Monthly Archives: November 2025

JOHN’S GOSPEL…THE POWER OF THE SEED – 18

Bible Study, ,

“Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭20‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What was it the triggered this insightful declaration of Jesus? What was He saying? A seed has only one purpose…to die and be buried in the ground. Unless it dies, a seed will never fulfil its purpose. 

Of course, this is logical, but what does it imply if we follow the logic of Jesus’ statement to its conclusion? Jesus did not just make a random observation out of the blue about a law of nature. He made a serious, but veiled declaration about His own role in a new order that was about to come into being. 

Any new life has to be born of a seed. Some Greeks, known as “God-fearers” because they worshiped the God of Israel, in the crowd at that moment, purposely asked to see Jesus. This was the clue that something new was about to happen. The Gentiles who, up to this point in history, were “outsiders”, despised, hated, and ostracised by the Jews, and outside of God’s realm, were on the threshold of a new identity. Through the “seed” that would die and be buried in the ground, a new dispensation of unity between Jew and Gentile and a new species as God’s family would grow and bloom, reproducing seeds of this new identity.   

“Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands)— remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Isaiah’s prophecy, written centuries before this event, was on the verge of fulfilment, 

“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭42‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

God’s purpose, a mystery up to this point, was about to change the entire direction of history. 

“This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Everything that flowed from the fulfilment of this declaration depended on one thing…the death of the seed. What if the “seed” chose not to die? What if Jesus, confronted by the reality, the horror of what was about to happen to Him, chose His will over the Father’s will?

“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

That voice again! Seldom did the Father speak to His Son in an audible voice. Only at those times when Jesus made crucial decisions that directed the course of His life, did the Father affirm His choices, not to tell Him what to do but to assure Him that He was on track. 

So, the die was cast, the choice was confirmed…the seed would die, as planned from before the universe came into existence. 

“Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭50‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jerusalem would be the place of His execution. 

“In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet can die outside Jerusalem!”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭13‬:‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

 So…

“As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭51‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Now, in this situation, already in Jerusalem, according to the Father’s timetable, Jesus touched base with heaven. He ensured that His every move, guided by the Father through earthly events, was in harmony with the Father’s will. 

So, He could say, with assurance, despite the emotions accompanying His resolution, despite His revulsion at the thought of impending suffering, real as it was, that He was ready to face the next step in this unfolding plan of redemption. 

To be continued…

JOHN’S GOSPEL…JESUS WEPT – 17

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“When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home…After she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him.”

“When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. Jesus wept.”

‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭20, 28-29, 32‬-‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The raising of Lazarus after four days in the tomb…was John’s final sign that Jesus is the Son of God! We know the story well. For centuries, preachers have dissected the miracle from every angle. Therefore, instead of rehashing old ideas, my perspective is a little different. 

For me, Lazarus’ death was as much about Martha and Mary as it was about Lazarus. How often Jesus works in ways far different from what we imagine or anticipate. His focus is on building and refining faith in Him. After all, faith is the only link we have with the unseen God. Without faith, we have no connection with Him. 

Let’s examine the faith these two sisters had in Jesus, a very unusual man who had come into the world and into their lives. How were they to be convinced that He was the Messiah they hoped would come? What evidence would convince them that Jesus was the one whose coming they anticipated? 

They had heard some of His teaching, very different from the teaching of their religious leaders. He focused on hearts, not performance. He represented God as Father, not a strict disciplinarian who judged them for every infringement of the law. He loved the worst of sinners. He spoke and acted to uplift people, not to condemn them. He had no regard for the Pharisees’ interpretation of the law…His authority to speak and teach the truth was unquestionable and He backed up His claims with miracles no one could deny. 

Was all this enough to convince them that He was their Messiah, to trust Him in every crisis, no matter how bad it was? This situation was about real-life stuff, not theory. 

For them, Martha and Mary, the acid test would be what He would do when Lazarus became deathly sick. This situation was out of their control. They could only call on Jesus in their desperation…and of all things at a time like this, He was out of town and He didn’t come! The worst happened! Lazarus died…and He still didn’t come! 

Jesus finally arrived at their home four days late. What was He thinking? Didn’t He realise how desperate the situation was? Martha, the practical one went to face Him.

For Martha, Jesus’ word was enough to convince her. 

“Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭23‬-‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Not Mary, the contemplative one. She sat in her home, broken, grief-stricken, as much about her disillusionment with Jesus as her grief over the loss of her brother. “Why didn’t He come? WHY DIDN’T HE COME?” her heart screamed. 

When Martha called her, she rushed outside, eager to face Him with her accusation…Her eyes swollen with crying, her body wracked with sobs, she looked up at Him and demanded…

“Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus’ response was both unexpected and yet characteristic…He wept too…not with her but for her! Why? Was He weeping with Mary because Lazarus had died? I don’t think so? After all, He was about to raise him to life again. That was His plan from the start. 

Was Jesus weeping for Mary’s pain? Perhaps. The old prophet, Isaiah, predicted that Messiah would carry our sorrows and our pain. 

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.”

‭‭John‬ ‭11‬:‭33‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The words John used give us a clue to Jesus’ tears…

“embrimaomai”, meaning “to snort with anger” or ”to have indignation”. Two other words, “eautou” and “pneuma” together imply that Jesus’ reaction of anger happened deep inside Himself. His reaction was more than frustration with the situation. Mary’s grief triggered a response  from within the depth of His being. Why?

Mary’s tears of disappointment and disillusionment, expressed in her rebuke, were an affront to the very nature of God…an attack on His “chesed”, the depth of His covenant love and faithfulness…the very essence of who He is. 

Jesus wept, not for the attack on His character, but for what Mary’s unbelief did to her. Never at any time, did Jesus feel sorry for Himself. His tears, at other times, were for those whose unbelief damaged them. 

“As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭19‬:‭41‬-‭42‬ ‭NIV‬

On His way to the cross…

“A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭27‬-‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Mary’s faith was still in its infancy.  Her big lesson, one that would catapult her from theory into reality, lay in this test. She had to learn to let Jesus finish what He started. Truth faith holds steady until its outcome is revealed. It may take time, perhaps even never in this life, but true faith stands firmly on God’s character, His promises, and His supreme authority. 

“Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭35‬-‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This is a profound lesson which many of us have yet to learn. If our faith is tied to sight and circumstances, it will fail when tested. Only when faith stands squarely on God’s character and promises, will it be rock-solid when the trials come. 

Did Mary learn her lesson well?

We find the answer, the sequel, in chapter 12. 

“Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.”

‭‭John‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Enough said!

Mary’s lesson is also for us. LET JESUS FINISH WHAT HE STARTED before we crumple into a heap of disillusionment and misery. Faith in His goodness will save us from a huge amount of wasted emotional energy!

To be continued…

JOHN’S GOSPEL…THE GOOD SHEPHERD – 16

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John‬ ‭10‬:‭14‬-‭15‬, ‭27‬-‭30‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep…My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

Of all the many themes in the Bible, the theme of Jesus as the “Good Shepherd” is probably the most loved and the most favoured.  David, the young shepherd boy, celebrated his relationship to the God of Israel as a sheep to a shepherd, in the most beloved and well-known of all the psalms…Psalm 23. 

Jesus boldly declared to the people who followed Him that He was Israel’s true shepherd, the one God promised would be the shepherd who would love and care for His sheep.

“As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭34‬:‭12‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Unlike the “hirelings” who were the false shepherds of Israel who had only their own interests at heart, obviously referring to their religious leaders, the scribes and Pharisees, Jesus was the Shepherd who would give His life for the sheep. 

How riveting was His declaration! What shepherd had or would ever sacrifice himself for the wellbeing of sheep? This was a dimension of the Messiah’s role that no Israelite would ever contemplate. Yet, for Jesus, this prediction was the crux of His relationship with His people. Without His death and resurrection, His presence on earth would serve no purpose except to dangle before sinful humans a standard and example impossible for them to follow. 

The sacrifice of His own life for the sake of His sheep was both a promise and a guarantee…which some of them would only grasp and believe after the event and the coming of the Holy Spirit to reveal and enforce its truth. 

Imagine the impact of His words on those who had suffered under the tyranny of their hirelings for too long! This Shepherd’s love for His sheep was real and powerful. He showed them, in every word He spoke and every miracle He did, that life under His care was both wonderful and possible. His authority was unquestionable. His power was indisputable. He said and did everything that demonstrated the promise of God’s eternal kingdom on earth. 

How, then, can one become a sheep in His flock? How can one join those who faithfully follow Him and enjoy the benefits of His loving care?

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”

‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭27‬-‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus’ invitation is open to anyone who hears His voice. 

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭3‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus is the shepherd of an all-exclusive and all-inclusive flock…all-exclusive because there is no place for those who refuse to believe in Him…and all-inclusive for those who hear His voice and follow Him. He has left the choice to us. 

Jesus assures us that He is still calling. His call to follow Him will never cease until the last blast of the trumpet heralds His return and the establishment of His kingdom on earth. At that moment, He will destroy all evil by the words of His mouth, and banish all unbelievers to the place they have chosen to spend their eternity. 

The time to hear the Shepherd’s voice is now! Repent and believe the good news.  

“As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Shepherd of my soul, I give You full control;

Wherever You may lead I will follow.

I have made the choice to listen for Your voice;

Wherever You may lead, I will go. 

Be it in a quiet pasture or by a gentle breeze,

The shepherd of my soul is by my side;

Should I face a mighty mountain or a valley dark and deep,

The shepherd of my soul will be my guide. 

Lord, you’re the Shepherd of my soul; 

I give You full control;

Wherever You may lead I will follow. 

I have made the choice to listen for Your voice;

Wherever You may lead I will go.

Wherever,  wherever You may lead, I will go.” 

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Martin J. Nystrom

To be continued…

JOHN’S GOSPEL…GOD’S OPPORTUNITY – 15

Bible Study, ,

As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This is one of my favourite signs recorded by John. Why? Jesus both told us and demonstrated just how much God wants to turn human suffering into opportunity. Among other reasons for Jesus’ coming to earth was the Father’s desire to correct His people’s perspective about who He, the Father, really is. 

Jesus repeatedly declared His purpose to make the Father known. 

“I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Humans stubbornly believe that God wants to punish us, that He delights in judging sinners, that He is a killjoy who enjoys making us miserable. What a terrible indictment against the one whose 

nature is love! 

Jesus showed us, in His every encounter with His fellow humans,  that the difficulties we face are not God’s purpose but His opportunity. 

“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.”

‭‭John‬ ‭9‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV

…As Eugene Peterson paraphrased in “The Message”, “This is not about cause and effect. This is about what God can do.”

Th effects of sin in the world are neither God’s fault nor God’s punishment. Hardship and suffering are often the consequences of disobedience. If a child, for example, deliberately touches a hot surface when warned not to, and gets burned, is his pain punishment or a consequence?

The trouble is that people often blame God for the consequences of their own foolishness. “Why did He let me do it?” He lets us do it because He gave us freedom to choose and He doesn’t interfere with the choices we make.    

So, what does God do when we either suffer because of our own choices or because we are part of the trouble that has come upon the whole world because of Adam’s disobedience? Does He stand back and gloat, “It’s your own fault. I warned you…!”

No! God is love. Love doesn’t do that! God’s love turns distress into opportunity. 

Jesus also came to give us glimpses of what life is like in God’s kingdom. There is neither sin not its effects where God rules. There cannot be anything imperfect in His kingdom because God is perfect. Therefore, wherever Jesus went during His life on earth, He used every human dysfunction to show the people what God’s kingdom is like. 

When the Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons by Beelzebul, He responded…

“If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭26‬-‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus’ encounter with the blind man was a golden opportunity to show His disciples, once again, that the Father initiated and He, Jesus, carried out the Father’s will on earth.  He healed and restored wherever people suffered as a result of imperfection in the world because of the Father’s love. 

“After saying this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man’s eyes. “Go,” he told him, “wash in the Pool of Siloam” (this word means “Sent”). So the man went and washed, and came home seeing.”

‭‭John‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

No miracle was too difficult to reveal the Father’s will to restore perfection to His suffering people…as long as the miracle put His glory on display.

Everything Jesus said and did in tandem with the Father as the Son of God on earth, was indisputable evidence that He was who He said He was and that the Father was whom He, Jesus, revealed Him to be. 

This truth has huge implications for us, His children, now. What if, instead of asking Jesus for help to  relieve our suffering or hardship, we changed our perspective? What if we saw our issues as opportunities for God to be glorified? What if we expressed our confidence in God’s goodness by declaring, “Let’s see what God can do!”

Doubt and uncertainty would become praise when God turns our mourning into dancing! Let’s make our suffering an opportunity. Let’s show the world how great our God is by celebrating His goodness before it happens!

…and then see what God can do!

To be continued…

JOHN’S GOSPEL…TRUE FREEDOM – 14

Bible Study, ,

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?” Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭31‬-‭36‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How many times have we heard this statement, “The truth will set you free”? Is this true? No, it isn’t! “But…” you may argue, “Jesus said it, so it must be true.” What people quote is only half of what Jesus said. Half a truth is a whole lie. 

What Jesus actually said makes all the difference. Let’s read it again. 

“To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” 

The difference between the misquote and the truth is huge. What Jesus meant is…We can only experience real freedom when we fulfil two conditions…

First, if we claim to be disciples of Jesus, we must obey His teachings. 

This means more than giving lip-service to everything He taught, not only to what is pleasant or convenient for us. For example, 

What do we do with “Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you?” How do we respond to “Do not take revenge?” 

What about…

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Second, we must understand the nature of true freedom. 

It becomes clear, in Jesus’ debate with His opponents, that their concept of freedom differed from His. 

“They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

They equated freedom with their circumstances. What they claimed, that they had never been slaves, was not true because, at that very moment they were under the yoke of Roman occupation! Their own history was dotted with episodes of enslavement to foreign powers. 

However, Jesus revealed a slavery far worse than enslavement to human oppression. 

“Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.” 

Enslavement to sin is worse than enslavement to another human or humans for three reasons. First, sin affects the heart and conscience. We are always enslaved to someone or something. Sin enslaves the attitude and the behaviour. Guilt, shame, and fear enslave the mind.  Second, it is impossible to free oneself from slavery to sin and its internal effects.  Third, slavery to sin has eternal consequences. 

Paul discussed this issue at length in his letter to the Romans. 

“Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Although to sin is a choice, the consequences are inevitable and the outcome eternal. 

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We only become slaves to other people’s words, attitudes, or behaviour if we choose to react in a sinful way. We can only be truly free in our minds and hearts when we respond according to Jesus’ teaching and not according to our sinful desires. I say “desires” because we react or respond according to what we really want to do. If we want to retaliate and add our sin to the other person’s sin, we will. If we want to be true to Jesus, we will choose to respond with love and forgiveness rather than with retaliation.   

The difference between true freedom and slavery to sin depends on one powerful truth. We cannot free ourselves. Only Jesus can break sin’s power over us and set us free from obeying the sinful desires of our old nature.  

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

How does Jesus set us free? He died to pay our debt of sin and break Satan’s hold on us. Our baptism is the outward symbol of an inward truth. 

“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭6‬:‭4‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

When Jesus died, we died with Him when we received Him as Lord by faith. His death was credited to us. Now we can live by the power of His Spirit and not by the power sin had over us.  

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Freedom from guilt, shame, and  fear is far more powerful than freedom from external pressures over which we have no control because God’s peace then rules in our hearts. We are not driven by sinful desires but protected by God’s peace. 

To be continued…