Living out our Crucifixion

Posted on July 4, 2018 by America's Keswick in Victory Call

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. Galatians 2:20

For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:3

I have been crucified with Christ. 

I have been crucified. I no longer live. – me and you.  Dead – the… I wants, I needs, I gotta-haves… slayed.  My rights, my ways… surrendered. Moment by moment – turning away from me, turning towards God.

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30

I am crucified and I no longer live… This is reality but does not come with magic pixie dust.  I AM crucified and I need to choose to live the crucified life.  You will notice in all these “put off” passages, there are verbs – action words.  We must put off, put away, put to death, we must act out this truth.

…put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires[1]

Put away falsehood[2]

Be angry and do not sin[3]

Let the thief no longer steal[4]

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths[5]

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God[6] 

 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.[7] 

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.[8]

But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.[9]

 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices[10]

These truths might leave us feeling… well… dead, empty.  But the verse continues, It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

We have not been left empty and void. No…living the reality of our crucified life throws open wide the door for the living presence of Jesus Christ.

Put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.[11]

Let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor[12]

Let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.[13]

(let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths) only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.[14]

 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.[15]

Put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. [16]

Day by day, moment by moment we make choices.  To live we must die. It is difficult and painful, but there is joy and peace on the other side of obedience.  …looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2

How I pray I can remember this more and more often.  How about you?

Blessings,

Diane

Diane Hunt serves part-time on the staff of America’s Keswick providing ministry support from her home in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.

 

[1] Ephesians 4:22

[2] Ephesians 4:24

[3] Ephesians 4:26

[4] Ephesians 4:28

[5] Ephesians 4:29

[6] Ephesians 4:30

[7] Ephesians 4:31

[8] Colossians 3:5

[9] Colossians 3:9

[10] Colossians 3:9

[11] Ephesians 4:24

[12] Ephesians 4:24

[13] Ephesians 4:28

[14] Ephesians 4:29

[15] Ephesians 4:32

[16] Colossians 3:10