Crucified with Christ
Written by jesuskvinne
Posted on Saturday, August 23, 2008 at 09:26 AM.
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I..." Gal.2.20 is a well-known and loved verse for many, but it's also a verse that creates confusion and frustration.
Confusion because we in the beginning of our lives as believers don't always understand what it means to be crucified with Christ. BUT this is a spiritual truth, and therefore it can't be understood with our human sense. So don't worry if you still haven't grasped it, because you have grasped the most important thing- JESUS!!! And it is through the community with God, that we get His truths revealed for our spirit. The Holy Spirit is our teacher; the fullness of wisdom is in Jesus, and God gives wisdom to all who apply to Him for it! So search God for the wisdom you need, and it will happen, He will give it to you!!!
Frustration because after we do have grasped a bit of this spiritual truth, we see that we come short in so many areas in life, that we often live more in ourselves than in the Spirit, in Him. And our hearts are crying out for a greater fullness of God's glory in and over our lives. BUT not be frustrated, for it is God who has created this longing in your heart "to will and to do of His good pleasure! He is the one who gave you the deep desire that "He shall increase and I decrease"- and remember that 'in Him, there is no condemnation'. So don't be frustrated and condemn yourself, but rather let your desire drive you till the cross and search for more of Him-and you will experience it! Keep in mind that the sanctification, that "He shall increase and you decrease", is a process- something that the used words (increase/decrease) also clearly describes!
"Crucified with Christ" is for us today a spiritual truth that we are growing into (with decreasing in ourselves!). But when Jesus nearly 2000 years ago, died on the cross, it actually was a physical truth as well. Many have never thought of this, but Isa. 49.16 say that He has "engraved you upon the palms of His hands". When Jesus was nailed to the cross, you were there with Him, because you were engraved in both His hands. YOU were (physically) crucified (together) with Christ. Therefore it is also so, that all of you that aren't of, or to the good (of God), is hung on the cross and made offering/sacrifice for.
You were crucified with Christ, but you were also raised up with Christ and can live the new life in Him, because He defeated all evil. And in Him you will find the one you are created to be and you'll be whole as a human being because you are becoming more and more in "one spirit" with your Creator and Lord. And remember that this is a process, "He shall increase and I decrease"!
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me...(Gal 2:20a)
