The crucifixion of Jesus Christ stands as the ultimate act of redemption, symbolizing God’s profound love and grace towards humankind. Understanding the depth and symbolism behind this sacrifice and learning the ways in which Christ teaches us to die to our flesh is an integral part of living the crucified life.
To truly comprehend the profound concept of “dying to oneself,” we must delve into the fundamental understanding of our separation from God and the significance of the crucifixion. Adam’s transgression in the Garden of Eden is commonly viewed as humanity’s pivotal moment of spiritual estrangement from God, often termed as “spiritual death.” This separation defines our existence, marking us with inherent sinfulness. However, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ stands as the ultimate act of redemption, symbolizing God’s profound love and grace towards humankind.
In Genesis 3, Adam’s disobedience initiates humanity’s spiritual disconnection from God. This spiritual death permeates our very being, shaping our nature and predisposing us to sin. Yet, the crucifixion offers a pathway to reconciliation. Jesus, the sinless Son of God, willingly endures a sinner’s death, serving as the ultimate sacrifice to liberate humanity from the shackles of sin and restore communion with God.
The shedding of Jesus’ blood during the crucifixion represents the forgiveness of our sins. Ephesians 1:7 elucidates this, proclaiming that,
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace…” (ESV)
Through His sacrifice, we are granted redemption, spared from the eternal consequences of sin. The cross upon which Jesus was crucified symbolizes deliverance from sin’s dominion over our lives. Luke 9:23-24 emphasizes the transformative power of embracing the cross, saying,
“…If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (ESV)
The crucifixion thus serves as the cornerstone of our relationship with God. Through accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior, we transcend the bondage of sin and invite the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This transformative experience of being “born again” entails a profound renunciation of worldly desires and a surrender to God’s will, allowing His guidance to shape our lives anew.
Throughout the New Testament, the concept of “dying to the flesh” or “dying to self” is extensively discussed. This theme is echoed in various passages, such as:
Scripture teaches that dying to the flesh entails forsaking worldly desires and embracing the way of Jesus, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and transform us. This process, often referred to as living the “crucified life,” is essential for aligning our lives with God’s purposes.
Yet, as Paul acknowledges in Romans 7:15, living out this principle is fraught with challenges. He candidly admits,
“For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” (ESV)
This journey demands daily sacrifice and perseverance.
However, the rewards far outweigh the struggles. Romans 8:2 reassures believers, declaring,
“For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.” (ESV)
Living wholeheartedly for the Lord grants genuine freedom from the bondage of sin. Jesus himself affirms this truth in John 8:34-36, proclaiming,
“…Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son remains forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (ESV)
Through the Son, believers are invited to experience enduring joy and liberation in his love and guidance.
To understand what it means to live a “crucified life” and how we can take up our crosses daily, let’s explore four ways to die to ourselves and embrace the freedom found in Christ.
In the New Testament, Jesus provides a blueprint for the lives of believers. Understanding this blueprint requires diligent study and understanding of His Word, which is a concept consistently emphasized throughout scripture:
By cultivating a habit of regular Bible study, we practice sacrificing our time for the sake of spiritual nourishment. This fosters self-discipline and places God’s teachings at the forefront of our daily lives. As we delve deeper into scripture, we gain insight into God’s character and align our lives more closely with His will.
The next step involves wholeheartedly embracing the truth of God’s Word. Our flesh often leads us astray, convincing us that we alone determine what is true and best for us. However, if we genuinely accept God’s Word as truth, we recognize this as false.
Complete faith in God’s Word entails trusting Him even when our human nature contradicts it. The enemy seeks to ensnare us in sin and bind us to our worldly desires. We must resist this temptation and adopt God’s Word as the ultimate truth, dying to our worldly beliefs. As articulated by Abundant Life in their post, “Sin is born out of the belief that God’s love is not enough.”
Romans 10:11-13 reaffirms this principle, declaring,
“For the Scripture says, ‘Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.’ For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'” (ESV)
Once you’ve wholeheartedly embraced God and accepted His Word as truth, you must then die to your will for your life. Believing unequivocally that God’s will is perfect makes surrendering to His divine plan the logical next step. Given God’s unconditional and complete love for you, His desire is for your life to be filled with joy, peace, and provision.
This profound truth is exemplified in Matthew 6, where Jesus admonishes against placing undue importance on material possessions or succumbing to worry. In verse 30, Jesus reassures,
“But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (ESV)
He further instructs us to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (verse 34, ESV)
James 4:7 underscores the significance of yielding to God’s authority, urging believers to
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (ESV)
When you embrace God’s Word as truth and submit to His divine will, the enemy loses his hold over you, leaving you empowered and protected by God’s grace.
This step naturally follows when you wholeheartedly believe in and submit yourself to God. When you embrace His Word as truth and yield to His divine will, your actions inevitably reflect this transformation. But let’s not underestimate the challenges that come with this. We are called to sacrifice our lives for Him.
It’s crucial for us to internalize the teachings of the Word and actively apply them to our lives. We must proactively identify and address any worldly habits or behaviors that contradict God’s will.
James 1:22-24 admonishes believers to be not just hearers but doers of the Word, cautioning against self-deception. It reads,
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.” (ESV)
Living in accordance with God’s Word imbues our lives with purpose and significance, as our identity becomes intricately intertwined with Him.
In essence, living the crucified life signifies true freedom—freedom that Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice has given us, allowing us to reconcile with the Father. Without this sacrifice, our connection with Him would remain fractured.
Learning, believing, submitting to, and living out the Word represent our reciprocal act of sacrifice. To grasp genuine freedom—His freedom—we must relinquish our selfish desires. Romans 6:6-7 serves as a poignant reminder that through Jesus’s crucifixion, our old selves were put to death, leading to the nullification of sin’s dominion over us. It states,
“We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin.” (ESV)
Through His sacrifice, we find forgiveness for our transgressions. Embracing our freedom from the power of sin necessitates a dying to our fleshly desires. Today, let us express gratitude to Him and commit our lives to following His path.
*Disclaimer: our content and blogs are for educational purposes only and are not intended to diagnose, prescribe, or replace medical advice from a physician. If you are experiencing health issues, please see your healthcare provider.
The crucifixion of Jesus Christ stands as the ultimate act of redemption, symbolizing God’s profound love and grace towards humankind. Understanding the depth and symbolism behind this sacrifice and learning the ways in which Christ teaches us to die to our flesh is an integral part of living the crucified life.
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