THE CRUCIFIED CHRISTIAN
‘I am crucified with Christ.’
There are two thoughts which should grow up together in our minds as plants from one stem—that Christ was crucified for us—and that our calling on earth is to be crucified with Him.
I. The Cross of Christ! how much it teaches us! God’s hatred of sin; the depth to which the world’s sin has plunged us; the infinite, incomprehensible love of God for the sinful race; and the power of victory over sin and death and hell, then most marvellously displayed, when they had seemed to triumph. The Cross when received into the soul is not merely an object external to us to be contemplated by faith—not only a ground of confidence for the forgiveness of sins; but it is a living power—the power of God unto our present sanctity and our eternal salvation. It is a new spring of life to our redeemed humanity—a power communicated to the soul, and altering its character—raising, ennobling, perfecting its energies, conforming each soul to the crucified humanity of Christ our Lord.
II. When the Cross is thus received, the whole life feels its influence.—There can be no longer an unresisted indulgence of sin: no one can continue at ease in sin with the thought of the Crucifixion in his mind.
III. Do you think it will cost you nothing to battle with self, to be ever on the watch to keep self under, to deny yourself in things lawful in order that you may not be lured on to sinful indulgence in things unlawful? It is a hard matter, but possible to him who lives by faith in the Son of God. Day after day, year after year, the same self to conquer: it is hard, but it must be done. To pass hours in struggling with a hated sin; to spend sleepless nights of sorrow over it; to subdue it a little and then find it return again, the battle to be fought once more, another struggle, another strife, and perhaps final victory not even yet. And with some of us find there is still sin and Satan and the flesh still to fight with and destroy. Do you know anything of the life and the death of the Cross?
Illustration
‘The victory accomplished in Christ’s case was not to terminate in His case. That victory was not only shown for our sakes; but the power of it was intended to pass into us, that we might win the same. Then, He gave Himself for us. Now He gaves Himself to us. All the acts of His earthly life were like seeds containing powers which were to be communicated from Him to us to be reproduced in our lives. In His baptism he received a manifestation of the Spirit, which was to pass on in its measure from Himself to all who are baptized into His Name. In His temptation He showed powers over Satan which were to be the heritage of all who follow Him in faith. So also in His Crucifixion He was infusing into our nature a like power to die to sin.’