"Crucified with Christ"

“Crucified with Christ”

 

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.   The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.                 Galatians 2:20

 

After Paul’s conversion, he KNEW that LIVING and DEPENDING on the works of the Law for his spiritual livelihood would be futile.  It was his innermost desire to be identified with Christ, as it should be with EVERY TRUE BELIEVER.

 

Even though the death of the Lord Jesus Christ was UNIQUE in every way.  It was and is the ONLY WAY and He is the ONLY ONE, who can SAVE mankind from their sins.  However, when a person comes to Christ for their SALVATION, they ARE and WILL be IDENTIFYING with Him, and by FAITH in HIS SAVING POWER, they are CRUCIFIED with Him, because they DIE to their OLD, SINFUL, LIFESTYLE, and they are RESURRECTED to a NEW RIGHTEOUS LIFESTYLE.  This does NOT mean that they become PERFECT, but they are FORGIVEN.  This is exemplified by the act of BAPTISM. 

 

Christ lives in the TRUE BELIEVER, by the person of the HOLY SPIRIT, who comes and indwells them at the time of their conversion.   The NEW life they live is lived by FAITH in the RISEN, LIVING Lord, because He died for them, they SHOULD LIVE for Him.

 

Now, this does NOT mean that the TRUE BELIEVER will NOT struggle with suffering, sin, and death.  As long as they live in the flesh they will be subjected to the effects of this WRETCHED, SINFUL World, until Christ returns to take His people home.   However they have a Helper, the Holy Spirit, who will GUIDE and EQUIP them in EVERY situation.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and life to God, then you are living a DOOMED LIFE, and are headed for an ETERNITY in HELL, the place of ETERNAL torment, torture, heartache, pain, agony, and despair, with NO WAY of ESCAPE.  Like the Apostle Paul, you MUST identify with CHRIST, by dying to your OLD, SINFUL lifestyle, and being RESURRECTED to a NEW LIFE in Christ.  

 

You do that by:  TURNING AWAY FROM your OLD, SINFUL LIFESTYLE, and TURNING TO God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING your sins to Him, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART, that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and live a NEW LIFE in CHRIST.  Do this NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!