As a new Christian, I was exposed to a number of scripture verses about dying. They talked about dying to self, the old self dying, and being crucified with Christ.
Early on, I didn’t know exactly what that meant, but I kept wondering about when, where and how that death occurs. The verse of Galatians 2:20 reveals the truth, but begs explanation.
I am crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.
When Jesus was born of Mary, God became flesh. When we, as fleshly beings accept and trust Jesus as God, we become Spirit as He inhabits our being. Jesus died as a human by crucifixion. We died as humans with Him when He brought His Spirit into us and we became spiritual beings and born again children of God.
The old self had to die and the death occurred on the cross with Jesus when we were crucified with Christ.
When we can come to the point of accepting this truth and understand our new nature as spiritual beings, we will come closer to understanding who we are as children of God, co-heirs with Christ and brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ.
Our goal as Christians should be greater intimacy and identify with Jesus.
We became one with Him when we prayed to trust Him. We became spirit with Him when He came to live in us. We are in Christ and He is in us. We were crucified with Him, buried with Him, ascended to the heavenly places with Him and now sit with Him and in Him at the right hand of God, our heavenly Father.
When we can understand this truth, we will be closer to total freedom and free of the bondage of self. Set the captives free!
David Howell
Prison Evangelism, Inc.
PO Box 571977
Houston, Texas 77257
713-623-0690
www.prisonevangelism.com