(The Self Life and the Christ Life) 2. RESURRECTED NOT RAISE
A.B. Simpson emphasizes that the Christian life is not merely about rising to a higher level but about being truly resurrected from death to new life through Christ, highlighting the necessity of dying to self for a supernatural transformation.
In this devotional sermon, A.B. Simpson explores the profound difference between merely rising and being truly resurrected in the Christian life. He teaches that genuine Christian transformation requires dying to self and receiving new life from above, emphasizing the supernatural nature of this spiritual rebirth. Simpson challenges the idea of self-improvement and invites believers to embrace the power of resurrection through Christ.
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THERE is a great difference between risen and resurrected. One may rise from one level to another; but when one is resurrected he is brought from nothing into existence, from death to life, and the transition is simply infinite. A true Christian is not raised, but resurrected. The great objection to all the teachings of mere natural religion and human ethics is that we are taught to rise to higher planes. The glory of the Gospel is that it does not teach us to rise, but shows our inability to do anything good of ourselves, and lays us at once in the grave in utter helplessness and nothingness, and then raises us up into new life, born entirely from above and sustained alone from heavenly sources.
The Christian life is not self-improving, but it is wholly supernatural and Divine. Now, the resurrection cannot come until there has been the death. This is presupposed, and just as real as the death has been, will be the measure of the resurrection life and power. Let us not fear, therefore, to die and to die to all that we would leave behind us and detach ourselves from, nay, to die to ourselves and really cease to be. We lose nothing by letting go and we cannot enter in \
Sermon Outline
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I. The Difference Between Risen and Resurrected
- Rising is a mere improvement; resurrection is a new existence.
- True Christian life is resurrection, not just rising.
- Natural religion teaches rising; the Gospel teaches resurrection.
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II. The Necessity of Death Before Resurrection
- Death to self is essential for resurrection life.
- The measure of resurrection power depends on the reality of death.
- Letting go of self leads to true life in Christ.
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III. The Supernatural Nature of the Christian Life
- Christian life is not self-improvement but divine transformation.
- Life is born from above and sustained by heavenly sources.
- We cannot achieve resurrection life by our own efforts.
Key Quotes
“A true Christian is not raised, but resurrected.” — A.B. Simpson
“The Christian life is not self-improving, but it is wholly supernatural and Divine.” — A.B. Simpson
“The glory of the Gospel is that it does not teach us to rise, but shows our inability to do anything good of ourselves.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- Embrace the necessity of dying to self to experience true resurrection life.
- Rely on divine power rather than self-effort for spiritual growth.
- Recognize that Christian life is a supernatural transformation, not just moral improvement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between being risen and being resurrected?
Being risen implies moving to a higher level, while being resurrected means being brought from death to new life, a complete transformation.
Why is death to self necessary in the Christian life?
Death to self is necessary because it allows the believer to be freed from old ways and fully embrace the new life given by Christ.
Can the Christian life be achieved by self-effort?
No, the Christian life is supernatural and divine, sustained by heavenly power, not by human effort or self-improvement.
What does A.B. Simpson say about natural religion versus the Gospel?
He contrasts natural religion's teaching of rising to higher planes with the Gospel's teaching of resurrection from death to life.