Much More!

“For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” 

Romans 5:10 (NKJV)

Once you’ve become a Christian is there more? Is there more to the Christian life than just becoming a Christian and being baptized? One of the great expressions Paul used in describing the Christian life is “Much more!” It occurs five times in Romans chapter 5 alone! (Vs. 9, 10, 15, 17 & 20) 

Jesus gave His life for us that He may give His life to us! He gave His life to us that He may live His life through us!  1 John 5:11-12 (NLT) says, “He has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.” 

Salvation is so much more than sins forgiven and a home in heaven one day.  It’s sharing that life with Jesus now that we will one day share with Him for eternity.  One pastor I knew put it like this, “The Christian life isn’t just pie in the sky when you die by and by; it’s steak on your plate while you wait!” There is much more to our faith than looking forward to our heavenly reward. It’s living the abundant life Jesus came to offer those who would follow Him.  It’s living the life that Christ lived then, lived now by Him in you! In John 10:10 (NKJV) Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”  

Through His death we can be reconciled to God.  That means we are no longer estranged from God because of our sins.  He nailed them to the cross and forgave us of all our sins, past, present and future!  As if that were not enough, there is a “much more” added!  “… Having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”  The Amplified Bible gives us better insight into the significance of this: “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more [certain], now that we are reconciled, that we shall be saved (daily delivered from sin’s dominion) through His [resurrection] life.”  

Reconciled by His death, that’s past tense, action complete.  I’m no longer condemned!  I’m declared right with God!  Forgiven!  Wow!  MUCH MORE! Now that I am reconciled, I shall be saved, daily delivered from sin’s dominion through His resurrection life! 

Jesus didn’t come to earth to die for my sins and just leave me in this cosmic spit to sweat it out until He returns one day to see how well I did.  He rose from the dead to indwell me by His Spirit in order that I may share His life, His victory over sin, His strength, His provision, His power, His peace, His purpose. If your Christian experience can be described by anything other than Christ in you, it is not biblical Christianity.  Paul said “For me to live is Christ…” Philippians 1:21 (NIV)  

Celebrate the much more of your faith each day in the presence of the One who died and rose again to save you from sin’s dominion and deliver you from the hurts, habits and hang ups that once controlled your life.    

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)