CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

Galatians 2:20; 6:14; Romans 6:6; John 12:24, 25

Calvary is the place of victory.  The secret of spiritual victory is deliberate identification with the crucified Lord and Christ.  All Christian experiences have their root at the Cross.  The Blood of Christ guarantees our redemption and consistent life of victory over sin and temptation.

The declaration of Paul in our text reveals the secret of his life and ministry. “I am crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20). This in essence makes the life of Christ a reality in the life of a Christian. All that Calvary accomplished is at our reach by faith when we experience the crucified life.  Through this, we are dead to the world, experience the crushing of the old man and daily live the fruitful life of the risen Christ.

1.    THE CROSS OF CHRIST

Romans 5:6-8; Galatians 1:4; Colossians 1:20; Ephesians 2:16; Hebrews 2:9

The Cross of Christ is the central message of the Gospel.  Humanity must be reminded of what man’s redemption cost Christ, our Lord.  The CROSS symbolizes: (i) the Death of Christ (ii) the Blood of Christ (iii) Suffering of Christ (iv) Sacrifice of Christ (v) Crucifixion of Christ (vi) Humiliation of Christ (vii) Reproach of Christ.

No sinner can afford to snub such a price paid on his behalf. Little wonder the apostle asked, “How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation” (Hebrews 2:3).

Sober, positive response through repentance and faith bring great results.  These include:

(i)     Forgiveness of sins – Ephesians 1:7

(ii)   Peace with God – Romans 5:1

(iii)  Reconciliation with God – Ephesians 2:15-17

(iv)  Deliverance from the power of sin – Colossians 1:13,14

(v)    Redemption through His Blood – Colossians 1:21,22

2.    CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

Galatians 2:20; 6:14; Romans 12:1, 2

No Christian can truly experience real victory without identification with the Cross of Christ.  After we are saved from the outward sin, the inward depravity must be crushed.  Without this, full victory will be a mirage.  “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin” (Romans 6:6).  This is the glorious experience of sanctification. The crushing of the Adamic nature, the propensity to sin.

However, the flesh often struggles to stage a come-back.  To maintain a consistent life of victory, we must remain crucified.

What does being Crucified mean?

(i)     To crucify the flesh with its affections and lusts – Galatians 5:24

(ii)   Crucified to the world – Galatians 6:14; I John 2:15-17

(iii)  Mortify the deeds of the flesh – Colossians 3:5; Romans 8:3

(iv)  Put the body under subjection – I Corinthians 9:27

 

3.    CHRISTLIKENESS OF THE CRUCIFIED CHRISTIAN

Galatians 2:20; I Corinthians 11:1; Romans 1:17; I John 5:11; Colossians 3:12-14

The purpose of the crucified life is to reproduce the character and nature of Christ in the believer.  Closely examined, the word “life”, “liveth” and “life” occur 5 times in the single verse of Galatians 2:20.  This is highly instructive.  This is the essence of the crucified life.  This life is described as:

(i)       The life of righteousness – Ephesians 4:23, 24

(ii)     The life of godliness – Titus 2:11, 12

(iii)      The life of holiness – I Thessalonians 2:10

 

Conformity to the image of Christ is the goal of every Christian.  A state when the very nature of Christ is gloriously reproduced in us.  This can only be attained by personally identified with Christ and His Cross.  Then, we would be able to say like Paul, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).