General Notes

Dying to Live

“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.” 1 John 3:14

Wait, did I read that wrong?

We speak of folks who have “passed,” meaning that they have gone from life to death, right?

So, what is meant by passing from death to life?

And how is it that John speaks about us “remaining” in death? Aren’t we alive?

It can be confusing, until we grapple with the real truth about life and death.

Jesus said this to Martha, one of Lazarus’ sisters: 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. e one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this” (John 11:21-26)?

So, in listening carefully to Jesus, we learn that there is a diff erence between death, and real death; and there is a diff erence between life, and real life. Before we surrender to Jesus, the body may be alive; but in reality, in the spirit, we are dead. And after we surrender to Jesus, we come into true life; a life that not even the death of the body can squelch.

And Jesus doesn’t just hold the secret password to life - - HE IS LIFE. True life.

Th ose who have never surrendered to Christ are not truly alive, they are dead. Dead, dead.

“1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins ... 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:1,4-6).

So, the notion of “passing from death to life” only seems backwards to those whose existence is already backwards, and needs to be turned frontwards! Indeed, “passing into life” is the most frontwards thing a human being can do; the most sensible; the most amazing!

Some people use the phrase, “I’m dying to …”

“I’m dying to go to the mall.”

“I’m dying for some ice cream.”

“I’m dying for a day off .”

How about we forsake all the dead stuff that we have valued in this life, and get to real living?

Th e only way to get there is to get busy dying. Dying to being self-driven, placing Christ in charge.

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).

Rev. Max Edwards

International General Superintendent