In one of Jesus’ parables he said in John 12: 24, Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Jesus was speaking about the need for him to die and how he would be glorified by his death. In his lifetime, Jesus was limited to only the region but upon his death he would save all mankind by his Holy Spirit.
Jesus’ modus operandi to save the world was through his death. It is written in 1 Thessalonians 5: 9-10, for God has destined us not for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep we may live with him. Jesus’ saving grace became accessible to all mankind when he died on the cross. Paul said in 1 Timothy 1: 5, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners. He died as the Saviour of the world for us all.
How do we sprout for Jesus?
Good things start with new beginnings. Just as Jesus illustrated with a grain of wheat, it must first die before it germinates to bear much fruit rather than the single original seed. Jesus meant to say that without dying in him to sin we cannot sprout to reach our God given potential in the spirit.
First, we must die to sin when we put away our old nature and assume the nature of Christ Jesus. Paul wrote in Galatians 2: 20, I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. Because Christ lived in him, Christ was absolutely in charge of his affairs. He also wrote in Galatians 5: 24, those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. We must end our old ways of life with a fresh start in Jesus Christ. For Christ to live in us or continue to live in us, we must crucify the possessions and desires of the flesh.
Second, we must die for Christ. Paul wrote in Romans 8: 36, “For your sake we are being killed all day; we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.” Paul was saying that he was no longer living for himself but every moment of his life, he considered himself dead and ready to be slaughtered for the benefit of others because of Christ Jesus. Without counting himself as dead because of Christ, he could not sprout to bring Jesus’ redemptive grace to others. Paul was advocating for death to the works of sin in us.
Third, we must live for God in Christ Jesus. Paul encourages us in Romans 6: 11, so you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. We are only beneficial to God when we become dead in the flesh but alive in the spirit and that is what is referred to as sprouting in the Spirit of Christ Jesus. Paul wrote in Romans 8: 10, if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. In righteousness, we will sprout as grain for the kingdom of God. This was what Jesus meant when he said of the mustard seed in Matthew 13: 32.
Dying to sin demands self-sacrifice
Without sacrificing our pleasure for the flesh, we cannot be dead to sin for righteousness. Jesus said in Matthew 16: 24; Mark 8: 34; Luke 9:23 “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” We exchange ourselves for the cross by sharing the burdens of others unconditionally for the sake of Christ Jesus.
Being dead to sin means Christ must undoubtedly manifest always in our lives. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 6: 17-18, therefore come out from them, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch nothing unclean; then I will welcome you, and I will be your father, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. Dying to sin involves touching nothing unclean or associating with sin. It is a reciprocal relationship so 1 John 3: 16 says, we know love by this, that he laid down his life for us and — and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.
When we die to sin and remain alive to the Spirit, we will be able to obey the pleasure of the Spirit which is righteousness. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4: 11, For while we live, we are always being given up to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may be made visible in our mortal flesh. To show that we are dead to sin but alive to God’s Spirit, Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10: 31, so, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.
What is being alive to the Spirit?
Paul answered this question in Romans 14: 8, if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. By Paul’s statement, he considered himself dead in the flesh and the person who lived in him or possessed his body was rather Christ Jesus who did what he wanted with his will, his mind, his heart, his strength, and his soul.
Paul also said in 2 Corinthians 5: 15 Christ died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them. It is an invitation to sacrifice and deny oneself from that which conflicts with or opposes God’s will but in accord with the light of righteousness in Christ Jesus. In 2 Corinthians 8: 9 we must sacrifice for Christ Jesus just as he did for us.
What is rejoicing in suffering?
This means rejoicing in suffering for Christ’s sake in favour of the church. Not all sufferings are worthy of God but that which glorifies God through our faithfulness in God through Christ Jesus. Paul said in Colossians 1: 24, I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church. It means praising God in all circumstances, good or bad, bitter or sweet rather than complaining. Paul said in 1 Thessalonians 5: 18 that give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
In John 12: 35 dying to sin means walking with Christ in order to avoid darkness. In Romans 2: 29, it means circumcision of the heart. In Ephesians 5: 11 it is taking no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but exposing them. In 1 John 1: 6 it is having fellowship in the light. Are we truly dead to sin but alive to the spirit? John 12: 25 says those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. What is our choice, dying to the flesh to be alive to the Spirit? Rejoicing in suffering because of Christ Jesus? Or rejoicing in the world at the displeasure of Christ?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, we need eternal life in you at the cross. We commit to denying ourselves of the pleasure of this world so we may be alive in you by the power of the Holy Spirit. Teach us to rejoice in suffering for you always, not counting the cost. Redeem us in your precious blood that resurrects life by washing and cleansing. Save our sous today in righteousness in your holy name, Amen!!
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