Evening, December 14
Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings
Galatians 2:20
"I am crucified with Christ."
Galatians 2:20
The Lord Jesus Christ acted in what he did as a great public
representative person, and his dying upon the cross was the virtual
dying of all his people. Then all his saints rendered unto justice what
was due, and made an expiation to divine vengeance for all their sins.
The apostle of the Gentiles delighted to think that as one of Christ's
chosen people, he died upon the cross in Christ. He did more than
believe this doctrinally, he accepted it confidently, resting his hope
upon it. He believed that by virtue of Christ's death, he had satisfied
divine justice, and found reconciliation with God. Beloved, what a
blessed thing it is when the soul can, as it were, stretch itself upon
the cross of Christ, and feel, "I am dead; the law has slain me, and I
am therefore free from its power, because in my Surety I have borne the
curse, and in the person of my Substitute the whole that the law could
do, by way of condemnation, has been executed upon me, for I am
crucified with Christ."
But Paul meant even more than this. He not only believed in Christ's
death, and trusted in it, but he actually felt its power in himself in
causing the crucifixion of his old corrupt nature. When he saw the
pleasures of sin, he said, "I cannot enjoy these: I am dead to them."
Such is the experience of every true Christian. Having received Christ,
he is to this world as one who is utterly dead. Yet, while conscious of
death to the world, he can, at the same time, exclaim with the apostle,
"Nevertheless I live." He is fully alive unto God. The Christian's life
is a matchless riddle. No worldling can comprehend it; even the
believer himself cannot understand it. Dead, yet alive! crucified with
Christ, and yet at the same time risen with Christ in newness of life!
Union with the suffering, bleeding Saviour, and death to the world and
sin, are soul-cheering things. O for more enjoyment of them!