LORD’S DAY, AUGUST 6
Romans 6:1-14
Galations 2:20

"I am crucified with
…not I, but Christ liveth in me…"

SANCTIFIED BY JESUS’ CROSS

It is a great blessing to be kept clean and pure in the precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ all the time. Whenever we read or remember God’s Word and are convicted by the Holy Spirit of our shortcomings and sins, we can turn to the Lord Jesus, our Great High Priest in repentance and implore Him to wash and cleanse us in His precious blood. Satan has no ground to accuse us, and we can have peace in our hearts!

However, with the sinful nature inherited from Adam, we tend to fall into sin again and again. To deal with our old man, our sinful flesh, our self-will and selfishness, and worldliness, God does not improve it, but crucifies or mortifies it by our union with the Lord Jesus in His death, and then let the Lord live and manifest His holy life in us:

– Our old man "is crucified with" Christ (Rom 6:6).

– Our sinful flesh is crucified. "And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts" (Gal 5:24). No matter how hard, strict and painful the discipline and punishments are, human beings can never deliver themselves from the slavery of their sinful nature. Only the Holy Spirit is able to help us mortify our sinful flesh and deeds. "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live" (Rom 8:13), and "mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (Col 3:5)!

– Our self-will and selfishness. Jesus says, "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9:23) and "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me…" (Gal 2:20). Taking up our cross and denying ourselves daily means dying to our self-will and selfishness daily. No more I, no more "my will," but God’s will be done.

– Worldliness. "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" (Gal 6:14). What about you?

THOUGHT: Without Jesus’ cross, there is no true sanctification!
PRAYER: One life to live on this earth. May I live it for Thee, Lord.