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I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST
TUESDAY, AUGUST 8
Romans 6:1-14

Galatians 2:20

 

“I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I,

but Christ liveth in me”

 

I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST
 
The philosophies of this world teach people to promote “self.” They say, “You should cultivate positive feelings and thinking of yourself.” Most religions also promote “self.” Even though some of them may realise that men have sinned, they still think that men have a good heart or good nature and that men are bad or become bad due to the bad environment or society around them. Therefore, they try to keep themselves from sinful deeds and to make themselves better and holier. They regard themselves as saints and despise others as common or sinful people! Sadly, they fail to see their sinful heart with their lustful desires and pride. They are deceiving themselves (1 John 1:8).
 
The Bible confirms that the heart of men is “deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” too depraved and corrupt to be improved or changed by themselves. “Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil” (Jer 13:23; 17:9).
 
Although we are born-again and have a new heart in Christ, our sinful nature is still with us. To deal with this sinful nature, the Biblical way is to keep it dead and not to improve it (Rom 6:6). If our eyes are opened to see our Lord Jesus bearing our sins, see also our sinful nature on the cross (Rom 6:11)! Like Paul, we can say, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20). Being crucified with Christ on the cross is the only way to set us free from our sinful nature, selfishness and worldliness (Gal 5:24; 6:14). The Holy Spirit can help us do this (Rom 8:13) while we “die daily” (1 Cor 15:31).
 
THOUGHT: No death to sin and self, no resurrection in new life in Christ!

PRAYER: Father, I thank Thee that I have been crucified with Thee.

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