We did not descend into death with Christ so we could remain there. Christ did not remain in death and we are not to remain in death.

The Christian salvation is not an endless struggle against sin, although it seems that way at times. Rather it is the substitution of one form of life for another.

There is the biologic life of the flesh. Then there is the eternal Life of God. Biologic life is one kind of life, having an energy and wisdom of its own. Eternal life is another kind of life, having an energy and wisdom of its own.

Death, and life! Death, and life! Death, and life! This is the true program of salvation. As we have stated, death and resurrection are the mainspring of the Christian salvation.

Whenever the Christian salvation begins to emphasize some other facet of Christianity there is a danger we will move away from the guiding principle and regenerative force of death and resurrection.

"We should walk in newness of life," the Bible says. What kind of newness of life? We know from the letters of the Apostles that the newness of life means righteous behavior, holiness of personality, stern obedience to the Father.

Our newness of life should reveal in itself the personality of Jesus Christ.

Our newness of life comes from the Glory of the Father, the same glory that raised Christ from the dead. Satan cannot overcome that glory. We know this is true because Satan was unable to prevent the resurrection of Jesus.

Your natural personality is more sinful, more corrupt, more rebellious than you understand. Your heart (as well as my heart) is deceitful and desperately wicked. There is no way your first personality can be made acceptable to God. It drinks sin like water. It is proud, stubborn, and essentially hostile toward God.

Take your first personality and put it on the cross by faith. Then each day the Holy Spirit will bring about circumstances in your life that force you to a decision. "Should I leave myself on the cross and experience the denial of my desires or should I come down from the cross and take care of my needs?"

If you stay on the cross and look to God until Christ's life lifts you above the darkness that is seeking to tear you down, a part of your personality will die and in its place will be formed the Nature of Christ.

If you come down (temporarily of course!) to satisfy your cravings, the spiritual death in you will be strengthened and no growth in Christ's nature will occur. And the next test will be more difficult to pass.

You can tell when Christ is growing in you. You are becoming better able to distinguish between good and evil and have more desire and power to reject the evil and choose the good. This is the only reliable evidence that Christ indeed is maturing in you.

How are you now compared with last year at this time? Ask God for a report card.

If you view salvation as the transformation of your personality you will grow in Christ. If you view salvation as a ticket to Heaven you probably won't make much progress while you are waiting to get there.