People Who Carry Around in Their Body the Death of Jesus

2 Corinthians 4:10, NIV
We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus
may also be revealed in our body.


Introduction: One method of execution in the Roman Empire was to bind a criminal to a dead body so that their bodies would cling to each other, and then hang the criminal up on a tree. Then as the dead body decayed, it gradually affected the criminal bound to it until the criminal eventually died. Figuratively speaking, Christians are carrying around in their body the death of Jesus. We die with Him, are buried with Him, and rise with Him.

1. The death of Jesus (Col 2:12-16).
1) We are dead to a secular world?the secular world is ruled by Satan (1Jn 5:19).
　　 (The whole world belongs to Satan)
2) The world is ruled by greed?greed is Satan's nature (Jas 1:15).
3) The world is ruled by self-centeredness (Ro 1:28-29).

2. Bringing us into the kingdom of God’s Son (Col 1:13-14).
1) The world is ruled by Jesus (Ro 14:17).
2) The world is ruled by love (Eph 2:4-5).
3) The world is ruled by God-centeredness (1Ti 6:15).

3. Redemptive death
1) We participate in a life of righteousness (Ro 3:23-24).
2) We participate in a life of holiness (1Co 6:11).
3) We participate in a life of healing (1Pet 2:24).
4) We participate in a life of the blessing of Abraham (Gal 3:13-14).
5) We participate in a life of resurrection and eternal life (Jn 11:25-26; 2Co 4:10).

4. The two worlds in which we live
1) The Israelites in Egypt.
① They served Pharaoh.
② They received blessing from Pharaoh.
③ They lived in slavery (Ac 7:6).
2) The Israelites in the wilderness.
① They served God.
② They received blessing from God.
③ They were redeemed from slavery (Dt 7:8-9).

5. Our lives
1) Life in the secular world.
① We are ruled by Satan.
② We follow secular blessing.
③ We become a slave to sin and greed (1Jn 2:16).
2) Life in the kingdom of Jesus.
① Life controlled by the Lord (Jn 14:20).
② Living a life with God’s blessings (3Jn 1:2).
③ A life that gains freedom and liberation in the Holy Spirit (Ro 8:1-2; Gal 5:1).

Conclusion: Faith in Jesus means living a life that is united with Jesus who suffered, died on the Cross, and rose again. We no longer live under the secular world system ruled by Satan, but we live under the system of the kingdom of Jesus who is enthroned within us. There are huge differences between the blessings of the world and the blessings of God.