The revelation of immortality in Christ Jesus, while technically preached by Jesus himself, is otherwise a fairly new revelation for the Body of Christ. Certainly there have been men and women throughout history who have both believed and accessed this reality, but for most of the rest of us, it is either entirely new or something we are on the journey to apprehend. For those who are skeptical or downright rejecting of this gospel message, it can often be because they believe it is inconsequential, a “side issue” in Christianity, or somehow unrelated to living out our faith. I suggest, however, the exact opposite—that the revelation of immortality is the primary means by which we as followers of Jesus Christ can walk in all the promises of God.
Yes, that’s a pretty bold statement, but there’s a reason good reason that I am saying this. Consider first of all that the primary issue mankind faces is that through the fall, sin entered us, and through sin, death—for as the Bible tells us, the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Now, when you understand that’s the primary problem that Jesus came to solve, every *other* problem becomes subsidiary to that. And in truth, it they really do—it’s just a matter of mindset.
Consider that all poverty is death in your finances. Relational brokenness is death in your relationship. Job loss is death in your employment. Even things like being unsure about what to do in a situation and needing wisdom could be viewed as death of your inner peace. Ultimately, most problems in life can in some way or other be characterized as a manifestation of death. Why does this matter? Because immortality is the solution.
How? Immortality is the result of the life of Jesus Christ constantly flowing in and through us, sustaining us in an ongoing manner. In every way that Christ sustains us, death is incapable of manifesting. As Jesus sustains us in our finances, we experience abundance there. As He sustains us in our relationships, we have vibrancy between one another. As He does the same with our jobs, our peace, with our belongings, our bodies, and more, we have abundant life, fruitfulness, and grace abounding in every area—all as a result of the life that Jesus Christ brings and constantly releases to us!
So how do we access this? First, it requires us to shift our mindset to understand that death is actually the problem, then to understand that Jesus is and has always been the solution for death in all of its forms. Second, we have to believe that He provided the solution for us to live forever. As we do this, and as we pursue immortality in our bodies, we will find it carries over into every other area of our lives. There are a few reasons for this. First, as we live in a greater measure of all God has for us, it will naturally touch every aspect of our lives. Second, it has to do with our faith. As we increase our faith and enhance what we expect from God, we will ultimately receive the results. Third, we have been positioned on earth and given dominion over it, so when we take dominion over death in our own bodies, how much more will that dominion extend to creation around us? Consider that death is really the biggest challenge that mankind faces. I mean, demons are a problem, but we’ve been given authority over them and can make them submit and flee in Jesus’ name. But death? That’s really where people get challenged. If you stand in front of a demon and start commanding them, you’ll notice that they respond (even if not always how you expect) to the name of Jesus. But if you stand in front of a dead body to raise it back to life? Well, historically speaking, most often nothing happens—which is part of why I wrote the book Faith To Raise The Dead, to help equip the Body of Christ to overcome in those situations. Overall I do believe there are a few reasons people tend not to return when we pray to raise them, but the point I am making here is that death is honestly a huge challenge for most believers, and in many cases a bigger challenge than dealing directly with the demonic.
If we really want to break through our faith-barriers and all that holds us back in life, then we have to increase the stakes. We must challenge our faith—and the best way to do that is to go after the BIG enemy, death. After all, the Bible tells us that death is the last enemy to be destroyed. That doesn’t mean we can’t have victory over it here and now—it just means that we have to put some effort into it, and we have to start setting our sights higher than we have before. There is a saying (I’m not sure who said it first) that goes, “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars.” The idea here is similar. If you set your sights, and your faith, on immortality, defeating death in your body, then you have set your sights so incredibly high that at that point, anything else is easy in comparison. Furthermore, even if for some reason you don’t fully apprehend it, your faith is already going to be high for what God can do and you will certainly see Him move in every area of your life accordingly.
If you want to learn more about the promises of God in scripture regarding immortality, pick up a copy of my new book The Gospel of Life and Immortality today. The book is over 300 pages of rich content—explaining the scriptures, offering useful tips on how to navigate real-world issues, and providing practical steps to help access this revelation. It’s great for personal learning, and for those who are ready to dive in as a group, it can be gone through chapter by chapter in a group setting as well. Grab your copy and one for a friend today!
