The modern concept of the Christian life has been seriously skewed by false teachers and preachers in pulpits, colleges and in media. What Jesus taught, what the Apostles continued has been relegated to an incorrect application of one small precept that has grown to overshadow all the rest of Biblical truth of the Christian life.
The contrast between John 10:10 "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." and Matthew 16:24-25 "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it." is polarized, two apparently different extremes. Is the Christian life one of these two extremes or is there a middle ground where we may expect our path to lead?
John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."
Jesus is saying that there is internal peace, but externally there will be tribulation. I recognize that there may well be periods of external peace followed by repeated times of tribulation, tribulation will be our lot, because we serve Jesus Christ.
Colossians 3: 1-7 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: in the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them." Paul is teaching that we have a responsibility to prioritize our life with Christ as higher in importance than our life in the world. So much so that we are to mortify (put to death, figuratively) our physical, fleshly desires that dominate our life.
This is the foundation for the reality of Galatians 2:20 "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." Death to self, but alive in Christ Jesus. Also note Romans 8:1-2 "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." The distinction of the fleshly life and the spirit-filled life is distinctly clear and possible.
The promise of God for success in the Christian life is declared in Galatians 5:16-17 "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."
Conclusion:
In this world we will have internal peace with God, but external conflict with the world. It is our calling as disciples of our Lord Jesus that we embrace the reality of tribulation, allowing it to be a growing experience, purifying our soul from entanglements with this world. He calls us to give free reign to our spirit in fellowship and control of the Holy Spirit, while subduing our fleshly (carnal) desires that tend to dominate us in this life. Let us live above the flesh having our affections set on things above. Doing so will save us much discouragement and disappointment. We will also have a greater source of joy for our daily walk with Christ. Who is who in our life? Let it be Christ first and most!
AND, in the life to come, "Joy unspeakable and full of glory."
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