Let’s talk about the part of the Christian life that they may not have told you about at your conversion…

26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips.

Full disclosure is needed before a person comes to Christ. Jesus never asks a person to receive part of Him, nor does He ask someone to follow Him part-time. We have these Scriptures to show this truth:

⁵⁷ As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”
⁵⁸ Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
⁵⁹ He said to another man, “Follow me.”
But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
⁶⁰ Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”⁶¹ Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say goodbye to my family.”
⁶² Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:57-62

²¹ Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
²² At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth. Mark 10:21-22

In Baptist circles, most people use Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” But, did they disclose verse 11 from earlier in the chapter? It says, “In the same way [just as Christ died and now lives], count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

They may have used, Galatians 2:16, “A person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.” But, did they reveal 5:16-17, which say, “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.” Jesus doesn’t want us just to be with Him in heaven. He wants us NOW. So much so that He enters our hearts and lives with us NOW. He wants us to be like Him: holy, righteous, pure and blameless NOW. Are we ready for such news? Do we really want Him to be the actual Lord of our lives? We all still want to give in to our fleshly desires, but those who have the Spirit of God in them have a new desire that will not let us give in for long. He will teach us what it means to be crucified with Christ:

²⁰ I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20

²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Galatians 5:24

¹⁴ May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Galatians 6:14

Tomorrow, we will talk about our new person walking with the Spirit. In the meantime, let’s put our flesh on the cross; I promise you it fits!

Abba, I don’t like the pain of the cross, nor do I like dying to self, but I desire even more to be just like You. I want to act like You and think like You, and the only way to do that is to die to self and live for You, Jesus. Make Yourself known to me; teach me what You like and dislike; instruct me in how to overcome sinful habits. Sanctify me, Lord, and then glorify me so that You are glorified. I’m Yours. Amen.