“I am crucified with Christ.” Galatians 2:20
Positionally Identified
The Lord Jesus Christ acted in what he did as a great public representative person, and his dying upon the cross was the virtual dying of all his people.
[“For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. – 2 Cor. 5:14,15 NASB]
Then all his saints [by virtue of Christ’s substitutionary work] rendered unto justice what was due, and made an expiation to divine vengeance for all their sins.
The apostle of the Gentiles delighted to think that as one of Christ’s chosen people, he died upon the cross in Christ. He did more than believe this doctrinally, he accepted it confidently, resting his hope upon it. He believed that by virtue of Christ’s death, he had satisfied divine justice, and found reconciliation with God.
Beloved, what a blessed thing it is when the soul can, as it were, stretch itself upon the cross of Christ, and feel, “I am dead; the law has slain me, and I am therefore free from its power, because in my Surety I have borne the curse, and in the person of my Substitute the whole that the law could do, by way of condemnation, has been executed upon me, for I am crucified with Christ.” [“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” – Gal. 2:21 KJV]
Powerfully Identified
But Paul meant even more than this. He not only believed in Christ’s death, and trusted in it, but he actually felt its power in himself in causing the crucifixion of his old corrupt nature. [We have been freed to be able to walk in the Spirit so as not to fulfill the lust of the flesh. – Gal. 5:16] When he saw the pleasures of sin, he said, “I cannot enjoy these: I am dead to them.” [“… if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” -Rom. 8:13b HCSB]
Such is the experience of every true Christian. Having received Christ, he is to this world as one who is utterly dead. [Sin and the world system have no immoral authority over the believer. – Gal. 5:24;6:14] Yet, while conscious of death to the world, he can, at the same time, exclaim with the apostle, “Nevertheless I live.” He is fully alive unto God.
The Christian’s life is a matchless riddle. No worldling can comprehend it; even the believer himself cannot understand it. Dead, yet alive! crucified with Christ, and yet at the same time risen with Christ in newness of life!
Union with the suffering, bleeding Saviour, and death to the world and sin, are soul-cheering things. O for more enjoyment of them!
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from: Morning and Evening (December 14 Evening). Bracketed content and the two content headings added – JBW.
Spurgeon (1834-1892) was a powerful Baptist preacher and prolific author who ministered at Metropolitan Tabernacle in England.
For further reading, see GN: “The Believer’s Fourfold Union with Christ” and “Drawing the Right Conclusion.”