Ron Hordyk

Life by Death Ron Hordyk

I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:24-25

When God created mankind, they were innocent, predisposed to neither good nor evil. By creating the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, God presented mankind with a choice to either live for Him or rebel against Him. However, mankind did not perceive that they could choose until Satan taught Eve the concept of evil.

God gave Adam and Eve only one command: Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. But Adam and Eve disobeyed God. On that day, man's spirit died; the power of sin entered the world; the sinful nature sprang into existence; and mankind was banished into Satan's kingdom. This day was the darkest day in human history.

In the Old Testament, God promised mankind a new covenant. This new covenant has given mankind a second opportunity to choose to live for God. If a person will obey God, then God will forgive his sins, give him a new spirit and a new heart, and place within him His Holy Spirit. Because mankind lost their innocence, they need to die to the seven areas of sinful control to become Christians. Hence, they must crucify their "I" with Christ: dying to the law, to the basic principles of this world, to the power of sin, to their sinful nature, to their soul's self-centeredness, and to the world. Many Christians are not aware that they must die to live the new life in Christ. Life By Death examines why man is spiritually dead, how Christians die to the seven areas of sinful control, and what Christians experience in Christ.

Keywords: Holiness, Victory, Brokenness, Wholeness, Hope, Healing, Rebirth, Surrender, Born-Again, And Sinful-Nature.