Jesus offers an abundant life to his followers, but sadly too many “christians” never seem to live abundantly. In fact, many christians lives don’t look much different than their non-christian neighbors.

Why do so many people who have been buried with Christ never seem to experience the abundant life that Christ promised?

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you. 12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live. —Romans 8:5-13 (NIV)

The New Testament makes it clear that the effect of the death of Jesus Christ will effect every life that is united to Christ. Earlier in this letter, Paul talks about baptism not just as a death, but a re-birth.

Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. —Romans 6:3-11 (NIV)

What does this passage say about the new life in Christ?

If you came in contact with the atonement, Paul says there is going to be something different about you. And if there is not something different, Paul seems to say that you are still dead.

How do you discern someone who is spiritual dead to someone who is spiritual alive?

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. —Romans 8:5 (NIV)

What does it mean to have you mind “set on what the flesh desires”?
What does it mean to have you mind “set on what the Spirit desires”?

We aren’t called to just think ABOUT Jesus… but to start thinking LIKE Jesus.

We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. —Romans 6:6 (NLT)

What does it mean to no longer be “slaves to sin”?… Does that mean we will never sin?

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. —Galatians 5:24-25 (NIV)

In order to live the abundant life that Jesus offers, we have to follow the lead of the Spirit. So we have got to stop getting in the way of the Spirit.

In what ways have you gotten in the way of the Spirit’s leading in your life?