Galatians 2:20 – “I have been crucified with Christ”
Philippians 3:10 – “The fellowship of His sufferings;” “conformed to His death”
How can one be crucified, conformed to death, and yet still be alive?
What cross did Christ bear?
Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21; Luke 23:26
When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.
The Gospel of John gives more insight.
John 19:17
“He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha.”
To bear a cross can mean more than the physical act of carrying a wooden cross.
Luke 14:27; Luke 9:23; Matthew 10:38
Isaiah 53:6; Colossians 2:14
Our iniquities were laid on Christ. He nailed these things to his cross. The cross Christ bore included the sins of all mankind. He carried the weight of the salvation of the world.
Now, we identify with the cross of Christ and that which was wrought on our behalf.
1 Corinthians 1:18-31
For us, the word of the cross is the power of God. To the Jews, this was a stumblingblock. To the Gentiles, this is foolishness.
The phrase “bear the cross,” “crucified with Christ,” “died with Christ” are figures of speech.
Colossians 2:20-23; 3:1-5
The words “keep seeking the things above,” “set your mind,” and “consider” are acts of the mind. These are thoughts we should hold and consider.
Romans 6:3-11 – Again, “consider” yourselves to be dead to sin.
Philippians 3:3-15
Paul thought about this. He considered his life and the fellowship of the suffering of Christ, conformed to His death. He pressed toward the mark, forgetting the past, and reaching towards the future. We are to carry this attitude.
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