CRUCIFIED, YET ALIVE
‘I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live.’
I. Crucifixion was the manner in which Christ was put to death.
(a) He suffered on a Cross, and thus literally became dead. In a like manner St. Paul became dead to mere ceremonial Judaism, to worldliness and to sin,
(b) He became insensible to all surrounding objects, like other dead persons. He ceased to hear, to see. He was laid in the cold grave. So St. Paul says of himself that He became insensible to Judaism, as a means of his justification—insensible to worldly ambition, to the love of money, to pride and pomp of life, and all hateful passions. All these had lost their power over him, and ceased to influence him.
(c) That crucifixion was like a forcible bending of the head which would affect every member of the body; like a heavy blow to the root of a vine which would affect every branch and tendril of the plant. Thus St. Paul felt identified with the Lord Jesus, and he was willing to share in all the ignominy and contempt which was connected with the idea of the crucifixion. He was willing to regard himself as one with his Redeemer.
II. St. Paul, though in a sense crucified with Christ, did not wish to be understood that he felt himself to be dead.—He was not inactive, not insensible (as the dead are) to the great duties and objects which ought to interest an immortal mind. He was still actively employed, and the more so from the fact that he was crucified with Christ. He desires here to show that it was no design of Christianity to make men inactive or to restrict their energies; it was not to cause men to do nothing; it was not to paralyse their powers or to stifle their own efforts. St. Paul, therefore, in effect says: I am not dead, I am alive in Christ.
III. So, too, with ourselves; the effect of true religion is not to make us dead in regard to putting forth our best energies in promoting the interests of our immortal souls, the glory of God, and the extension of Christ’s Kingdom. True religion has never made any one an inactive person, but it has converted many a sluggish one from indolence, effeminacy, and self-indulgence to be a person engaged in ‘going about doing good.’ If a mere nominal Christian is less active in the service of God than he is in the service of the world, less laborious, less zealous and ardent than he was before his supposed conversion, he should carefully examine himself whether this is not a proof that he is an utter stranger to true religion.
—Rev. Dr. Brewster.
(SECOND OUTLINE)
LIFE IN CHRIST
We believers have life in Christ, in its forensic sense. It is to this view of our subject that the Apostle directs us: ‘I have been crucified with Christ, yet I live.’
I. St. Paul brings us into contact with the fundamental doctrine of the Gospel, Christ as the Substitute of His people, and their complete identity with Him. He was crucified on the Cross, and they, having been eternally united with Him, reckoned one with Him by His Father, did in law suffer in Him the law’s punishment; did die in Him; they were crucified in Him and with Him. What then follows? Having died in Christ once unto sin, i.e. to the guilt of sin, the condemnation of sin, they live unto God and before God. In Adam we sinned as our Covenant-head, but now in Christ we are made alive, in Him we become perfectly righteous, and in Him and through Him righteousness reigns through grace unto eternal life.
II. Here is the spring of joyful service.—We work, not for life, but from life; we work no longer as criminals, but as justified men. We no longer lie as men dead in the eye of the law, but as believers we are alive in the eye of Jehovah’s law—alive in Christ. Let us, then, live up to this blessing through faith in Him Who is our Surety and Substitute, and in Whom and with Whom we have come forth from the prison-house to tread this earth with the mien of justified believers.
III. But how long will this life which we have in Christ last?—Our mortal lives may reach threescore years and ten, and some persons may outlive that period; but our life in Christ is eternal, as our Lord and Saviour has assured us in numerous portions of His Word. ‘God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.’ Yes, bound up with Christ in the bundle of life; being written unto life amongst the living in Jerusalem; having our names written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain, from the foundation of the world; and having been placed in the hands of Christ, we can say by the teaching of the Holy Ghost, and by His inward testimony, ‘We know that we have everlasting life in Christ.’ But who can describe all that is connected with this life, and will be manifested when faith is swallowed up in sight and hope in fruition? It is all summed up in this brief sentence, ‘When Christ Who is our life shall appear’ (or be manifested), ‘then shall we also appear’ (or be manifested) ‘in glory.’ Yes, in glory will be the perfection and the consummation of the life which we have in Christ.
—Rev. W. H. Painter.
Illustration
‘Almost every Epistle written by St. Paul contains distinct references to this truth, that the believer’s life is in Christ. And herein he did but follow the teaching of his great Master—teaching which reaches its consummation in Chapter s 15. and 17. of St. John’s Gospel. Observe the believer’s standing. He is in Christ, in union with Him; deriving his spiritual life from Him; having His Spirit, the Spirit of life, in him; quickening him; energising him; strengthening him and sustaining him in all seasons of his earthly career, whether in trials, or in dangers, or in difficulties, or in conflicts. Amid all he can say, “Christ is my life; I live in Him.” But was it always thus with the believer? No; for he was once dead, spiritually and legally dead, as a sinner, and he was under sentence of eternal death. Death is the antithesis of life.’