<p>4:12 <i>So then death works in us- </i>The tragedy of death and suffering for the unbeliever is that it achieves nothing on a personal level, it is the end. Whereas for the believer, the Lord's sufferings and death are manifested in us, but they &quot;work&quot;, they achieve or literally 'energize', life. Not only for us personally but for others. This is the ultimate death- a death which brings life for others as well as for ourselves. And only by connection with the Lord Jesus can such a meaning be attached to human death. This to my mind is one of the most powerful blessings of Christianity, of connection to Christ in baptism and a life lived in the power and Spirit of His death and resurrection.</p><p><i>But life in you- </i>We can gain our brother for God's Kingdom (Mt. 18:15), as Noah saved his own house by his faithful preparation (Heb. 11:7). Through <i>our personal </i>dying to the flesh, the life of Christ is manifest not only in us, but is made available to others. The life that is even now made manifest <i>in us</i> is also made available to work in others because death to the flesh has worked in us personally.</p>