Living as Heirs with Christ: The Call to Die So We Can Truly Live

# Living as Heirs with Christ: The Call to Die So We Can Truly Live

In a world obsessed with instant gratification, where we scroll endlessly for the next dopamine hit and chase temporary pleasures, there exists a radically different way of living. It's a life that doesn't make sense to the world—a life that demands we die to ourselves so we can truly live. This isn't the message our culture wants to hear, but it's the truth that sets us free.

## The Battle We Don't Always See

Spiritual warfare is real. The enemy doesn't want God's truth to penetrate our hearts. He'll use every distraction, every technical difficulty, every interruption to keep us from hearing what God wants to say. Yet despite all opposition, God's Word accomplishes what it sets out to do. When God moves, lives change. Conviction leads to confession, confession leads to repentance, and repentance leads to transformation.

This is the pattern of authentic spiritual growth—not comfortable, not easy, but absolutely necessary.

## We Are Not Debtors to the Flesh

Romans 8:12-17 presents us with a foundational truth: as believers, we are not debtors to the flesh. A debtor lives under the threat and control of the one who owns the debt. But here's the beautiful reality—you owe the flesh nothing. Jesus paid your debt in full. You now owe God everything.

The flesh represents our unredeemed humanness, those unsanctified parts of us that haven't yet been surrendered at the foot of the cross. And make no mistake—we're called to take up our cross daily.

## The True Meaning of the Cross

When we hear the word "cross" today, we think of jewelry, art, and symbols of faith. We've sanitized it, made it comfortable, even fashionable. But to the people of Jesus' day, the cross meant something entirely different. It represented a violent, degrading death—the most shameful and painful execution method imaginable.

Jesus chose this word intentionally. When He said, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me" (Luke 9:23), He was demanding total commitment. He was calling people to be willing to face a violent, degrading death to self. This wasn't a call to casual Christianity or weekend faith. This was—and is—a call to complete surrender.

The paradox is clear in Luke 9:24: "For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." Are you fighting to save your worldly self? Are you hanging on to the things of this world while God demands you surrender them?

## The Myth of Human Goodness

Here's a truth that offends our modern sensibilities: you are not good. Neither am I. No human is good. When a man called Jesus "Good Teacher," Jesus responded, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone" (Mark 10:17-18).

Your works can't make you good. Your generosity can't make you good. Your ministry can't make you good. Your moral living can't make you good. The only good in you is God Himself.

This isn't meant to discourage you—it's meant to free you from the exhausting burden of trying to earn what can only be received as a gift.

## What Must Die

Colossians 3:5 doesn't mince words: "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry."

Let's be specific about what this means:

**Sexual immorality** includes any sexual sin—adultery, sex outside of marriage, lust, pornography, sexual thoughts about someone who isn't your spouse. Jesus equated mental adultery with physical adultery. The standard is high because God's design for sexuality is sacred.

**Impurity** encompasses not just evil actions but evil thoughts and intentions. It's what festers in the dark corners of our hearts when no one is watching.

**Passion and evil desire** represent both the physical and mental aspects of sexual lust—the burning desire for what God has forbidden.

**Covetousness** is the insatiable desire to gain more and more, especially things that are forbidden.

And here's the kicker: all of this is idolatry. When you give in to your desires and temptations, you're placing your lusts ahead of God. You're worshiping yourself.

Why must these things die? Because "on account of these the wrath of God is coming" (Colossians 3:6). This isn't harsh—it's truth. God didn't send Jesus to die so we could continue living in sin while claiming His name.

## The Inheritance That Changes Everything

But here's where the story gets gloriously good. As believers, we are heirs with Christ. We have legal access to an inheritance beyond comprehension.

What does this inheritance include?

**Eternal salvation**—eternity face to face with Jesus forever.

**God Himself**—"The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him" (Lamentations 3:24). God Himself is your portion. Revelation 21:3-4 paints the picture: God dwelling with His people, wiping away every tear, abolishing death, mourning, crying, and pain forever.

**Glory**—not our own glory, but participation in His glory. Romans 5:2 speaks of rejoicing "in hope of the glory of God." We will be in His glory, surrounded by it, transformed by it.

**The entire universe**—Hebrews 1:2 tells us that Jesus is "the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world." As co-heirs with Christ, we inherit everything He created.

## Living in Light of Eternity

This inheritance is why we can resist instant gratification. This is why we can die to self, to the world, to sin and flesh. We know what's coming, and it's more amazing than our finite minds can comprehend.

The Holy Spirit serves as our earnest payment—a down payment and preview of what's to come. He lives inside every believer, enabling us to be patient, to keep the main thing the main thing, to die to ourselves, and to kill sin in our lives.

This is the Christian life: not comfortable, not easy, not popular, but absolutely worth it. We're called to live as citizens of another kingdom, heirs of an eternal inheritance, people who have died to this world so we can truly live in Christ.

The question isn't whether this is true—it is. The question is: will you live like it?