The Life That Wins - The Christian Online Magazine

As Christians we often hear the words “Be like Christ.” And so as soon as those words penetrate through the recess of our brains we set out to make the attempt to actually “be like Christ.” Many Christians today are miserable in their spiritual walk simply because they are attempting to imitate the life of one who is perfect. While the attempt is very commendable, and honorable one should know that they are attempting something that is beyond their reach. How many times have we heard the preacher say we have to be like Christ only to find out in a quick manner how futile our attempt has been? Sadly there are some Christians, who because they were told to be like Christ, and have failed as a result, have now concluded that Christianity does not work for them.

Friends do not despair. What you need to understand is that everything that God demands of you He has already fulfilled it in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:3 tells us that God, “…who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ” Everything you will need to be successful in your Christian walk God has already worked it out in His son Jesus Christ. Well how does it Work? Romans 6:10 gives us a clue. “For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.” It is the last part we want. The Bible says that He (Christ) liveth unto God. In this chapter Paul speaks about the believer’s death and resurrection in Christ, and he uses Baptism as a symbol, or illustration to make his point. When a believer is baptized he is baptized into the death of Christ. When a believer comes up out of the water that believer is resurrected in Christ. Now the question is did the believer have anything to do with Christ’s death? No! Did the believer have anything to do with the resurrection of Christ? No! Let us read that last part of the text again. “…he liveth unto God.” Remember we had nothing to do with His death, nor did we have anything to do with His resurrection. So the question is what do we have to do with Jesus living unto His Father? Absolutely Nothing! The Christian life is not about what you and I can do; the Christian life is about what God has already accomplished through Jesus Christ. In essence it is surrendering oneself to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, allowing Christ to live His own life in you. God does not require us to live unto Him apart from Christ. It is Jesus that lives onto God. It is our responsibility to surrender to the only life that can live unto God.

Again can I be like Christ? Only, if being like Christ means it is the life of Christ who is responsible for performing the work in me. In Galatians 2:20 Paul tells us, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Again in Philippians 2:13 Paul says, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” The only life that wins is the life of Jesus Christ. If it is strength that I need than I can by faith claim His strength because His strength was perfect. If I need help loving those who have wronged me then it is His perfect love I am in need of. If it is peace that I need in the time of a storm then it is His perfect peace I am in need of. What ever it is that I need Jesus Christ already is. So dear friends take courage, do not despair, do not lose hope for With Christ you can do all things.