Crucified with Christ: A Journey of Surrender and New Life
The greatest miracle happened when Jesus laid down His life and gave it for us as redemption. He endured the terror of crucifixion and breathed His last on that tree. The Good News is that He didn't stay on the cross but was raised and resurrected from death to life on the third day. Isn't this wonderful?! We are thankful that we now have hope and the perspective of living in eternity. We have something to look forward to. Eternity.
I'm getting excited thinking about exploring heaven, talking to the heroes of faith, and maybe talking to some angels like Gabriel or Michael. But the best will be to be entirely in His presence, face to face, not bound by an earthly condition, loving and worshipping Him with saints from all over the world. We'll all be dressed in white, by the way. Sorry to all of you who exclusively wear black clothes.
Many people fear death and the unknown of what happens to us after we die. Do you know that Jesus also struggled when He was about to face death on the cross? He even wished that, if possible, the cup may pass. Letting go of life is utterly challenging. There comes the day when we all will breathe our last. Yet, a verse in scripture gives us an even more immense challenge. Let us read Galatians 2:20-21.
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain (Galatians 2:20-21).
I have been crucified with Christ? What does this mean? Didn't we just talk about how we all want to live and extend life as much as possible? Now, who no longer lives is I? Paul made a powerful statement of faith when he said he was crucified with Christ. How about us? Can you legitimately say, "I have been crucified with Christ"?
I want to share a few thoughts on this passage in Galatians and will expectantly encourage you to lay down your own life and let Jesus become everything.
Dead to Sin
To be crucified with Christ means we are no longer slaves to sin. We’re free people! It also means you have crucified your desires, your will, your purpose, and your life with Christ. It's easier said than done. I have often heard the phrase "consider yourself dead to sin" but never fully grasped it until I heard Joy Dawson speak about the fascination for sin. I always thought that fascination with sin equals temptation, and we just must fight it. Consequently, sometimes we win, and sometimes we lose.
However, lightbulbs went on when Joy said you must crucify and die to that fascination. We all know that feeling and the thought in our hearts when we are fascinated with what we shouldn't be doing. When we nail that fascination to the cross, we undoubtedly have victory over sin.
Eternity in Me
It is no longer me who lives, but Christ lives in me. Because Jesus was raised to live, He overcame the deadly power of sin. Make no mistake. Scripture undeniably states that sin will lead to death, but life is in Jesus. Turning to Jesus, receiving His forgiveness, and cleansing is the only way to have life.
Whenever we receive Jesus and make Him Lord of our lives, we carry life in us. As a new creation, we carry eternity in us. Eternity lives in me! Through Jesus, I already have heaven in me. I'm heaven bound.
The Struggle is Real
The life I now live in the flesh is one of faith in Jesus. After you have been crucified with Christ and nailed the fascination with sin to the cross, you have another entity to nail to the cross—your flesh! Our flesh refers to our physical body. Jesus said, watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41).
The flesh also refers to our old nature or the old man. Whenever I neglected prayer or scripture reading, I put myself in a weak and dangerous spot. Surround yourself with people who love to read the Bible and who love to pray TOGETHER. There's so much power when we pray together. Both will bring you closer to Jesus. When you neglect or even stop doing it, you'll get far, far away from God. It's dangerous.
Love must Be Received
He loved me and gave Himself for me. Do you know that Jesus loves you? Sometimes we need to hear it. Jesus loves you! He wants you to receive His love. How many times does our mind get in the way? Past failures come to mind, and we may think, yes, Jesus loves me, but I'm flawed here or failed there. Bring it to the cross and receive His forgiving grace and love. Jesus is merciful with our past, present, and future. He is for you, and He loves you! Receive His love.
Divine Grace
I do not set aside His grace. Righteousness comes through the grace of God. There is no pure righteousness by nature in people. Divine righteousness comes from God, and we need His grace to live by faith and in righteousness. God's grace is usually defined as undeserved favor. We can't earn or work for grace; it is given to us. None of us would be saved if grace were not an undeserved favor. God's grace empowers us to live by faith.
Let us then, with confidence, draw near to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16). Because He is merciful and gracious, let us adopt His heart and attitude and extend mercy and grace to others. It's sad to see people turning their hearts to hard stones with no mercy and grace for others. Do you know that people need you to be merciful with them? A soft heart will grant mercy and grace. Better a broken heart than a hardened one.
To be crucified with Christ is not a call to physical death but a spiritual transformation and surrender. It is a surrender of our old selves, our fascination with sin, and our reliance on our own strength. It is an embrace of Christ's life within us, a life empowered by faith, grace, and the love of God. Ultimately, it's not about us but Christ living in and through us. It's about surrendering our lives so His eternal life can shine brightly in this world. May we all boldly declare, I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me!
