Bible Study Letters Online Tracts Bible Study Letters Online Tracts

[ Bottom of Page ]


To be crucified is to have died, and that happens before one lives for Christ. To live for Christ one first dies to self. "For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith." (Galatians 5:5) Through the Spirit, not the actions of the flesh. It is through the Spirit the deeds of the body are mortified (Romans 8:13; John 6:63; Romans 7:8-13). By the law we are found falling short of the glory of God, and by the working of the Spirit we will find our sin exceeding sinful (Romans 7:5, 11, 13), ourselves slain, that is crucified. The order of events is our first receiving the Spirit for without the Spirit none can please God (Romans 8:8-9), and faith is generated by that operation of God (Colossians 2:12), and by faith we acknowledge the truth (2 Thess 2:13; 2 Tim 2:25). "And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another." (Galatians 5:24-26).

Romans 8:3-14
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Romans 6:3-11
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 7:5-13
5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

"For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God." (Galatians 2:19)

Our being crucified with Christ is not something we do, and is not something that we first approve of to allow our being crucified. Our having faith results from quickening by the Spirit (Ephesians 2:1), faith being fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Having been redeemed by the blood (Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 1:18-19), quickened by the Spirit, for without the Spirit we are not pleasing God, the Spirit with regeneration producing faith (Colossians 2:12), repentance flowing from faith, not proceeding faith, our being justified by faith, for without faith it would be impossible to please God, thus any sort of repentance before faith would not be pleasing to our Lord. Our salvation is a gift of God, not according to anything we do, even as our faith that necessarily accompanies salvation is a gift, and fruit of the Spirit. This operation, our being born again, is not the result of our giving approval, but is based entirely on God's will, for He will have mercy on whom He will have mercy (Romans 9:16; John 1:13). We are passive in regeneration, that is quickening, our being born again, is according to God's will, not man's choice, our being made willing by the power of God (Psalms 110:3), so then active, that is in serving God, our service coming after regeneration, our life to Christ given to us, our life of faith, yet that service all by grace according to the power of God (Ephesians 2:10; Hebrews 12:25; Romans 8:8-14), our being active in showing our faith, being a new creation, old things passed away (2 Corinthians 5:17-18), and kept, our enduring to the end according to the power of God (1 Peter 1:5). There is no place for boasting, no merit at all on the part of man.

2 Corinthians 5:17-18
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Romans 3:19, 27; 4:2
3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.
3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
4:2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.

Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

If any have not the Spirit of Christ they are none of His, and if any have the Spirit of Christ the have the Son, plus the Father.

Not that we should live as reprobates, but that that we should live under the law of Christ.

Galatians 6:1-10
1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For every man shall bear his own burden.
6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Romans 6:11-18
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

People Need Jesus
Reaching forth . . .
Here am I; send me.
Christ Died For Our Sins

Send This Page Around The World
Tell A Friend About This Page

Bob Krajcik
[ Bible Study Letters ]
Your Comments Welcomed
Your Privacy Respected
Send Your Comments, Questions,
Praise Reports or Prayer Requests

[ Home Page ] [ Main Menu ]

[ Top of Page ]