Crucified with Christ

Paul said, “I died to the law” (Gal. 2:19), because “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (vs. 20). This is only possible because of our union with Christ. The apostle Paul identified every believer with Christ:

            In His death			Romans 6:3,6; Colossians 3:1-3

            In His burial			Romans 6:4

            In His resurrection			Romans 6:5,8,11

            In His ascension			Ephesians 2:6

            In His life				Romans 6:10,11

            In His power			Ephesians 1:19,20

            In His inheritance			Romans 8:16,17; Ephesians 1:11,12

When Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ,” he literally meant I have been and continue to be crucified with Christ. The eternal life we received at salvation was the eternal life of Christ, which included eternity past and eternity future. We are identified with every aspect of Christ’s eternal life, because we are united with Him.

Before we came to Christ we were under the law and in bondage to sin. We had to be crucified with Christ, “so that the body of sin might be done away with” (Rom. 6:6). The “body of sin” refers to the person or self (living in bodily form) under the law and the rule of sin. This person was “done away with” by being crucified with Christ. The Greek term “done away with” can mean “rendered ineffective or powerless,” “destroyed,” “brought to an end,” or “released from.” Our old self was in bondage to sin and therefore utilized all of our bodily existence in servitude to sin and its mastery. That old self has died with Christ. Now, a new self exists, which is no longer under the mastery of sin.

Sin reigns through death, therefore the way to freedom from sin is through death (Rom. 6:6). Therefore if a person dies, sin loses its mastery over that person. Because the believer has died with Christ (participated with Him in His death to sin), that believer is free from the mastery of sin and lives a new life of freedom. I have dealt with many Christians who have believed Satan’s lies that the only way to get rid of sin and demons is to physically die, i.e. take their own life, but true believers have already died with Christ who is the only One who can conquer sin and death. Note that death is the end of a relationship, not existence. According to Paul we are alive in Christ and dead to sin (Rom. 6:11). In Christ, sin and death have no mastery over us. Physical death is still imminent, but we shall continue to live spiritually even if we die physically. Sin is still present and appealing, but we don’t have to yield to it. The law of life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death. Believe it and live accordingly.

Dr. Neil

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