Except a Corn of Wheat Fall Into the Ground and Die
True spiritual life is born out of death and surrender, leading to a deeper and truer living.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes the profound connection between death and resurrection as fundamental themes in both nature and Christianity. He illustrates this through various natural transformations, such as the chrysalis and the seed, and biblical symbols like circumcision and the crossing of the Red Sea. Simpson asserts that true spiritual life emerges from death, urging believers to let go of remnants of sin and commit them to a figurative grave. By doing so, he believes that the Holy Spirit can facilitate a continual process of renewal and growth in the believer's life. Ultimately, this leads to a life that flourishes and spreads the fragrance of Christ.
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Death and resurrection are the central ideas of nature and Christianity. We see them in the transformation of the chrysalis, in the buried seed bursting into the bud and blossom of spring, in the transformation of the cold shroud of winter into the tinted robes of spring. We see it throughout the Bible in the symbol of circumcision with its significance of death and life, in the crossing of the Red Sea and the Jordan leading out and leading in, and in the cross of Calvary and the open grave of the Easter morning. We see it in every deep spiritual life.
Every true life is death-born, and the deeper the dying the truer the living.
No doubt the passing months have shown us all many places where there ought to be a grave, and many lingering remnants of the natural and sinful which we ought gladly to commit to a bottomless grave. God help us to pass upon them the irrevocable sentence of death and to let the Holy Spirit make the interment eternal. Then our life shall be continually budding and blossoming and shedding fragrance over all.
Sermon Outline
- Death and Resurrection in Nature and Christianity
- Examples of Transformation in Nature
- Symbolism in the Bible
- Spiritual Transformation in Deep Lives
Key Quotes
“Every true life is death-born, and the deeper the dying the truer the living.” — A.B. Simpson
“God help us to pass upon them the irrevocable sentence of death and to let the Holy Spirit make the interment eternal.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- Surrender your sinful tendencies to God and allow the Holy Spirit to transform you.
- Let go of things that hinder your spiritual growth and commit them to God.
- Trust in the power of the cross of Calvary and the resurrection of Jesus Christ to bring new life to your spirit.