Crucified with Jesus

Galatians 2:19-20 “For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”   
 
WHEN Paul writes of the law, he refers to the commands and laws of Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. God gave numerous laws to Israel to define their worship system, their relationship with him and their relationship with each other. He commanded they obey his laws, so they could be his people.
    But the human heart born into the sin nature is not capable of perfectly obeying each law. Of course, God knew that. The law was one step in the LORD’s redemption plan for mankind. Israel needed the law to reveal their sin. They then needed the Savior to redeem their sin. That’s what Paul means when he says, “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God.”  
    Paul then connected his new life with God to Jesus’ crucifixion. “I have been crucified with Christ, therefore I no longer live.” This is an often-quoted scripture. Let’s stop to consider what this means.
    Crucifixion was a death for the worst criminals, especially for those who rebelled against Rome. The first-century readers would have a picture of great suffering. In our rebellious sin, we are the ones worthy of such a tortuous death. But the Lord was crucified in our place. Jesus’ death takes us graciously through a horrible death into a glorious life.  
    That’s why the entire verse is essential to know. “The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Yes, Jesus loves you. He gave himself to the cross for you, so he cold live for you. Now you need to live for him. This is the gospel message and the gospel obligation.
    Our death in Christ is a crucifixion of the heart, mind and soul. To be crucified with Christ is not an easy confession of your sins; it is a painful release of your sin nature and your former way of life. Crucified with Christ, your soul dies into the Savior’s death. As Jesus’ crucifixion was the means to his resurrection, your crucified soul is resurrected into a new life in Jesus’ saving power. That’s why we can then faithfully live into Jesus’ suffering: “I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” We can trust that by grace we are saved through faith because God made it happen.