Paul wrote poetic, lyrical letters to assure us that there is life in Christ alone. He teaches us of the “all sufficiency” of Jesus Christ. As Christians, we understand this revelation, that our only sufficiency in life is through the grace and mercy and peace and love of Jesus.
“But because of God’s great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5.)
“Being justified freely by grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus” (Romans 3:24-26.)
Paul was writing to all churches. I’m writing to anyone who knows and loves Christ and wants to know and love our loving, compassionate Jesus. Here are some points I believe Jesus wants us to understand and apply to our lives by sharing with others this “good news.”
I. LIFE WITHOUT JESUS CHRIST IS DARK, UNFULFILLING, AND EMPTY.
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We suffer from an identity problem when we don’t know Christ, the One in whose image we are made. When a person doesn’t know who they are, they tend to wonder what to do next, walking around without purpose. Knowing our creator, redeemer, and sustainer, that is, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit makes one “Alive” with purpose and identity and certainty of today and tomorrow.
The world emphasizes “gratifying cravings, indulging in lusts of our eyes, flesh and pride of life.” Such selfishness and arrogance keep one dead in sin and hopelessness. Following the ways of the world, “consumerism, sexism, racism. ageism, pride, greed, exploitation,” to name a few, never result in abundant life.
Sin kills the will to do good that God gave humankind when God created us. Sin separates us from God. Sin gets easier when repeated over and over, with quantities of that sin even habitual (e.g. addictions — food, drugs, sex, lying, cheating.) Wallow in sin and become a slave to sin.
Paul tells us there is “good news.” Paul was persecuting Christians before Paul had a “God encounter” on the Damascus Road leaving Paul blind temporarily. God has a way of getting our attention. God set Paul aside for a while and sent Ananias to share with him that God would use him to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles.
Paul was a changed man and wrote most of the New Testament of the Bible. I’m talking about being “Alive in Christ.” The love of Jesus Christ is amazing, unexplainable, overwhelming, compelling, and the most spectacular gift ever given to humankind.
II. WE ARE “ALIVE IN CHRIST AND IN CHRIST ONLY.”
By grace we are saved. Grace is God’s unmerited favor. God’s mercies are new every morning. “Great is God’s faithfulness,” the songwriter says. God’s grace forgives and pardons our sin.
“What can wash away our sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. What can make us whole again. Nothing but the blood of Jesus.” (I love that old hymn).
Freedom, liberation, and sweet rest can only be found in Jesus. I want you to have real freedom from bondage. I want you to experience liberation. I want you to rest well when you go to sleep at night. We can’t buy salvation. We can’t earn salvation. It is the Gift of God.
The fruit of God’s Spirit is free. We are given amazing treasures of love, joy, peace, faith, gentleness, goodness, meekness, patience and self-control. These are treasures that no one can take from us. These are treasures that we take to heaven with us. Nothing or no one on earth can take any of God’s gifts.
We can choose not to open the gifts of forgiveness or love or peace or joy and walk in our flesh rather than our spirit. We can choose not to believe or humbly confess that Jesus is Lord. By grace we are saved through faith, not of ourselves, it is the gift of God anyway lest any should boast.
However, we are called to give an account of what we believe to others. We must share our encounters with God as Paul did. God’s great Agape Love gives us a seat in heavenly places. God shares secrets of the kingdom with us, the people of God, the “beloved.” We can walk in heavenly places in this life and the next. Life is about making good choices.
Are you “Alive in Christ?” Have you had an encounter with God? If not, stop right now and ask God to come into your heart. Find a church and get busy serving Jesus. When you encounter God, your life is never the same.
The leper, whom Jesus healed, couldn’t keep the miracle to himself. He went away and told everyone after Jesus told him not to tell. The healed, former leper, witnessed to the healing power of Jesus. Let’s not let the rocks cry out for us. Tell others what Jesus has done for you, that is, how you are Alive in Christ alone. We don’t know abundant life until we are “Alive in Christ.”
Our response to God’s good gifts is “good works.” We were created in Christ to do good works. Works cannot save us, but out of love for God, we’re convinced that “serving God” is imperative. We are compelled to serve God. God calls us to continue His ministry of love.
We’re the “Body of Christ,” some the hands, some the feet… the love of Jesus on earth now. The Holy Spirit took residence in our wretched bodies to help us perform “good kingdom works” for those in need of the Savior, in need of help or assistance during these challenging times. The unsaved should see our witness in the world and want to know Jesus for themselves.
God entrusted us with the ministry of reconciliation. How will we assist God? To assist God in restoring lost souls, we help those who are lost, those who are wondering who they are, to discover their identity, by doing what is just, being merciful, and walking humbling in the places where God has planted us.
God calls you and me to tell the world and show the world from Whom authentic peace, love, joy, every fruit of the Spirit and every gift of the Spirit comes, from God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit alone. Those three persons of God working together with the people of God working in unity can change this world.
Jesus revived our souls, changed our lives, took our darkness and gave us His marvelous light. Jesus demonstrated holy living. Gave us precious promises. We are “Alive in Christ” when we accept God’s gift of new life, salvation: Free, liberated from the clutches of sin, on earth through eternity Jesus bought us, paid it all for us, would not come down from the cross.
Jesus died on Calvary for us. Jesus was resurrected on the third day, early Sunday morning for us. Jesus sits at the right hand of God the Father still interceding for us. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to live inside of every believer so that we have power to live holy lives. The Holy Spirit leads and guides us, if we listen and obey spiritual promptings. We have power to use the free gifts God has given us to make a better world, to help others to reach their potential, to live with others and for others, so that this beat of holiness, this life of righteousness, continues to move throughout the world until Jesus returns for us.
Don’t you want to hear Jesus say, “well done.” Make this world a better place. We are Alive in Christ and Alive in Christ alone. That awakening blesses us to be a blessing every day of our lives. Live as the people of God who are “Alive in Christ alone!” Amen.
(This article was originally printed in August 2024.)
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The Rev. Edna Morgan is pastor of St. Luke United Methodist Church in Pine Bluff. Her husband, David Morgan, is a retired pastor in the Arkansas Conference, and together, they established a 501(c) (3) non-profit retreat center, Healing Place Ministries, in 2004, that serves the Pine Bluff and Jefferson County areas.
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Editor’s note: Pastors, ministers or other writers interested in writing for this section may submit articles for consideration to shope@adgnewsroom.com. Writers should have connections to Southeast Arkansas. Please include your name, phone number and the name and location of your church or ministry.