Thursday, July 3, 2014

Christian Zombies!

Warning! - there may be Christian zombies in your midst! Even worse, you may be one yourself! 

What is a Christian zombie? Well, first of all, what is a zombie? It's the body of a dead person given the resemblance of life, by a supernatural force, usually for some evil purpose. In other words.....the Walking Dead!

So how does this apply to Christians? Well, as Christians, we are supposed to die to our old self, our sinful nature, our selfishness, former, worldly ways. Christianity is all about new life - a new life of forgiveness and grace through Christ.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)

So a Christian zombie is a Christian whose old self, the self-centered sinful-natured person you don’t want to be, keeps trying to come back! And as a Christian, we are supposed to bury our old self, not bring it back! There's no better picture of this than Christian baptism --baptism by immersion.

Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. (Romans 6:3-4 NLT)

At our baptism, our "old self" dies and is buried, and we rise to walk in a "new life", joined with Christ, united with Him.

For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12 NLT)

When we slip up, yield to temptation, and fall back into our old ways, that's when our old self, our old ways that we buried, tries to come back to life. And if we're not careful, we start walking around as a Christian zombie. That’s why we need to be on guard. Satan is behind it, tempting us, trying to convince us to resurrect that old self. But don't do it!

5 WAYS TO AVOID BECOMING A CHRISTIAN ZOMBIE

1. Stay Connected with the Word (the Scriptures)
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. (Romans 12:2a) 

2. Stay Obedient to God's Commands
If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. (John 15:10)

3. Stay focused on Jesus
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:1-2)

4. Stay in tune with the Spirit
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. (Galatians 5:24-25)

5. Stay in fellowship with other Believers.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)


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