The Best of the Portals of Prayer

Read: Galatians 2:17-21 // Psalm 22:12-22

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”
Galatians 2:20

Seeing Ourselves on the Cross

Were you there when they crucified my Lord? These words and their attending melody are certainly charged with emotion. Jesus’ mother and some disciples were there in person. We were there, sort of, because our sins helped nail Him to the cross. St. Paul goes a step further and suggests that we were not only at the foot of the cross, but nailed to it!
This is strange, but powerful imagery. We are crucified with Christ – dead to sin and alive to righteousness. The hymn “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me” reminds us that Jesus’ death provides the “double cure: cleanse from it’s guilt and pow’r”. Trusting in Jesus, our sins are forgiven, and God declares us not guilty. At the same time, the power of the Spirit enables us to live a more godly life. Truly a “double cure”.
If we ever doubt the full forgiveness of our sins, if we ever feel powerless to avoid committing certain sins, we should see ourselves crucified with Christ. His Spirit will come to our rescue with full and free forgiveness.

Gracious God, help us to live as believers dead to sin and alive to righteousness because of Christ, our Savior. Amen.

June 24, 2002