I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

SERIES: GALATIANS: BE FREE.

TEXT: GALATIANS 2:20.

We must realize that Calvary is not merely about how Jesus Christ died, but also how we should live. The early church realized this fact.

Modern day Christianity has often limited the cross of Christ to doctrinal boundaries of salvation.

But it is clear from the epistles that they had learned to live in light of the cross, not merely as a result of it.

For the Apostle Paul the cross was the standard, not just for salvation but for living. The real meaning of Calvary is two way-

1. I see what Christ did for me.
2. I ask, “what can I do for Christ?

• Since you have given so much for me, what can I give to you?
• Since you suffered so much for me, how much can I suffer for you?
• Since you have lived for me, how much can I live for you?

A true revelation of Christ and His cross in our lives will leave us also crying, “what can I do for you, Lord?”

Paul here lets us know that the cross must be more than a historical reality for us, but a personal, daily reality for us.

Salvation is the personal power of the cross in our lives.

Salvation is dying to sin, to self, and to ownership of our lives-1st Cor. 6:19-20.

• But the power of the cross is letting that crucified Christ live in me.
• Nothing demonstrates who Jesus Christ was more than His cross does, not His teachings, His miracles, not even His resurrection- His light shone the brightest in the darkest hour of His life.
• We must revisit the cross every day and moment by moment.
• Today, let us trace in the epistles how the early church found the cross in their everyday living.
• Calvary and the cross of Calvary became their standard for living.
• Let us learn today how to apply the cross in every area of our lives. Let us learn:-

CALVARY SET THE STANDARD OF LOVE IN OUR LIVES.

• There is no greater demonstration of love than what Jesus went through for you and me on Calvary.
• But Calvary goes further-it set the standard for what christian love is all about.
• The cross pushed Jesus’ teachings concerning love to the limit. We see the conviction of these principles in His life.
• Jesus did not only preach about love, He demonstrated love on the cross of Calvary.
• Christ love is “RADICAL LOVE.” Radical love is not popular even among religious people, however the standard of love we ought to have for one another and for Jesus Christ is the standard the cross has set.

A love that loves the undeserving.

1. They mocked, spat upon and treated Him with the depth of cruelty-yet He loved them still.
2. This love does not come naturally, It flows from the cross through you and me. It is love from the cross.
3. When you think someone is understanding of your love, remember how understanding you were of Calvary.
4. Jesus left us no ground to hold grudges and harbor hate in our hearts. If He can be treated that way and pray for those who did Him wrong…….so should we.
5. If you say, “But I can’t” then you have not really seen Calvary yet.
6. You can if you let same crucified Christ love through you.

Have you been crucified with Christ?

A love that turns the other cheek.

1. Peter uses the cross to teach about dealing with those who wrongfully mistreat you-1st Peter 2:19-24.
2. Peter declared a love that reviled not, threatened not.
3. Often the problem with loving this way is our pride, our old man, which is supposed to be crucified with Christ.
4. You can’t turn the other cheek if you are not crucified with Christ!!
5. Learn with Paul to “die daily” so you can love as Christy loved with a cross.

A love that absorbs evil.

1. Jesus proved that this kind of love isn’t defeated love or weak love, but victorious love.
2. He taught us that evil can be disarmed by being absorbed, that is what Jesus did at the cross.
3. Mankind doesn’t know how to handle someone who loves them and treats them well when they have done you wrong-they have no defensive mechanism for it.
4. The soldier at the foot of the cross declared that “Truly this is the son of God.” This was because he never saw anyone love like this….. No one with that kind of goodness.
5. Love is victorious when we commit to do it God’s way.
6. Your life can bring glory to God by loving in light of the cross.

CALVARY SET THE STANDARD OF SUFFERING IN OUR LIVES.

• Listen to the words of Paul in Philippians 3:10.

• Paul was actually saying he wanted to respond to suffering, like Christ responded to suffering on the cross.
• Not a sadistic bent on international suffering, but a willingness to let God use even our suffering for His glory.

He set the example for enduring-Heb. 12:2-3.

• The writer of Hebrews tells us that if we don’t want to get weary and faint in our minds, we need to keep considering what Christ went through for us.
• When you feel you can’t go on, look at Christ under the weight of that cross. He did not stop on the road to Golgotha but pressed on.
• When you feel no one appreciates what you are doing, consider who was abandoned by His disciples that He had powered 31/2 years.
• We need to revisit the blood stained cross so we can renew our strength to go on.

He set the limit for suffering.

• The writer of Hebrews adds this verse to the thought, Heb. 12:4, “You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.”
• You have no excuse to give in until you have endured what He endured.
• Jesus set the limit of suffering high, so we can endure the most unthinkable things for the cause of Christ.
• Prosperity theology does not tolerate suffering. Modern day christians don’t want to suffer for Christ.
• If your treasure is in what God can give you, suffering will crush you-We must keep on looking to that “Old Rugged Cross”-even unto death.

He revealed victory in suffering.

• The message of the cross in the fact that we’re suffering but in how we suffer or respond to the pain in our lives.
• Calvary proves that I can be victorious because of the struggle.
• Never buy into the lie that Christianity is an exit from struggling, but it is victory in struggle.

CALVARY SET THE STANDARD OF SERVICE IN OUR LIVES.

• Jesus made it that not only will He have a cross to bear, but we as well.
• True discipleship is costly-Mark 8:34-35.

The power of “Being” The sacrifice.

• We think of sacrifice as something we give or something we lose, but Jesus proved that our lives are designed to “Be” the sacrifice to others.
• Jesus said, “Let him deny himself.”
• The really wonderful and fulfilling moments of life is not moments of self-absorption, but self-forgetfulness-when you give yourself.
• Paul tells us to present our bodies as a “Living sacrifice.”
• Jesus Christ held nothing back but gave us His all.
• If you truly want to live a life to His glory, give your all-Be a sacrifice!!

The power of servant hood.

• Set up the standard of servant hood by washing the feet of His disciples.
• We don’t by nature have a servant’s heart-We live for most part for me and my own.
• We don’t like to wash other people’s feet, that is why you don’t see feet washing!!
• In a world consumed with self-absorption, be the servant that Jesus was.

CALVARY SET THE STANDARD OF GLORY IN OUR LIVES.

• Until self is crucified, we can only boast in self.
• Calvary means the death of self-exaltation life style-Gal. 6:4.
• Jesus Christ reveals us a life committed to be glory of God.

The measure of the value of everything.

“The world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

• Because the world is no longer our treasure.
• Jesus did not even value heaven as much as He did the cross.
• Jesus did not value the favor of man as He did the work of the cross.
• Jesus did not value the understanding of those nearest to Him like He did that rugged cross.
• He knew that the cross would set us free and God will be glorified.

The measure of our lives-1st Cor. 6:19-20.

• What do you boast in-your stuff, your accomplishments, your charm and personality?
• Let us measure our lives and boast only in the Cross.

CONCLUSION

• How is your walk in the light of the cross?
• Is standard of love your standard?
• Do you respond to suffering as He did?
• Do you possess a sacrificial servant heart?
• I am crucified with Christ.