“Nay, we have renounced the secrecy which marks a feeling of shame. We practice no cunning tricks, nor do we adulterate God’s Message. But by a full clear statement of the truth we strive to commend ourselves in the presence of God to every human conscience. ” 2Corinthians 4:2 Weymouth translation
“Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:” Acts 2:23
“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.” Galatians 2:20
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24“But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;” 1Corinthians 1:23 “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1Corinthians 2:2
The Apostle speaks of the crucifixion of Christ in five phases:
The first phase or first aspect is the one of The Trinity’s determinate counsel and foreknowledge. A Lamb slain before the foundation of the world in Revelation 13:8, taking place in the mind of God.
In Phase two, the Bible speaks of wicked hands carrying out the actual crucifixion in historical sequence. In this aspect, historical time actualized the brutal killing of Christ. AD. 33-36. Luke 23:33 , John 19:18, 20
Next, Paul tells us of his own crucifixion with Christ, in Galatians 2:20, in recognizing his vital union with Christ, This union, enacted in time at Paul’s conversion recorded in Acts 9, included a death, burial, resurrection, ascension, and a seating with Christ at the Father’s right hand. see Roman’s 6:1-6, Ephesians 2:6, etc. This crucified state Paul affirmed as permanent by faith, Colossians 3:3 and 2Corinthians 5:14 etc.
Fourth Paul reminds all who are in Christ, “…they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” Galatians 5:24
Lastly, Paul refers to this same crucifixion as his one and only message to the world in which he preached. 1Corinthians 1:23 and 2:2
So, what does it mean for us going forward? First, I am to acknowledge it and reckon on it. I am to ledger it to my account. In this ledgering, flesh, with affections and lusts have died. (See above). The body of sin judged, I have a choice not to live in that crucified old nature. By faith I can put off (as clothing) that old man, have mind renewed, and put on (as clothing) the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24
This, then, defines the struggle of the man or woman in Christ. Yes, we have this phenomena of a crucified past and a renewing in the spirit of the mind. However, we must nurture the new while neglecting the old. There is a “carnal” believer, (Romans 8:4), that refuses the fight which Paul calls “the fight of faith.”1 Timothy 6:12. Paul refers to these again, “…now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:” Philippians 3:18
To the Church in Corinth Paul addresses their carnality:
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” 1Corinthians 3:2-4
And again about the warfare of a believer:
(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 2Corinthians 10:4
in closing, the words of our Savior: ” And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23 Other translations say, “ignore self,” or “say no to self.” “Put the cross on your shoulders daily.” “be my follower.” My thought is to detach self, take up His cross as your cross, and follow Him with your new life.
Finally, the disciples asked in John 6:28 “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. “John 6:29 love ya
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