God’s Hope for Your Heart from Romans 6

JESUS IS YOUR LIVING GUARANTEE

We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.  (Romans 6:4-5)

You cannot “turn over a new leaf” in your life and expect everything to get better.  No amount of trying, no collection of self-help materials, no great set of new habits can truly change your life for the better.

But Jesus can.

To come to Christ is not to sign up for a program, but to surrender to a Person.  It’s not about accepting a new set of duties, but about embracing the death of yourself so that Christ might live through you.

This is incredible news for all who struggle (and all of us do struggle) because it means we don’t bear the burden of having to work out a resolution to all of our problems.  Instead, we hold out for a resurrection that we know is coming to set us free one way or another.

How can you be sure of this in your own life?  How can you know that this resurrection is coming for you?  Because Jesus was raised from the dead, and that is the sign that He can keep His word to you!  That means if you’re in Christ, you can have unshakeable hope because of this truth: Jesus is your living guarantee.

-Pastor Phillip

AUDIO VERSION (Click here to subscribe to the daily podcast on iTunes.)