June 24th. Day 24 of walking through “Reasons to Rehearse the Gospel Daily” — Part 1 of “A Gospel Primer for Christians” by Milton Vincent.

Today’s reason — All Things Crucified, Part 2.

As a continuation of yesterday’s reason, today’s reason looks at crucifixion and death as a way to resurrection and life. It is equally as rich in truth as yesterday’s reason; however, it tells the “rest of the truth” in that it reassures us that death is not the end.

Vincent says it this way...

“Thankfully, the gospel teaches me that dying is not an end, but a beginning. For after Christ took up His cross and died, God raised Him from the dead, {Ephesians 1:20} exalted Him to the highest heaven, {Philippians 2:8-9} and drew Him into His bosom. {John 1:18} These facts surrounding Christ’s resurrection stand as proof positive that God will not leave me for dead, but will raise me similarly, if I would only allow myself to die. Indeed, on the other side of each later dying lie experiences of a life with God that are far richer, far higher, and far more intimate than anything I would have otherwise known.” {Romans 6:4}

Vincent goes on to say...

“In God’s economy, death is the way to life. ‘Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,’ Jesus says, ‘but whoever loses his life for My sake, he shall find it.’ {Luke 9:24} Indeed, the more comfortable I am made to the death of Christ, the more I experience freedom from from sin {Romans 6:6-7} and taste the power of the resurrection of Jesus Himself. {Philippians 3:8-10} The path to such power is paved with many dyings, and each stage of resurrection is achieved with each incident of dying to myself and reckoning myself dead to sin.” {Romans 6:11}

Vincent concludes with this...

“The more I contemplate the gospel, the more I understand this ‘word of the cross’ {1 Corinthians 1:18} stands as a blueprint for my own life story. The death that Christ died is the death to which I am also called, and the death to which I am called is my entry point to the union with Christ and life at its fullest. {Romans 6:5} So, come what may, I’ll let no one take this death from me!”

Praise God for Part 2! Death leads to life because Christ paid the ultimate price. We have access to eternity and freedom from fear of death because we have the hope of life eternally with Him!