Life!

Life!

Romans 8:11 AMP

[11] And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who lives in you.

The introduction to the verse above is tied to the identity of the audience. Paul starts off the chapter by penning these immortal words as inspired by the Holy Spirit: Therefore there is now no condemnation [no guilty verdict, no punishment] for those who are in Christ Jesus [who believe in Him as personal Lord and Savior. This is deep: those who have accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour stand in a different light from all others. It is a life of submission and surrender. It is a new life different from whatever is popular with the system of the world and headed in a different direction and with eternal ramifications different from that which the world teaches. There is also a fact that is laid out in the introduction to the verse above, and it is that the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has set us free from the law of sin and of death. This is our new reality. 

Who is this Spirit of Life? This is the Spirit of Him who is God. He is the One who gave up His Son to die for our sin, and by His death and resurrection, has opened up access to the fullness of life available in Christ. All who are born under the law of conception are also under the law of sin and death. That is why the birth of Jesus had to break that mold. One who is subject to the law of sin and death could not offer any sacrifice that could save from death. It had to be One who was free of such limitations that could offer up anything acceptable to God. Jesus went into the grave bearing our sin, and by His blood, paid the full price that sin demanded. Thank God that this is not where the story ended: if the grave was the final destination, we would not be here. The One who went into the grave was raised to life by the power of the One who is Life Himself. The One who gave up His life to save us was saved from death, so He could offer us that which He is: Life.

Death that was to be the final word became a part of the story, which has now guaranteed us eternal life with God. Anyone who would access what is available has to do so in and by the help of the One who has tasted both sides. Who else can testify to the futility of death than the One who has gone through it and come out on the other side? Who else can help you through the pain and pressure of this earthly phase than the One who has walked in your shoe and knows where and how it pinches. Who else can offer the full package of life and all its benefits than the One who is the firstborn from the dead. Please note the condition for access: the Spirit of Life lives IN you. It is not about head knowledge alone; it has to be a residential matter. Don't be content with just hearing about Him; make sure He is IN you. That is the guarantee of eternal life. No one can give you what His life has secured. God's time of favour is here.