Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries |
God the Holy Spirit leads the old man to the cross.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Grace Bible Church
Pastor-Teacher
Robert R. McLaughlin
Wednesday,
February 11, 2009
JOH 12:24-25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.”
Glory is the end; death is the means.
Seeds do not grow until they go into the ground and die.
Obedience to the Lord involves death.
And death always produces the life that glorifies God.
The spiritual life involves the Holy Spirit breaking down the outer man, the old sin nature, so that the inner man, the new spiritual species, can be unleashed.
God the Holy Spirit leads the old sin nature to the Cross.
Identification with our Lord’s death and participation in His sufferings is not a one-time process but rather a continual one.
Being the focal point of the universe, the Cross not only crucified the old life but paved the way for the life beyond the Cross!
It is the highest honor God could give to any believer in time, and it is called here participation in His sufferings, a reference to undeserved suffering.
It is necessary to understand that God has provided in eternity past everything we will ever need for the subject of suffering.
If you live your life in the light of eternity then your relationship with God will be your number one priority in your life.
When you live your life in the light of eternity, including participation in His sufferings, you realize they cannot compare with the eternal weight of glory which is far beyond all comparison,
2CO 4:17.
You will also realize the pain involved with participation in His sufferings is not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us, ROM 8:18.
ROM 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
HEB 11:25 choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin;
The whole point is to advance to spiritual adulthood, so that the problems, the adversities, the tragedies, the difficulties of life become a blessing because of participation in His sufferings