is complete; that’s a
past accomplishment (John 19:30). Someday Christ will rule the earth; that’s a
future promise (Revelation 19:15). But what about today?
Today Christ lives to bring His victorious power to
bear upon our character. Not only does He offer victory over sin and death and
give forgiveness to all who believe, He also wants to live His life through us.
That is what Christian living is all about—“ that the life also of Jesus might be made
manifest in our mortal flesh.”
The true Christian life is Christ in you.
Christ has made no provision for you—on your own, in
your own power—to live the Christian life. It’s a brand of living far superior
to the Christ-in-my-own-strength program, which only leads to disappointment,
exhaustion, and failure. He is the only one who ever lived it successfully.
While you can seek knowledge and understanding, and you can serve, worship, and
walk with Him, you have zero power or personal strength to resource true, full
obedience. There’s nothing in you that can enable you to live for Him—not an
ounce of strength, not a smidgen of will power, not a thimbleful of
perseverance to make Christian living possible.
The only source of power is the exchanged
life—Christ living through you. Your part is to get out of the way and let Him.
When you do and people see spiritual energy in you, whose is it? Not yours, but
Christ’s. If people see anything worthwhile in your life, if there is anything
eternal and lasting, it is the actual life of Jesus Christ flowing through you.
He is the only true resource, the only power for lasting transformation.
This powerful, simple truth can absolutely change
your life. Consider this a turning point, an invitation to the exchanged
life—Christ living in you. It begins with honesty, admitting your sin and
powerlessness to live for the Lord on your own. Because of His death, once you
die to yourself, “the life of Jesus” can be manifest in you.
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