Articles
Dead or Alive?
In spiritual matters, it is important that we understand what it means to be 'dead' and what it means to be 'alive,' and just as important that we be able to discern between the two. If we are 'alive' when we should be 'dead,' or 'dead' when we should be 'alive,' then we are in grave spiritual danger. What do I mean by this? Consider:
Dead In Sin. Paul, in his letter to the brethren of Ephesus, reminded them that they were all once “dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind” (Eph. 2:1-3). Being “dead in trespasses and sins” meant they were pursuing sinful desires, rather than pursuing God which, of course, was not a good condition. The fact is, everyone outside of Christ is walking according to the course of the world and “fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind.” The simple act is, all men outside of Christ are dead in sin because they have no means to spiritual life. But what does being “dead” in this sense really mean?
To be “dead in trespasses and sins” means we are devoid of spiritual life; we have no real relationship with God as long as we remain in this condition, and we have no hope of eternal life, either. When we were outside of Christ, we had no spiritual life or, as Paul put it, “we were still without strength” (Rom. 5:6); we had no strength because we were spiritually dead!
Hopefully, we understand that being “dead in trespasses and sins” is not where we want to be. When we find that God has sent His Son that we “may have life” (John 10:10), and that by “believing you may have life in His name” (John 20:31), we must acknowledge that being dead in sins is certainly not where God wanted us to be. God does not want us to be dead in sin, but…
Dead To Sin. Paul, in writing to the brethren in Rome, reminded them that they were to longer engage in sin, but were to, instead, “reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:11). You see, the only alternative to being dead in sin is to be alive in Christ! There is simply no other means of obtaining spiritual life except though Jesus Christ! If we refuse to believe in Jesus as the Christ and Son of God, then we forfeit any hope of obtaining spiritual life.
Being “dead to sin” means sin no longer has any influence or power over us; it is no longer our main pursuit in life and we do not seek to engage in it. We, in fact, no longer want to be stained by it, and we have broken free from its bonds (Rom. 6:6; John 8:34), something made possible by the power of Christ's blood!
An important point must be noted here, and that is that we cannot simultaneously be dead to sin and dead in sin; we must choose one or the other, for they are mutually exclusive of one another. If it is spiritual and eternal life we seek, then we must be dead to sin, that we might be “alive to God in Christ Jesus.”
A Church That Is Dead. What a sad description this is to know is fitting, yet we find it is, indeed, fitting for far too many churches [and one is too many). Jesus directly identified the church in Sardis this way, saying, “I know your works, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead” (Rev. 3:1). How sad it must have been for our Lord to say this, and how frightening it should have been for those brethren to hear it! But it was true!
We understand that, in the physical world, a being that is no longer active, that is, in fact, incapable of acting, is for all intents and purposes dead. A plant whose limbs are withered and produces no fruit and has not even any leaves would be identified as dead and only good for firewood. In the same sense, a church that is no longer active, is not producing any spiritual fruit, and is a church comprised of members who are Christians in name only, is just as dead! If the rebuke of Jesus means anything at all to us, we understand that is not a description we want to be used for us! Please understand, though, that we cannot merit a change in description if we have done nothing worthy of being called "alive"!
A Church That Is Alive. Since all churches are made up of individual members (cf. 1 Cor. 12:27), then this demands that the members must be active, fruit-producing disciples if the church of which they are a part can be called "alive." Jesus said, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away” (John 15:2). Bearing spiritual fruit is a sure sign a church's members are spiritually alive, and if that is the case, then the church itself is alive!
What is the proper description for us, as individual disciples, and what is the proper description of us, as a church? Are we bearing spiritual fruit? Are we active in the faith, actively involved in the work this church has to do or is doing, active in strengthening our fellow disciples, and active in taking the good news to lost souls?
Each and every disciple must understand that wearing the name of our Lord brings to us some serious responsibilities that cannot be neglected or ignored if His name is to be glorified through us. It is for this reason Jesus once said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). If we do nothing, His name will not be glorified, but rather blasphemed or mocked, and we will be called 'hypocrites.'
Let us now note that in each of these situations, we have an important part in the determination of whether or not we are spiritually alive or dead, or whether or not our faith and the church of which we are a part is alive or dead. Yes, God is the one who makes us alive in Christ (Eph. 2:1, 5), but we must first make the decision to die to sin. We must also resolve to be active, fruit-bearing disciples because He won't force us to produce anything against our will; if we do not strive to bear fruit, He will allow us to wither and eventually die — and then He will cut us off. If we do not want to be cut off [and, truthfully, we do not want to be cut off], then we must not simply sit back and wait for the end of time!
So, where do we stand? First, have we become dead to sin, resolved to not let sin reign over us (Rom. 6:12-14)? Have we “put to death” the desires for the fleshly pleasures (Col. 3:3-10)? Have we sought the life that comes only through faith in Jesus Christ? Simply put: Have we left behind the pursuits of the world and chosen to submit to the Lord Jesus Christ? Have we become Christians?
Then, if we are true disciples of Jesus Christ, are we active in the faith, involved in the work of His Kingdom, and bearing spiritual fruit regularly? Do we speak God's word to anyone and everyone? Do we pray for and visit [if possible] the sick and the weak? Do we encourage and exhort our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to greater faith and build them up every chance we get? Are we honoring the Lord's name by our lives? Does the world see Christ in us, and do others seek to know more about Him because they know us?
Are we dead, or are we alive? God knows, but do you? Especially in regard to spiritual things, it matters! —— Steven Harper
