This is the final installment of the “Inscribed” post series. In the first part we discovered that covenants are established by cutting and that God’s covenant law was established by cutting His code into a rock. In the second part we took a look at our metaphorical hearts of stone that were dead in sin that God transplanted through Jesus’ death. The physical stone tablets were inscribed by God’s power, and the spiritual heart transplant is done in God’s power. Today we’ll take a look at what we get when we undergo this spiritual surgery—a heart of flesh.
Ezekiel 36:26 says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (KJV). Why a heart of flesh? Isn’t a stone stronger? Wouldn’t God want us to be strong and powerful? Flesh is just so…fragile, delicate. Yes, it is. But it’s also ALIVE!
Jesus’ death, which killed our sin nature, was only one part of the purpose of the cross. The dying part was only the beginning! It was what unlocked and enabled the living part. I think sometimes we forget that in Jesus, death is the beginning of life. These spiritual principles are so opposite of our physical laws, I think sometimes we forget how real they are. I know I do and I have.
In the spirit, we start out dead THEN come alive in Jesus. Romans 6:3-11 says,
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 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. For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord (KJV).
This passage is SO GOOD! So empowering! We are ALIVE! If we are alive, we are able to learn, to grow, to change, to move, be empowered, and impact those around us. If we are alive, we are free! Free from the control of the force of sin nature, the sin nature that holds us back and keeps us dead in stagnation. Jesus’ empowering life could not be held by the vice grip of death. As soon as our death penalty was paid, the POWER of LIFE in the Author of life kicked in, and the grip of death slipped, finger by cold stone finger off of Jesus.
We know this because Romans 4:25 says He “was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (KJV). Jesus didn’t stay dead. Why? It PROVES He fulfilled the code. It PROVES we are justified in God. It PROVES He gave that code to us and exchanged our death for His life. Our sin for His righteousness. In other words, He wrote, or inscribed, His code in our hearts and minds (Jeremiah 31:33). And what’s more, He gave us an enduring seal, or sign of validation, of this exchange—the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13 and 4:30). We truly are His people (Jeremiah 31:33). We may think of flesh as being weaker than stone, but in the spirit, we are only truly powerful when we live dependent upon and in the resurrection life of Jesus. There is nothing more amazing (and sometimes scary!) than taking that proverbial leap of faith in God, being completely dependent upon Him, and thereby allowing His power be evident in our lives.
Therefore, we are free to live, really live, in the power of God. When our sin nature dies, our spirits spring to life, and we are able to take this empowerment and freedom of life and share it with those around us. The death of sin in Jesus was only the beginning. The true adventure is living in the power of His life!