Tuesday, November 26, 2013

REDEEMED

   Know ye not, that so many of us were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death:  that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:  knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.  For he that is dead is freed from sin.  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:  knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.  For in that he died, he died unto sin once:  but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.  Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.  (Romans 6: 2-11)

   The resurrection of Lazarus of Bethany by Jesus Christ is the hope of all believers in Christ; for if we do not believe in the resurrection of Christ, how can we believe in the resurrection of Lazarus?  But if we believe in the resurrection of Christ, as well as in the resurrection of Lazarus, this is the evidence of our faith in Christ the Lord:  that, just as Christ raised up Lazarus from death, we believe that we, too, shall be raised up by Christ after our bodies are dead.  And with our faith in Christ, we are placing our faith in Him by the belief that Christ can do everything He said He will do, and in so doing we are placing our belief in eternity in the hands of Christ the Lord. 
  Lazarus, then, becomes the example of our faith in Christ.
  Knowing this, we can believe that Lazarus was baptized into Jesus Christ and that Lazarus was baptized into his death.
   That Lazarus was buried with him by baptism into death.
   That like as Christ was raised up  from the dead by the glory of the Father, Lazarus was also raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father.
   That as Christ should walk in newness of life, Lazarus also should walk in newness of life.
   That as Lazarus was planted together in the likeness of his death, Lazarus would also be in the likeness of his resurrection.
   That the old man of Lazarus was crucified with him, that his body of sin might be destroyed, and that Lazarus, in his resurrection by Christ, should not serve sin.  For that he is dead he is freed from sin.
   That if Lazarus be dead with Christ, Lazarus shall also live with him.
   That as Christ being raised from dead dieth no more, then, for Lazarus, death hath no more dominion over him.
   What, then, can we say about Lazarus and his resurrection by Christ?
   Lazarus was a new man and he walked in newness of life. 
   Therefore, being redeemed for his sin by Christ before his death, he was freed from the dominion of sin after his resurrection!  Never again did Lazarus experience pride.  For after his resurrection, he was totally humility, just like Christ.  From that day forward, the mind and heart of Lazarus was always about others, and not about himself. 
   When the redeemed of the Lord are raised from death in the last days, we will recognize one another just as the people who loved Lazarus recognized him after his resurrection.  For we will have new bodies, just as Lazarus was redeemed from death with a new body.
   Because of our faith in Christ, we can therefore believe by faith (speaking futuristically) that we are redeemed from the dominion of sin, we are redeemed from the dominion of death, and we are redeemed for eternity to walk in newness of life with Christ the Lord! 
   Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:  but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  (1 John 3: 2)

                                Lift up your heads, O ye gates;
                                   even lift them up,
                                   ye everlasting doors;
                                   and the King of glory shall come in.
                                Who is this King of glory?
                                    The LORD of hosts,
                                    he is the King of glory.  (Psalm 24: 9-10)
  

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