The Holy Spirit speaks to me with words – sometimes one word, sometimes a scripture and sometimes in relation to a VIDEO/SONG. The Holy Spirit directs me to the videos which result in articles > The Anchor Holds. The words he spoke to me this time > Crucified with Christ.

GALATIANS 2:20

I am CRUCIFIED with CHRIST; nevertheless, I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

WHAT DOES THE WORD CRUCIFIED MEAN?

According to Webster’s dictionary: put (someone) to death by nailing them to a cross, especially as an ancient PUNISHMENT. A word that means the infliction or imposition of a penalty as retribution for an offense.  That definition led me to the word, RETRIBUTION: punishment inflicted on someone as vengeance for a wrong or criminal act. 

CRUCIFIED > infliction, penally, retribution, vengeance, criminal. These powerful words describe the PHYSICAL PAIN and the HEART PAIN Jesus suffered for me. 

WHAT JESUS EXCHANGED FOR ME

Charis Bible College changed my life. My recent course, Essential of Truth of the New Testament by Arthur Meintjes, brought to my remembrance the image of Jesus on the Cross, and what His crucifixion paid for me. That revelation was PERSONAL >  Psalm 23 – MAKE IT PERSONAL.

Arthur described this exchange as…

Jesus stepped OUT OF:

INNOCENCE into TEMPTATION > SO > I could step out of TEMPTATION into INNOCENCE.

THE JOY EVERLASTING into SUFFERING > SO > I could step out of SUFFERING into THE JOY EVERLASTING

RIGHTEOUSNESS into SIN > SO > I could step out of SIN into RIGHTEOUSNESS

RICHES into POVERTY > SO > I could step out of POVERTY into RICHES

THE PEACE OF GOD into CHAOS > SO > I could step out of CHAOS into THE PEACE OF GOD

POWERFUL REVELATIONS! THANK YOU, JESUS!!!

MADE RIGHT WITH GOD

GALATIANS 2 Paul describes how the believer is made right with God. False teachers told the Galatian churches that faith in the Messiah was not enough. To be saved, they said believers must also be circumcised and become “Jewish.” Only then would they be wholly right before God. 

In the early church, Judaizers (to live according to Jewish custom) taught a combination of our CREATOR’s grace and human effort. The word appears in GALATIANS 2:14 where Paul describes how he confronted Peter for forcing Gentile Christians to “Judaize.” PETER walked and talked with Jesus yet he reverted to the flesh at times. He even denied Jesus THREE TIMES (MATTHEW 26:31-35)! 

A Judaizer taught that for a Christian to truly be right with OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, he must conform to the Mosaic Law. Gentiles had to be Jewish proselytes (a person who has converted from one opinion, religion, or party to another) first, and then they could come to Christ. This doctrine was a mixture of grace (through our Redemer) and works (through the keeping of the Law). 

EARTHLY REASON AND HEAVENLY REASON  

Therefore, the crucification was twofold; an earthly reason (mankind is evil) and a heavenly reason (God is good). Jesus, the Lamb of God, came to take away the sin of the world (JOHN 1:29). Even though the act of crucifying our King of Kings was evil, the crucifixion was still the plan of God to make atonement for sin. 

Jesus chose to say YES to the physical and heart pain. He told Pilate, “You would have not power over me if it were not given to you from above.” (JOHN 19:11). 

We are sinful in the flesh and worthy of the punishment that the LAMB OF GOD endured for us.  He was publicly executed, and his blood was shed on our behalf (ROMANS 3:25-26). God presented Jesus as a sacrifice of atonement for us so we could be received by faith.   

BACK TO THE VIDEO 

In summary, play the video again and really open your heart to the WORDS that were written, and notice the times “I” is mentioned (personal). 

As I look back on what I thought was living

I’m amazed at the price I chose to pay

And to think I ignored what really mattered

Cause I thought the sacrifice would be too great.

When I finally reached the point of giving in (personal decision)

I found the cross was calling even then

And even though it took dying to survive

I’ve never felt so much ALIVE

I glory in the power of the CROSS

The things I thought were gain, I now count as loss. 

For I am crucified with Christ and yet I live

Not I but Christ that lives within me

His cross will never ask for more than I can give

For it’s not my strength but HIS.

Jesus paid the price so we could receive all the blessings of God. YouWillWantTo reveals the blessings Jesus paid for > one article at a time. EACH ONE CAN REACH ONE around the world.