I am crucified!

Hello To All:

"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 King James Version).

The crucifixion of Jesus Christ, as a historical event, taking place at precisely the time of God's choosing, took place almost two thousand years ago; and yet, our text says: "I am crucified with Christ." The "I am," references the present moment - the here and now - the time and place of our present daily reality!

Once again, we are confronted with the deep mystery of God. This reality, that "I am crucified with Christ," cannot be understood with our natural minds. It is a reality, that cannot be comprehended from a purely academic or philosophical perspective. It is a reality that defies and challenges the paradigm of Western rationalism. It is a reality that is little understood in the Western Christian church.

This truth, that "I am crucified with Christ," is a reality that can only be understood from God's perspective. Consider this from the King's Book. We find written, at First Corinthians 2:14, the following: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

In so many ways, as Western Christians, we are like that "natural man," to whom "the things of the Spirit of God," are "foolishness." We cannot understand, comprehend, apprehend and apply, these "things of the Spirit of God," with our "natural" minds. These are "things," that cannot be "discerned," from a purely academic or philosophical perspective. These are realities that can only be "spiritually discerned." (Please see the posting of 12/06/09 titled: "Let us repent of our sectarian ways." This posting more fully examines the relationship between the "natural man" and Western Christians.)

Thus, if we are to recognize the truth, that "I am crucified," as being an ever present reality, then we must look to the Spirit of God, for that recognition. The Spirit of God will remind us, that the reality of "I am crucified," can only be recognized from God's perspective. Let us be reminded: "...neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Creator of all things, including time; but, He, that is Jesus Christ, is not bound by time. The King James text, by stating: "I am crucified" - is reminding us of the transcendent reality of our relationship with Jesus Christ; and it is also reminding us of the transcendent reality of the cross and of the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, to say "I am crucified with Christ," is to speak the truth regarding the transcendent victory of the cross; and the cross's transcendent impact on our day by day and eternal relationship with Jesus Christ. Thus, to say "I am crucified with Christ," is also to recognize, that just as Jesus Christ is not bound by time, so is it true, that in our union with Jesus Christ, we are no longer limited, nor constrained, by the bounds of time.

When we come together, for our next posting, we shall examine the application of: "I am crucified."

Until next time, my beloved brethren, in Christ Jesus, I continue to be:

Your servant and your fellow pilgrim,
Elder Theophilus