Alex Cohen
Dead
Dead. Such a sad word. But so very descriptive. Most of us have lost loved ones dear to us. As we look at them laying in that open casket, the meaning of the word dead really hits home. Life has left the body. That person's essence is no longer present. All that is left is an empty shell that will rot over time. No longer are we able to love that person and be loved back. No longer are we able to look into their eyes and they look back. There is no longer any relationship whatsoever. All that is left are memories of that person. Cessation and separation has occurred. Jesus died a cruel death on the cross that we might die to sin. "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness." We are dead to sin. Not simply forgiven of it --- actually dead to sin. And we must consider ourselves so. "You also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus." My dear brothers and sisters, don't confuse memories of sin with reality. We are dead to sin. Cessation and separation has occurred. That is why Jesus died on the cross.