The Cross of Our Lord
2021-08-22
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. (Galatians 6:14-15)
At the center of our repentance is the idea of our crucifixion with Christ. What is crucifixion? An extremely painful killing device. While our Lord died for our sins, we also died with Him (Galatians 2:20). We were ripped from the clutches of sin, and we were saved by faith.
What does death do? It separates. When Adam sinned, he died spiritually and was separated from God. He was separated not by proximity, since God is omnipresent, but separated from God by relationship. Adam’s death was our death (Romans 5:12). But for us in Christ, our death with Christ was our salvation, as we were separated from all that condemned us. “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God” (Romans 7:4). We are raised with Christ (Colossians 3:1) and seated with Him in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6).
Our real identity is no longer with anything in this world. We are of His kingdom and family. The old has passed away, and we are now new creatures in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Understanding this is truly liberating. Consider this as often as you can throughout your sojourning.