The Life-Giving Word & Spirit, Day 7

How wonderful to realize that the Word and the Spirit vanquish condemnation. But God didn't only send His Son into the world so that you could be saved and live free of past guilt and shame. The Word and the Spirit came to give LIFE! Let's look at the following verses:

"And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being." Gen. 2:7

"The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life." Job 33:4

"By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth." Ps. 33:6

Notice, the life-giving Word and Spirit are not New Testament revelations. Rather, we see the steadfast nature of the Lord's character, knowing that He remains the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb. 13:8). From the beginning of time, the Lord has been revealing Himself as the Giver of All Life. What differentiates man from the rest of creation is that humanity's life is not just God-created but God-breathed!

The new covenant in Christ reminds us that our life is found in Him alone. Without Him, we are nothing. Consider:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men." John 1:1-4

"And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, 'For we are also His offspring." Acts 17:26-28

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63

We spend so much time attempting to find fulfillment in the temporal rather than realizing that we were born for eternity. Yes, it is appointed unto man once to die (Heb. 9:27). However, that's the physical shell we have donned. King Solomon wrote, "Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, and the spirit will return to God who gave it" (Eccl. 12:7). Both Jesus and Stephen commended their spirits to God before their deaths (Luke 23:46, Acts 7:59). The difference being is that Jesus took His body up again. "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father" (John 10:17-18).

This is important because without the resurrection, our lives are futile. As Paul said, "But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty" (I Cor. 15:13-14). Paul continues to recount the hopeless situation humanity is in without a risen Savior, and then he clearly states, "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive" (I Cor. 15:20-22). Therefore, because He is alive, you and I can live!

Jesus said, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). This is not a mystical life of a spiritual "knowing" within yourself; instead it is life in its fullest because self has been crucified with Christ. "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).

The world would have us declare ourselves as god, exchanging the truth of God for a lie (Rom. 1:25). You may experience years of bliss doing what you want, living according to your flesh, however, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Prov. 14:12). Paul warns, "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them" (Eph. 5:6-7). Why? "For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory" (Col. 3:3-4).

You were made to experience life in abundance. That life can only be found in the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ, who declared of Himself, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). As Paul exhorted Titus, "But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:4-7).

In Jesus Christ alone is eternal life. Any life you can provide yourself is temporal at best. I encourage you if you have not done so, to receive the life of Christ today. Let the Word and the Spirit transform you and bring you hope and everlasting life!