They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! -- 2Timothy 3: 5 (NLT)
Those who are acting religious are merely fooled into thinking they have a form of godliness. They may say the right things. Their worship may seem crisp. They may thrive on emotionalism. But they reject the very power that could make what they do Godly. That power is the power of His resurrection and it is found in the fellowship of the sharing of His sufferings. The very things they strip out of the Gospel because they think they do not market well are the very things that provide the true power in our faith. The cross, the blood, the resurrection. Without these things we are worshipping mere cardboard cutouts of a religion that is devoid of any true spiritual power.
Lastly, from the key verses we see that we also need to pursue becoming like Him in His death. How was Christ in His death? He was humble, forgiving, and conquering. That is the end result of walking in the true resurrection power of Jesus Christ. Paul describes His humility:
Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross. -- Philippians 2: 6-8 (NLT)
It didn't matter what they accused Him of. It didn't matter what insults they hurled at Him. It didn't matter that He was God and could have called down legions of angels to stop it. He remained humble through it all. He gave up His divine privileges and when we truly wrap our minds around that, how can we ever feel privileged again? How could we ever allow that pompous and privileged spirit in our churches again? When we can achieve this level of humility through the resurrection power of Christ then we are protected from the number one weapon of the enemy against us -- pride. Most theologians will agree that any sin can be traced back to some form of pride. But when we fellowship in the sharing of His sufferings to obtain His resurrection power we can become like His humility in death. THAT is the power in our lives about how we see ourselves.
Christ also was forgiving in death. He forgave the thief on the cross right as He was dying. He actually interceded for His murderers while He was being murdered! In the modern church we see too many people hurt too easily. Too much unforgiveness. The unforgiving nature leads to bitterness and resentment. Two more great weapons in the arsenal of the enemy wiped out by resurrection power! When we fellowship in the sharing of His sufferings to obtain His resurrection power we can become like His forgiveness in death. THAT is the power in our lives about how we see others.
Lastly, Christ was also conquering in death. The grave could not hold Him. Hell could not hold Him. He overcame, He overcame, He overcame. The oft-quoted Romans verse is not just that we are more than conquerors:
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. -- Romans 8: 37 (NIV)
We are not conquerors all on our own. We are only more than conquerors through Jesus Christ. Through the power of His resurrection which is obtained through the fellowship of the sharing of His sufferings. This reminds us constantly that it is not about us -- it is only about Him! THAT is the power in our lives about how we see God.
Seeing ourselves, others and God correctly. Becoming like Christ in humility, forgiveness and overcoming. Protected against pride, bitterness and confusing ourselves with God. These are the end results of a life that is actively seeking a relationship and not a religion. A life that is seeking to unleash the true power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. A life that fellowships with the sharing of the sufferings of our Lord and Savior. Don't pursue the cardboard cutout anymore. Pursue the one who took the stripes for you. Who bled and died for you. The only one who has the power we so desperately need. Seek the risen Christ today!
Reverend Anthony Wade -- March 29, 2013
