The Cross of Christ!

The cross involves hardship, anguish, grief, pain and finally death. But those who are set in this movement willingly undertake to bear this because it is essential to this movement that it should finally … be crossed through in this way … It is quite in order that man … should try to ward off pain and death. Even the Christian does this. In themselves and as such, pain, suffering and death are a questioning, a destruction and finally a negation of human life. The Christian especially cannot try to transform and glorify them. He cannot find any pleasure in them. He cannot desire or seek them … He cannot be a lover of death as the natural man may easily become in a strange reversal and unmasking of his pretended affirmation of life and avid desire for it. - K. Barth

Dead to sin!

Unlike the followers of other religions, Christians are believers who as concerns the “old man,” the “body of sin,” are crucified with Christ. They are dead to sin in Him. They have no future as sinners, because they have no possibility of existence as such (Romans 6.2-10; 2 Cor. 5:17). Thus reduced to nullity, dead with Christ, they may also live with Christ, live to God.

What’s behind death?

Romans 7.13

It was not the Law that brought death into life. Rather sin used what is good (the Law) to carry out evil's terrible design. Even so. the outcome was that sin’s true nature was revealed. The Apostle is saying that one cannot see how evil sin is until one realizes that sin takes what is good, that is, a divine command, and uses this to bring death to humankind.

Fear & Death!

A brief mull over Luke 12.4-7:

Death is a pawn in Satan’s diversion; an instrument at God’s beckon. “I tell you, my friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do.”

Death (and Satan) will be the subject(s) of God’s judgment. “But I will warn you whom to fear: fear him who, after he has killed, has authority to cast into hell.” Death and hell (Satan’s future temporary quarters) will be cast into the Lake of Fire!

“Yes, I tell you, fear him!” The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Therefore, “Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

enjoy, ron

Death Poem!

Both my Uncle Dale and my Mother died this summer. It was sad to see them go. My extended family is a mixed bag when it comes to faith and religion. Although their roots are Christian, they deal with death in varied ways. After spending time with many of them before and after the separate funeral services this poem came to my attention. It seems fitting to portray their assorted sensitivities within the confines of this pithy death dialogue.

Whatcham'callit
(a Poem)

She's dead, he said.
So's he, said she.

Kicked the bucket, he said.
Bought the farm, said she.

Under the clover, he said.
Crossed over, said she.

Iced with a heater, he said.
Sleeps with the fishes, said she.

Taken for a little ride, he said.
Gone to the other side, said she.

Flat-lined, he said.
Out of mind, said she.

To a better place, he said.
By heaven's grace, said she.

Under the sod, he said.
To be with God , said she.

To Paradise? he said.
Would be nice, said she.

Could it be? he said.
Could it not? said she.

Enjoy, ron

PS. “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15.53b-57)