How Does the Christian Put into Effect the Co-crucifixion with Christ?

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Atwood

Senior Member
May 1, 2014
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I once wrote like, "How can the Christian enjoy the crucifixion of Christ." I got a shocked reaction as if that were an unthinkable thought, the idea of enjoying Christ's crucifixion, a supremely horrible happening, involving worse suffering that being put through a wood chipping machine or a giant garbage disposal.

But the fact is that Christians would enjoy the experience of Gal 2:20, because it is Christ living in the Christian, bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit, and perfect harmony with the Lord, the most delightful being that exists. Obviously way too often we are experiencing a co-crucifixion with Christ wherein it is no longer I, but Christ living in me. Now if our life were like an automobile with 2 gears, drive and reverse, we would like to tie that kangaroo down into drive, weld the shift lever in drive so we could not stick it in reverse.

Thus comes the question:
How can the Christian put into effect in His daily life this co-crucifixion with Christ and simultaneous Christ living in me? Proof from scripture is desired for opinions on this one.

Here is this great passage on the Christian life:

"For I through the law died to the law, that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me. I do not make void the grace of God; for if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nought."


ἐγὼ γὰρ διὰ νόμου νόμῳ ἀπέθανον,
I emphatic (For) through law to law died.

ἵνα θεῷ ζήσω.
in-order-that to God I should live.

Χριστῷ συνεσταύρωμαι·
With-Christ I have been co-crucified

ζῶ δὲ οὐκέτι ἐγώ,
I-live (and/yet) no-longer I (emphatic)

ζῇ δὲ ἐν ἐμοὶ Χριστός·
lives (but) in me Christ

ὃ δὲ νῦν ζῶ ἐν σαρκί,
The (and) now I-live in flesh

ἐν πίστει ζῶ
in faith I live

τῇ τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ θεοῦ
the (faith) of/in the Son of God

τοῦ ἀγαπήσαντός με
the one having-loved me

καὶ παραδόντος ἑαυτὸν ὑπὲρ ἐμοῦ.
and having given himself for me (on my behalf)

οὐκ θετῶ τὴν χάριν τοῦ θεοῦ·
not I-make-nothing the grace of God
[ ἀ-in θετῶ as a- in atheism]

εἰ γὰρ διὰ νόμου δικαιοσύνη,
if (for) through law [is] righteousness,

ἄρα Χριστὸς δωρεὰν ἀπέθανεν.
then Christ for-nothing died.

The parentheses around for, and/yet, and and, are to mark a place where Greek word order doesn't fit English word order. Some introductory words (conjunctions) in Greek cannot stand first in a sentence/clause, though in English we put them first.

 
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familiarly,

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
(John 15:13)

"lay down" = τίθημι (G5087)

second aorist, active, subjunctive, 3rd, singular
to place (in the widest application, literally and figuratively; properly, in a passive or horizontal posture, and thus different from G2476 (τίθημι), which properly denotes an upright and active position, while G2749 (τίθημι) is properly reflexive and utterly prostrate)

  1. to set, put, place
    1. to place or lay
    2. to put down, lay down
      1. to bend down
      2. to lay off or aside, to wear or carry no longer
      3. to lay by, lay aside money


when we forgive one another, we "set aside" and crucify that part of us that is offended, yes?
setting aside malice and pride like a n old jacket, wearing it no longer :)

& when we serve each other, we also put our own lives away, and pick up the cares of one another.

i don't think this saying is confined to the interpretation of literally "dying for" someone!
 
I once wrote like, "How can the Christian enjoy the crucifixion of Christ." I got a shocked reaction as if that were an unthinkable thought, the idea of enjoying Christ's crucifixion, a supremely horrible happening, involving worse suffering that being put through a wood chipping machine or a giant garbage disposal.

But the fact is that Christians would enjoy the experience of Gal 2:20, because it is Christ living in the Christian, bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit, and perfect harmony with the Lord, the most delightful being that exists. Obviously way too often we are experiencing a co-crucifixion with Christ wherein it is no longer I, but Christ living in me. Now if our life were like an automobile with 2 gears, drive and reverse, we would like to tie that kangaroo down into drive, weld the shift lever in drive so we could not stick it in reverse.


I made some typos / unclarity in the above:

But the fact is that Christians would enjoy the experience of Gal 2:20, because it is Christ living in the Christian, bringing forth the fruit of the Spirit, and perfect harmony with the Lord, the most delightful being who exists. Obviously way too often we are NOT experiencing a co-crucifixion with Christ wherein it is no longer I, but Christ living in me. Now if our life were like an automobile with 2 gears, drive and reverse, we would like to tie that kangaroo down into drive, weld the shift lever in drive so we could not stick it in reverse.
 
As we run into trials /as God puts us thru trials, we begin to slowly realize our self efforts fail and hence we slowly begin thru the Holy Spirit to depend on His grace/faithfulness.

This of course goes beyond head knowledge to the arena of experience.