Dying Daily

I don't really remember the day I got saved. I was a little kid. I used to think this was terrible. I used to wonder if I was "really saved" since I couldn't remember actually turning my life over to Jesus.

The reality is, it doesn't matter. We should be getting saved again every morning. If you remember the day you became a Christian, that's awesome. Most people do have a big conversion experience. Though I've never met anyone who's had one as cool as Saul (Paul)! Haha. (for those not familiar with the Apostle Paul, check Acts chapter 9, and just keep on reading for an awesome story!)

in 1Corinithans 15:29-33, the Apostle Paul writes,

"Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."*
* Paul is quoting Isaiah 22:13

In other words, Paul is saying that if Jesus didn't raise from the dead, then what's the point of us being baptised (and being re-born) for His sake? If Jesus just died and that was the end.... then that would be the end of us too. Jesus had to BEAT death, so we could be resurrected too. Just earlier, Paul says in verse 20-22:

"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."

Since there was no death until (sin) with man (Adam), the resurrection had to come through a man too (Jesus Christ). And since we come from Adam, born into sin, we are destined for death too. Unless we "die" to our old life (meaning to abandon and give it up) and surrender our life to Christ, then through Him, we will live again. Physical death (which comes from sin) has no power over us, because Jesus Christ beat it for us, and adopted us as His own; we are no longer man's. With daily spiritual death, we are saying "I know my life is not my own. I belong to You, Jesus, who bought me with such a high price, because You saw that worth in me. Before that I was bound to myself, with no way out. Only YOU made the way, because though hertigage of man, I was destined for death until you conquored it and adopted me. So then, this morning, I want to start this new day living for you, and not myself like I did yesterday."

It's a choice we have to make. Jesus Christ suffered and died for us, but it's our job to die to ourselves (give up our life, give up our fleshly, wordly desires that conflict with God's), and cling to Christ. If we don't choose to die to ourselves, then we are rejecting Christ's offer of adoption. It's kind of like He's saying, "I beat death- now do you want to belong to Me and beat death too? Or do you want to belong to the world, and die along with it?"

2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.