Living the Crucified Life
(Galatians 2:11-13 MSG) Later, when Peter came to Antioch, I had a face-to-face confrontation with him because he was clearly out of line. Here’s the situation. Earlier, before certain persons had come from James, Peter regularly ate with the non-Jews. But when that conservative group came from Jerusalem, he cautiously pulled back and put as much distance as he could manage between himself and his non-Jewish friends. That’s how fearful he was of the conservative Jewish clique that’s been pushing the old system of circumcision. Unfortunately, the rest of the Jews in the Antioch church joined in that hypocrisy so that even Barnabas was swept along in the charade.
How do we keep from going back to our old way of living?
(Galatians 2:16,19 MSG) We know very well that we are not set right with God by rule-keeping but only through personal faith in Jesus Christ. How do we know? We tried it–and we had the best system of rules the world has ever seen! Convinced that no human being can please God by self-improvement, we believed in Jesus as the Messiah so that we might be set right before God by trusting in the Messiah, not by trying to be good. What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man.
(Galatians 2:20 MSG) Christ’s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him. Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion, and I am no longer driven to impress God. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
(Galatians 2:20a NLT) My old self has been crucified with Christ…
(Matthew 16:24-25 NIV) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.
(Romans 6:6-7 NIV) For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin– because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.
How do I live this crucified life?
- Crucify self.
(1 Corinthians 15:31 NIrV) I die every day.
(John 3:30 NLT) He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.
Action step: humility.
A man in a low place cannot fall from that position.
- Crucify my flesh.
(Galatians 5:24 NIV) Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
(Joshua 24:15 NIV) …choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”
Action step: choices.
- Crucify the world.
(Galatians 6:14 NIV) May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
(2 Corinthians 6:17-18 NIV) Therefore, “Come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.” And, “I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
Action step: separation.
Every Crucifixion for Jesus is always followed by a glorious resurrection!