CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

by: Pastor Jose Velasco

Read: Romans 6:5-10

   In Romans 6:6 Paul points out an important basic experience of the Christian. He is one who has been crucified with Christ. We wonder if this is what those few Filipinos in the Philippines who want to be literally crucified on Good Fridays have in mind. But Paul has never been physically crucified. He meant a spiritual crucifixion that leads to a new life. Paul mentions this in Galatians in a more specific way by saying, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires” (Gal. 5:24). This is the crucifying of the old self that Paul refers to in Romans 6:6.

 

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   Specifically what are these things to be crucified? They are the sinful passions and desires. All inner desires, thoughts and attitudes that are contrary to God’s will. Jesus mentions some of them in Mark 7:21-22: theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, envy, slander, arrogance. Paul lists some of them in his letters. To mention a few are sexual immorality, greed, anger, slander, filthy language, and lying (Colossians 3:5-9). These inner sinful dispositions determine our outward behavior and life-style. These comprise the old self that must be crucified, according to Paul. But what does it mean to crucify these? How are they crucified?

   These are two questions we must consider regarding this crucifixion. First is what does it mean to crucify these sinful dispositions? Paul explains it thus, “For we know that our old self was crucified so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin—“ (Rom. 6:6). It means to let go of sin, to abandon it. This liberates us from the powerful grip of sin. Sin no longer controls us. So this crucifixion experience produces a radical change in us. Paul says that as the old sinful life is crucified, the new life in Christ takes over (Galatians 2:20). Hence, there is a notable renewal (2 Cor. 5:17). Both our inward sinful thoughts and desires, and the outward sinful life-style they produce are gradually going away. The second question is how does this crucifixion happen? It is not literal and physical. And not done with our own personal efforts. We are too powerless to do that. Jesus Himself did that for us when He died on the cross (2 Cor. 5:14). So what should we do? We must believe in Him and accept that He died in our place for our sins. This believing does not merely mean accepting Jesus’ existence and the story of His death and resurrection. Even the devil believes that way too (James 2:19). But to believe in Him means to commit and entrust completely our lives to Him. And we receive Him as our Lord and Savior in our lives. We love, obey and serve Him with all our hearts. We personally relate to Him. Have you done this? Then He takes all our sins and includes them in His crucifixion and death. Thus our sins are all forgiven and gone.

   Yet, this does not mean that we are to be complacent in life. As long as we are in this earthly life temptations attack us. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, - - ” (1 Peter 5:8). Because we are weak human beings we have our shortcomings and frequently stumble. There is still a small residue of the force of sin in us. So Paul says, “- -I beat my body and make it my slave” (1 Cor. 9:27). He means he rigorously disciplines and controls himself so he will not yield to sin. When we fall let us ask God to forgive and to empower us that we may cease sinning and continue to walk uprightly with Him in faith again (1 Jn. 1:9). This is a life-long struggle. Yet, through the strength that God provides we will triumph (Phil. 4:13).

   Prayer: Lord God, thank you that you took all my sins and crucified them in the death of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Help and empower us to completely overcome all remaining sins in us. In the name of Jesus Christ who died for us we pray.  Amen.

Reflecting on the Cross

by: Pastor Jose V. Velasco

Read John 19:17-22

Last February 18, 2015 most Christians observed Ash Wednesday, which is the start of the Lenten Season.  Lenten Season is a time when Christians remember the sufferings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Bible says that Jesus Christ died on a cross. So the cross became a prominent symbol of Christ’s sufferings and death. To Paul the cross was so paramount that he said, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Galatians 6:14). Unlike the religious Jews during Paul’s day who boasted in their meticulous following of the rules and laws of their religion, what mattered alone to Paul was the cross of Jesus Christ.

Actually, in the cross, on the one hand, we see wicked people heaping their sins upon the sinless Christ. On the other hand, we see a holy and merciful God reconciling sinful humanity to Himself through the death of His Son Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:19-22). What were the sins that propelled the Jews and the Romans to crucify Him? Rejection of the Messiah, hatred, unbelief, disobedience, fear of losing political power by Pilate, pride, envy, hardened hearts, etc. Isaiah says “He was despised and rejected by men, - - But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:3, 5). In other words it was human sin that crucified Jesus on the cross.

In a sense the sins of those who actually crucified Jesus embodied the sins of all people in the world, even those long before and after Jesus Christ, including you and me. Peter says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24). Isaiah also says, “He bore the sins of many” (Isa. 53:12). Hebrews 6:6 speaks of people who sin today, “if they fall away - - -they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.” So, even today every time you and I sin, we all crucify Christ anew. But the sins of people before Christ were also included in the sins of those who crucified Him. Since the time Adam and Eve sinned the Lamb of God has already been suffering spiritually. Christ is “the Lamb that was slain from the time of creation” (Revelation 13:8). His sufferings on the cross was just the historical tangible manifestation of that incessant divine suffering since the Fall. Spiritually speaking, we sinful human beings all participated in crucifying Jesus Christ.

In the cross a gracious and forgiving God confronts a sinful humanity offering forgiveness and reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:19). Sin separates us from God. “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear” (Isa. 59:2). And “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). This means lost from God eternally. But God does not want that to happen. “God our Savior, -- wants all men to be saved” (1 Tim. 2:4). During the arrest and crucifixion Jesus had all the powers to fight back and annihilate all His enemies if He wanted to, but He did not do that (Mt. 26:53). In love He allowed Himself to be arrested and crucified.  And on the cross Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Lk. 23:34). We are all sinners but on the cross God offers love and forgiveness. “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9). You can escape eternal death or separation from God in hell by repenting of your sins, believing in Christ as your Lord and Savior, and striving to live to please and glorify Him. And you will be with Him now and forever in heaven.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I humbly acknowledge that I am a sinner, and am sorry that many times in my sinning I crucify you again. Forgive and cleanse me of my sins that I may be free to live to please and glorify you.  In your blessed name I pray.  Amen.