COMMENTARY

Don Atkin

SOME FOCUS UPON EVENTS, OTHERS LIFESTYLE

One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike.

Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. - Romans 14:5

Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, continues by pointing out that different people are in different places on many matters, and what matters is that we all do what we do unto the Lord. He then affirms that none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. Therefore, people must be free to respond in different ways without disturbing our unity that is in Christ.

 We have been walking through a series of historical events this week. We do realize that, if Jesus had not been born, He could not have demonstrated to us how to live and how to die. But, a most significant event upon which history turns was the resurrection!

The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ assures us of victory over death and the grave, and guarantees us eternal life in Him. No resurrection, no hope! Resurrection, hope!

Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. - Romans 6:4

We don’t just experience newness of life on one day a year - what the world calls "Easter." We WALK in newness of life. It’s not an event. It’s a lifestyle! Paul describes this lifestyle:

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

Jesus promised, I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. - John 14:18-20

May this glorious season remind you that Christ is in you, the hope of glory! May this event catapult you into His lifestyle.