From Joe Thorn's new book

Jesus’ death should lead to your own daily dying. Yes, Jesus died as a substitute for sinners, and that work is your hope of salvation. But Jesus did not die only to justify the wicked. His death is also designed to lead you in your own daily dying and living.

Peter says that Jesus died for our sins so that we would die to our sins. Jesus died for our sins by suffering the wrath of God in the place of sinners. By his wounds we are healed. Through the suffering of the righteous one, the wicked are justified. You, Christian, are justified. But his death should lead you in dying, as well. You die to your sins and live to righteousness through the ongoing work of faith and repentance.

What is it to die to sin?

• To die to sin is to deny its influence and to recognize that sin is powerless over you.
• To recognize your corruption and identify your temptations while resting in the deliverance God has provided through the sacrifice of Jesus.
• To know you are no longer a slave, and sin is your master no more.
• As you die to sin (recognizing and living in the reality that Jesus has set you free) you can live to righteousness. To live to righteousness is to follow Christ in holiness and to grow in grace.

The death of Jesus is not just what cleanses you of guilt, but it is also the means by which you experience transformation. Your progress in the faith, your sanctification, is not a result of will power or education, but the consequence of Christ’s atoning work. That is your confidence and hope. You can die to sin because he has died for your sin. You can live unto righteousness because Jesus has risen from the dead and in him you are now truly alive! Today is a day to die and to live.

Excerpt modified from Note to Self by Joe Thorn

Great Post from Ray Ortlund

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 cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
This is practical guidance for experiencing our free justification through the cross. There is a continuous outflow from Christ into our hearts. Here is where we find it:
But if we walk in the light
Walking in the light is being honest when God convicts our hearts of sin. We lie to ourselves in many ways: “But this is my personality. But my wife isn’t the girl I thought I was marrying. But look how life has wounded me. But what the Bible says is too demanding. But I can’t change, etc.” This is walking in the darkness. But our hearts start cracking open when we call our sin what God calls it: sin. No softening it.
Walking in the light means we no longer need to look better than we really are. Our needs are too intense, and only God will suffice.
As he is in the light
It isn’t about rules; it’s about God himself. If we are walking in hiddenness, we cannot experience him. He is out there in the light of truth.
We have fellowship with one another
When we start walking in the light before the Lord, we discover one another at a deeper level. We stop playing at church; we enter into fellowship. We find how much we have in common. The sympathy flows back and forth with joy.
And the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin
This is more than a human support group. The sacred blood of Jesus is here. And we bring no sin which his blood cannot cleanse away: “. . . all sin.” That sin weighing most heavily on your conscience – that is the sin Jesus bled for. Step out into the light, as the Holy Spirit nudges you. Then take the next step after that, then the next – a new person walking in the light day by day, continually cleansed. No more hiding. You’re free.
Here is the price we pay: putting our pride away and admitting the truth, moment by moment, as we walk together in the light of the Lord.

It ain't over till the fat lady sings....

Jesus told the disciples in Matthew 24:36 that no one knows what day or hour that He will return. Only the Father knew. Why then do we continue to try to predict the end of human history? Make no mistake. The Bible is clear that Christ will return... How and when there is much debate about. The latest prediction of the rapture and judgement is May 21, 2011. The people that make such predictions are obsessed with codes and secret knowledge. This is not new... Most cults get started this way: A date set for Christ's return obtained by one of a few persons by special revelation. The Bible does indeed speak, but will never undermine itself. The Bible assumes God's authority. Man's problem is that we try to make the Bible say what WE want it to say. When we impose on the Scripture we are on dangerous ground. Many well meaning people have set dates for Christ's return in order for mankind to repent and believe the good news of Christ's salvation. The tactics of fear are seldom helpful. God is a God of mercy. He is also a holy God who has been offended by our sin. He put the punishment that our sins deserve on His own Son. Jesus Christ bore the wrath of God in our place. We should trust in this and live for God and let God handle the events for the future.... after all, it is God's world. Only God has the right to know when He returns. All we need to do is be ready at all times. Throw codes and speculations and astrological signs away and simply trust God to do His will when He wants to. It's a whole lot easier to believe God and simply live for Him. It is the height of arrogance to believe something God said we could not know. From the rebellion of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, mankind has continued to trust in himself rather than trust in and obey God. Bottom line; this is idolatry. Our sin is pride. The desire to worship ourselves (the creation) rather than God (the Creator), Romans 1:18-25.
This date, May 21, 2011 will pass... Unless for some reason God has fixed this day as the day of Christ's return, be assured it is not because some man says so...We should still be looking for His appearing, but never cease to live each day for Him and telling others about Him. Jesus will return: There is much debate about whether there is a rapture or whether it is resurrection language used. Whether the Church is removed from the earth while God executes justice, or whether God has been executing and continues to be execute justice throughout all of human history from the resurrection of Jesus until His Second Coming, is entirely God's business. We are foolish to get swept up in end time hysteria... It makes us ineffective in this life. The Church is about God's kingdom rule right now AND at a time of God's own choosing when His Son returns.
GOD DECIDES WHEN THE FAT LADY SINGS!

 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3: 15 - 17 

The passage is much more than just what the Word of God does for us individually. As verse 15 tells us that the peace of God is to "rule of hearts  (plural)... not heart (singular). This is written to a church . We are to grow in God's word together . We were "called in ONE BODY" .  If it is good for all of us collectively, AND it's good for us singularly. 

Here's what  I mean: 

1) The Word planted in you ("let the word of Christ dwell in you richly") 

2) The Word taught to others (" teaching and admonishing ONE ANOTHER

    in all wisdom")

3) The Word sung back to God ("singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, 

    with thankfulness in your hearts TO GOD.") 

4)  The Word directing all my response to life ("whatever you do, in word or deed, 

     do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus..." 

This is God's Word... Do you love it and live it? .. And does it live (dwell) in you? 

Thank God for Moms!

Tomorrow is Mother's Day. What a calling motherhood is... My wife is the best mom I know. She's a wonderful mom to four grown children. She's about to hit her 52nd birthday (May 19th), and she is more beautiful today than the day I married her! What a blessed man I am!
 My own dear mother passed away on May 16, 1986 at the age of 60.. I miss her. I think of her everyday. She's with the Lord, so I will get to see her again. I take a great deal of comfort in this.
I'm also blessed to have a wonderful Mother -in- Law who has now known me longer than my own mother got to know me. It's hard for me to believe, but it's true. She's more than a Mother - in - Law to me... She's my mom. I love her very much, and she has been abundantly good to me. I thank God for these three special ladies in my life: my wife, my mother, and my mother in law. 
To all you moms; Happy Mother's Day! Y!ou deserve more than a one day a year celebration. You deserve your lifetime's worth of gratefulness!  Blessings on your day