I'm glad you could make it out :) Tonight's subject has an unusual name: I'm calling it "Rest in Peace," but hopefully as I explain the reason for the title, it will make sense to you.

Let's forget about all we know of the Cross so far, and the victory over sin and self as taught in the Bible. Imagine for a second that the death and resurrection of the Messiah never took place. Now, while imagining those things are true, answer this question: when would a human being stop sinning?

Paul writes that in the past, this was true: "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (Rom 3:23)

And of course, I like to mention that all HAVE sinned, and nowhere in the Bible does it say that after accepting Christ all "continue" to sin :) But we are assuming for a moment that no Sacrifice was given. What then? We have this: "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned." (Rom 5:12)

So, being a human, we (in the natural) have a sinful nature. We tend to give into temptations, we tend to be led by emotions and natural sensess - and that leads to all the works of the flesh, as described by Paul: "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." (Gal 5:19-21)

If we have envy in our hearts, we are giving mind to the flesh. Do we enjoy lewdness, unclean and indecent things? Do we easily become angry? If so, we are giving in to the flesh's tendencies. Paul's statements against people who walk after the flesh are fairly harsh, and so we must seek earnestly to find if any of these have root in us.

So knowing all this, and pretending that Christ never gave Himself to redeem us, never came to earth to show us the Father... when would a man stop sinning?

He could not... until he died. As it is written: "For he that is dead is freed from sin." (Rom 6:7)

Even taking that at face value, we see that not only are the wages of sin death, but death is the thing that stops sin. In fact, death is the ONLY thing that stops sin. "Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." (James 1:15 NKJV)

That word translated as "full-grown" in the NKJV is actually the Greek "apoteleo," which only occurs once in the Bible. It does not mean "to grow," but rather to bring to an ultimate end, to completely be done with something. A more accurate translation of this verse is done in the KJV: "Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." (James 1:15 KJV)

The natural result of any sin is death, and sin, when it is "finished," as it's last act, destroys the sinner, and itself in the process. I have given this study it's name because of the inscription found in many graves all over the world. Above the head of the deceased there is a commonly-found phrase: "Rest in Peace." In the book of Job, we find the main speaker refering to death and destruction poetically as "corruption" and "the worm," (Job 17:14) and of these he says: "They shall go down to the bars of the pit, when our rest together is in the dust." (Job 17:16 KJV)

Death is the final "rest," and we know that when one dies, his testing is done. He has no more opportunity to repent, or to accept Christ (if he has not yet) as the Word makes abundantly clear: "For the grave cannot praise thee, death can not celebrate thee: they that go down into the pit cannot hope for thy truth." (Isa 38:18)

The Psalms agree with this: "For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?" (Psa 6:5)

"Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? Or thy faithfulness in destruction?" (Psa 88:11)

Whether you believe that the dead go immediately to Heaven, or that they await the resurrection in the earth, this much is fairly well agreed upon: the dead are at rest from the works of the flesh!

We know that in terms of the faithful who have died, they have a glorious future to look forward to. Some people, even some respected Biblical scholars, hold to the idea that the concept of a coming Savior and resurrection was unknown to the original Jewish religion, and use this to explain the position of the Sadducees of Christ's day, which were viewed as those holding to tradition more strongly: "For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both." (Acts 23:8)

We find, however, that even in the earliest written book of the Bible, Job knows of both these concepts! "For I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that He shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me." (Job 19:25-27)

Again our friend Job says, even in hard times: "O that thou wouldest hide me in the grave, that thou wouldest keep me secret, until thy wrath be past, that thou wouldest appoint me a set time, and remember me! If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come. Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands." (Job 14:13-15)

During the prayer of Hannah, Samuel the prophet's mother, she confesses: "The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up." (1Sam 2:6)

We see that because man has become guilty of sin through Adam, he is therefore deserving of death. Because of the death and resurrection of the Messiah, we have a hope, and a future in Him... and yet the rules are clear: "The soul that sinneth, it shall die." (Ezek 18:20a)

In order for a man to stop doing the works of the flesh... he must, and will... die. Most people I know... many Christians I know, are struggling with heavy emotional issues. Be it a short temper, an impulsive nature, depression... these all come from the lack of the fruits of the Spirit, including self control, or temperance. But it is written: "Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh." (James 3:12)

A tree... in fact every living thing, brings forth after it's kind, as it was established at the Creation: "And God said, 'Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.'" (Gen 1:24)

So then... a fleshly-minded person, whether he is a "Christian" or not... will bring forth what kind of fruit? "A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things." (Mat 12:35)

He can bring forth only the works of the flesh. Those who "try" to do good will fail, naturally; that is to say... because of their nature. Fortunately, we have the solution to this matter written in the Bible. Even if one has accepted Christ, even if one is a baptized member of a church... there is always the invitation to grow, to understand more. Ultimately we are called to enter into such an intimate relationship with Him - transcending feelings, or emotions, or any such thing - that we are simply unshakable: "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." (Eph 4:13-15)

This has been the plan all along :)

So how do we enter into that relationship? How do we trust Him so much that if He would call us to walk on water, or to move a mountain, or even to overcome a sinful habit - bad tendency - painful emotions... you see, some of the greatest miracles are not so dramatic :) But how do we trust Him so much that we would get out of the boat, or jump off the cliff, and expect Him to catch us?

We can only get there when we have nothing else to lose. When we have surrendered all, and when we have truly understood this, not with our heads only, but also our hearts: "Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin." (Rom 6:6)

And how do we "serve sin?" "Jesus answered them, 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.'" (John 8:34)

It is possible, of one believes. Sinful tendences can be overcome... He promised us, He expects it of us... He would not set an impossible task before us :) But, there is a price. If we don't come to the table giving everything we have... even our own lives, it's not enough. The Messiah said: "He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me." (Mat 10:37-38)

Strong words! But He knew the truth... that if we love anything, any single thing, more than Him, we would never be able to endure the great temptations of this world: "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment." (Mark 12:30)

Now, the lawyer who asked Christ that question knew of course what the "first" commandment was. He wasn't asking about the order... but the word "first" there, or "protos," means the primary one, the most esteemed... the most important. This is the one thing we really need to begin our walk with the Most High, that and a love for our fellow man.. to love them as ourselves.

But we can't do that. We can't even truly _want_ those things, unless Christ Himself puts the desire in us. He who created all things in the beginning continues to create even now. If there is anything good IN us, it is because He created it there, as it is written: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Cor 5:17)

Notice, when old things pass away, ALL things become new. There is no underestimating the power of that statement. When one is truly converted, he is promised: "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh." (Ezek 36:26)

David wrote, longing for this experience after his sin with Bathsheba: "Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." (Psa 51:10)

When we are truly lost in Christ, and crucified with Him, we find we have a new heart. Do not make the mistake of thinking the change is any less "real" because it isn't as dramatic as parting the Red Sea, or calling down fire from Heaven. Just because there may be no immediate and sensational/emotional epiphany does not mean the choice has not been made, and the change accomplished, for as it is written of an encounter with a certain disciple: "Jesus saith unto him, 'Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.'" (John 20:29)

Again: "(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)" (2 Cor 5:7)

If we find ourselves struggling, therefore, with some negative emotion... a short temper, feelings of guilt, great sadness... we need to realize these things are of the flesh. We need to be renewed in the promises our Messiah gave us, and make sure we (in the Spirit) leave our "old selves" in the grave where they belong!

"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Rom 6:11)

After we make that decision to die to self, we can truly be dead to sin. And after that the only life we have left is the eternal life of the Father in Christ the Son. "For in Him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also His offspring." (Acts 17:28)

We enter into His suffering and death, and as Peter writes: "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (1 Pet 2:24)

The night would exhaust us to go into all the Scriptures concerning being "dead," being "buried with Him," and this being the means by which we overcome the world. Just as Christ overcame the world by His death, so we also overcome the world, only by our death - and in that way, every believer is a martyr, even if they are not actually slain in the flesh. We truly are dead... dead to all the tendencies, fleshy lusts, and sinful propensities of our past. If we feel life in us, we know it is the life of Christ.

In this way, we cannot be tempted past what we can bear (and yet another promise becomes true), for it is written: "For the living know that they shall die: but the dead know not any thing, neither have they any more a reward; for the memory of them is forgotten." (Ecc 9:5)

We see the spiritual application of that verse very clearly... the dead cannot sin. If we wish to overcome the works of the flesh, we must reckon our flesh dead. If we wish to live forever, we must forsake the life we knew before... completely. ALL things must be made new, or we are still in the flesh :) And neither is this just about our reward in heaven... it's about today, and tomorrow... it's about right now. If we wish to say, as Paul did: "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." (Phil 4:11)

If we wish to be able to say that with an honest heart, today, we must be looking at the world with spiritual eyes, and not earthly. We must defeat, by Christ's grace, the leadings of our senses, and go with what the truth is... as it is written in the Bible, and revealed by the Spirit of grace. The application of this is so much wider than overcoming haste and anger :) I've chosen to target those specific things in this particular study, but the truth is... it is the way to overcome all the world. We must be willing to give up all we have, all we ARE, and find our identity in Him. We must be willing to lose all we have, and so gain eternal life. "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised Him from the dead." (Col 2:12)

Notice, that is not future tense! We are NOW raised with Him, and live that eternal life now. Again he writes: "But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." (Eph 2:4-7)

Notice that He has quickened us (made us alive) and He has raised us up with Christ. Again, present tense. We do not wait for Him to return in order to begin our eternity... it begins the moment we are broken on the Rock, and His life becomes ours. But all that we were before does die... it was destined to die... in it's sins.

I have used this verse many times before, and may many times again, for it is so succinct, so beautiful, and is the Gospel all in itself. This is the identity of every true believer: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." (Gal 2:20)

Think on those words. Meditate on those words, until they pass from your head to your heart. Live and breathe those words, for in these Scriptures is truly life everlasting. And when we come to the place where we find ourselves right on the edge of the cliff, knowing that to make that one last step is certain death... jump. He has given us wings. Our bodies, our flesh, dies in the watery grave... but our true selves spread those wings, and we do fly. "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isa 40:31)

When we are soaring over all the valleys of our lives, and our sinful past is left behind... indeed, all vestiges of it, including the tendencies to give into temptations, to anger, to undue sorrow, to guilt, to revenge, to envy, to lust... then we are truly in our graves awaiting the resurrection. By Christ's grace, we are truly "Resting in peace." "And He said, 'My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.'" (Exo 33:14)

David.