- 154. I am Dead
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
One (Jesus) died for all: this is the Gospel. The “for all” includes me, meaning, “Jesus died for me.” I am identified with Christ by faith, and by faith I am dead. This, remarkably, is a wonderful promise for me: I am dead. That doesn’t sound so great, but follow the thought. If I am dead with Christ then I no longer live for myself because I am dead. I still live but I am dead to myself. Christ lives in me and I live for Him who died for me and rose again.
The more that I am dead (if one can speak of degrees of dying) the more Christ lives. This is great news and a great promise, for the life of Christ is so much better than my own life lived for myself. In practical terms it means that I die to myself; I die to myself by repentance and faith in the Gospel, daily. I sin daily, I am forgiven daily, I die to myself daily. When I die to myself I am free to live for others. I am free to serve other people since my own needs, wants, desires, ambitions and rights are dead. This is shocking news to the modern mind, which says, “Take care of yourself first, and then you will be able to take care of others.” (Like the airplane oxygen mask; put it on yourself before you put in on your children.) But the Bible says, “Die to yourself first, and then you be free to serve others.”
But what about me? Who will take care of me if I don’t? The answer: Others. And if others fail to meet my needs I have to trust in God to meet my needs and take care of me. God usually does just that though other people. Can you trust God to do that? Yes, because Jesus already died and rose for all, and for you. He promises to love you and take care of all the needs of the new life He has given you. When you give up everything, die to yourself, and entrust yourself 100% into the care of Jesus then the new life is free to, and wants to, live for and serve and bless others.
This promise is given to explain the first part of this verse, “The love of Christ constrains (compels) us.” Christ loves me. That love is unconditional and total and it compels, not forces, me to die to self and love God by serving others. I give of myself so that others may be blessed. But I can’t do that until I am dead, for the sinful, selfish, love turned inward, person that I am gets in the way of the new self, the Christ life, doing its thing, loving and giving and serving. You do not die to yourself by dying to yourself; you die to yourself by believing the promise: I am already dead. Enjoy that truth; and you are free.