With Christ have I been crucified, yet I am living, no longer I; but living in me is Christ. Now that which I am now living in the flesh, I am living in faith that is of the Son of God, Who loves me, and gives Himself up for me
Paul to the Galatians 2: 20, Concordant New Testament
It was one of the most difficult revelations which I've had to deal with in my life in Christ. The fact that I've died with Him already. The apostle Paul's iconic scripture which we find in Galatians speaks to Paul acknowledging that he no longer lives, that he has been put to death with Christ Jesus {Paul to the Galatians 2:20}. So it is with me. The life which I have, or had, is no more. What remains, as Paul speaks to, is my life in Christ. Indeed, it's pretty difficult to come to terms with being dead if each and every day I feel life. I feel emotions, pain and thoughts. Is this really what death looks like? Of course, when we look at it through the lens of the spiritual and not the physical, we see that death is really just another dimension of life. The author of Hebrews describes "So vast a cloud of witnesses" which surrounds us {To the Hebrews 12:1}. Many have interpreted this verse to refer to those memories which we have of those of the faith who have gone before us. While this is true, I also am of the belief that there is yet another dimension parallel to our own where those who have passed from this world await their own resurrection. Hebrew texts describe sheol as the place of souls who have departed this world. To be clear, sheol IS NOT what we have come to know as hell. Think of it as a holding place for those who have passed before us, the good as well as the wicked. Is this the cloud of witnesses which the author of Hebrews was referring to? I believe that it could very well be. Yet that is beside the point. The reality is that we have been crucified with Christ Jesus. We have already died with Him on that cross. We're dead. As a good friend pointed out to me recently, what life do I have if I've died? It's what Paul referred to as "The secret among the nations {Paul to the Colossians 1:27}.
To whom God wills to make known what are the glorious riches of this secret among the nations, which is: Christ among you, the expectation of glory
Paul to the Colossians 1: 27, Concordant New Testament
So, if you thin k that grasping the truth that you have died with Christ is a tough pill to swallow, you're not the only one by any means. Yet Paul understood that despite FEELING as if he were still alive, his life was not in this world but in Christ alone. This is Christ among us, our expectation of glory in Him. Of course, this is contradictory to the theology preached by those in the mainstream church. In fact, I've never heard of our death is Christ spoken of in the time I spent in the church. Instead, Jesus is preached as a far off and distant savior who looks down upon us from His place at the Fathers side. So, tell me, how is it that the passage we find in Colossians 1:27 can remain factual if Jesus has remained in heaven? How can Christ be among us if He's never left the Fathers side? This is but one of the issues that I have with the theology of the mainstream church. I also believe that it is why I had such a difficult time accepting the Fathers revelation that I've died with Christ already. For I spent many years in the church listening to and believing in the religious system that I was taught. I'll stop short of referring to it as brainwashing, as I was free to leave at any time. Also, it was the Father Who allowed me to remain in the church until such time as my eyes were opened to the truth of His Son in me. Indeed, it is Paul who speaks to this very thing in Galatians {Paul to the Galatians 1:15-16}. For it was the Father, in His own timing, Who would open my eyes to His revelation in my life. It wasn't ever easy, but it is true.
~Scott~
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