Let that thought sink in for a moment. If you’re already dead, you can’t die. I heard those words come out of my mouth while praying. I’m speaking to those who have died in Christ. The fear of dying should have no power over the children of God, because we are already dead. Let me prove it to you in scripture by someone who experienced death both physically and spiritually. See 2 Corinthians 11.
“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20 NLT
What does it mean to be crucified? The execution of a person by binding or nailing them to a cross. We’ve heard the term “ he was murdered execution style” that means the person was bound prior to being killed. The apostle Paul here is writing that he has voluntarily allowed the old self to die a horrible death to live the life Jesus purchased for him. In the context of the scripture passage above, he was making a statement to teach those who wanted to continue living under the law, that when Jesus was crucified, the law was put to death. By accepting Jesus’ finished work, we too have died to everything that brought death. Dead people cannot die, neither do they live in fear of dying. 2 Corinthians 5:17. We have a brand new Spirit enabling us to live a new life.
If we are to accept the premise of a new life, then it stands to reason that something happened to the old one. We don’t set it aside, because that would imply that we can pick it back up. No! The old has to die and be buried, in order that the new man can flourish. We have no obligation to the flesh to fulfill its demands. To do that is to bring back from the grave a foul odor of rotting flesh. We must keep the resurrection of the old life at bay at all costs. Let’s examine some other scriptures, continuing with the one I just mentioned.
“Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live.” Romans 8:12-13
Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined Him in His death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with Him in His death, we will also be raised to life as He was. We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.”
Romans 6:1-7 NLT
“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.”
Galatians 5:24 NLT
Dead people can’t die. Neither should we fear what we already are. We have a living hope that no matter what happens in this life we’re more alive dead than when we once lived after the dictates of the flesh. Listen, Jesus tasted death for us so that we wouldn’t fear dying. (Hebrews 2). We’re no longer slaves to fear. God has not given us the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead, so that we would continue to live with the fear of dying. We are crucified people who die daily so we can live eternally. The fear of death no longer controls us because we have already died. See 2 Timothy 1:7.
Read the opening scripture again. We’re living our lives now in Christ. Dead to the effects of our natural life, to live a life unaffected by fear. Dead people can’t die! Dead people don’t live in fear.
Still afraid of Covid? Worried that you may be exposed and die? Guess what? you have already been exposed. But God in His mercy has protected you because He knows it would kill you because of your fear of it. A believer who has been touched by the effects of it but holds to his confidence in the true and Living Word, will not fear death, we already know dead people can’t die. We have already passed from physical and spiritual death to life. Life in Jesus Christ. How? By walking in love. John the apostle died many deaths, still they could not kill him, so they finally in frustration banished him to an island call Patmos. John was a dead man, they couldn’t kill love. We fear death because we haven’t perfected our love for Jesus and others. He wrote; there is no fear in love, perfect love cast out ALL fear. Fear is torment. Dead people don’t live in fear. See 1 John 4
The apostle Paul lived a crucified life, he said “I die daily.” He had no fear of dying. Listen to his words as he was being transitioned from this life. The words of a dead man who lives.
“As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing.”
2 Timothy 4:6-8 NLT
Spoken with confidence by a man who fully understood what it meant to live dead. Dead to this world’s fears and anxieties. The dead man who brushed off a snake that had bitten him into the fire and kept it moving. When you have discovered how to die and live in Christ Jesus, NOTHING shall by any means harm you. See Acts 28 & Luke 10.
So how have you been living? Have you found the contentment of living the crucified life? The life where nothing disturbs your peace? The difference is knowing and believing God’s Word and walking in love. We are not yet convinced that God is who He says He is. If we were we would be living like it. This is not mental ascent, this is a conviction that cannot be shaken no matter what. The Word of God establishes us, and cements our faith if we believe. You can beat a corpse, inject it with every known virus, mock it, scorn it, criticize it, but guess what, it won’t be affected one bit. Why? You guessed it. It’s dead! And so are we in this world. We’re not ignorant or immune to what’s going on around us, but we’re dead to their control over our lives. We bow to and fear one Name, Jesus Christ. Demons tremble at that Name, sickness and disease bow to the authority of that Name. Do you believe that?
Jesus said these words: “Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.”
Luke 10:19 NLT
“These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in My Name, and they will speak in new languages. They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”
Mark 16:17-18 NLT
Dead people can’t die. Do you understand the authority you have because of your crucified life? Do you believe the promises of Jesus? Those are His Words not mine. So don’t get upset with me for believing. Don’t talk about me because I refuse to bow at the feet of Covid mania. I don’t deny what’s going on, but I do understand hysteria. But I’m choosing to live the dead life. You may be saying “you’re saying that because you never had it.” Think again. We did, we experienced all the symptoms but it didn’t find a resting place so in 24 hours it went out the same way it came in. And to keep skeptics from saying that’s impossible, God left proof in the same way that He did after my daughter had chickenpox for one night. You’ll have to peruse the archives to find out what I’m referencing😊
Choosing to believe God’s promises to me gave us the victory. I only have one living hope when this life is over, His Name is Jesus. Choose to live the dead life, and you’ll never fear death. Fear is not your friend, so stop agreeing with it.
Father in the Name of the One who tasted death for me, Jesus Christ the Righteous, I declare that I’m no longer a slave to fear! I am a child of God who understands that by dying I live. Thank You for opening up my spiritual eyes to understand and live Your truths. Thank You for confirming Your Word to and in me. What a great day to be alive in Jesus, to know You in a personal and tangible way. You declared to us that because You live, we shall live also. Thank you for Your life in us. In Your Name Jesus. Amen
“Jesus told her, “I Am the resurrection and the life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying. Everyone who lives in Me and believes in Me will never ever die. Do you believe this, (children of God) Martha?”
John 11:25-26 NLT
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
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