“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20)
The crucified and risen Christ is the model that Paul desired to embody by walking deep in Jesus Christ’s path of death and life—suffering and resurrection.
”I’m not there yet, nor have I become perfect; but I am charging on to gain anything and everything the Anointed One, Jesus, has in store for me—and nothing will stand in my way because He has grabbed me and won’t let me go. “ Philippians 3:12 (The Voice)
We hear very little today about living the crucified life in Jesus Christ. It seems everything is about us — what we want, and not what Christ paid the price for on the cross. The redemption, reconciliation and restoration of humanity.
The crucified life is absolutely and irreconcilably incompatible with the world. Christ did not die on the cross just to save people from hell; rather, He died on the cross so that all could become one with Him. Anything that comes between us and unity with Christ has to be courageously dealt with and done away with, regardless of the cost. “I have been crucified with the Anointed One—I am no longer alive—but the Anointed is living in me; and whatever life I have left in this failing body I live by the faithfulness of God’s Son, the One who loves me and gave His body on the cross for me.” (Gal. 2:20 The Voice)
The message of the crucified life is not a new concept. All of the great men and women of God of the past and many today wrote about this idea in some fashion. The legacy of the church fathers, of the reformers, the revivalists all resonated on this one message.
The emphasis of the crucified life was to press forward toward the only goal that counts, the prize of the high calling of God in Jesus the Anointed One — to the state of spiritual perfection regardless of the difficulties and in spite of the cost. (Phil. 3:14)
It’s time for the Church to return to the roots of the message of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). We must always seek to speak the truth in love. We will grow in every way into Him—the Anointed One by truth spoken in love!
“…speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” Ephesians 4:15
Today is a day of giving thanks for the life when have been given. “Celebrate always, pray constantly, and give thanks to God no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. (This is God’s will for all of you in Jesus the Anointed.)” (1 Thess. 5:16-18 The Voice)
Blessings, Dr. Francine
BEYOND CHURCH WALLS 