Worthy to be Slain and Reign

 Revelation 5-9 

“…You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth…Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”

Revelation 5:9, 10, 12

The calling and inheritance of those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and gift of righteousness is that we would reign in life through Jesus Christ, (Romans 5:17). Our authority to resist sin and temptation from the world, our sinful nature, and Satan is found in the resurrection life we have received from Jesus Christ. However, the foolishness of the Gospel is that authority comes through surrender and life comes through dying. Just as the Lamb of God was slain for the sins of the world, only to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise, so, too, we receive our inheritance in Christ’s kingdom by offering our lives to him, surrendering our will to the Lord, and choosing to daily follow and obey. This is the path to ‘reigning in life’ through Christ. Expecting we can assume the victory of the cross without also picking up our cross and following Jesus, is a misguided way.

“Lord Jesus, thank you for your path of surrender. I choose to follow that path, for your glory.”