Crossroads

by R. Armstrong, Toronto | Category: Crossroads | Aug 1969

I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live; and yet no longer I, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself up for me" (Galatians 2.20).

When our Lord died on Calvary it became reality that our old man," (Adamic nature) was crucified with Christ, "that the body of sin might be done away" (Romans 6.6). This is historical, fixed, unalterable. Through our believing in Christ God sees us "dead unto sin, but alive unto God in Christ Jesus " (Romans 6.11).

This is the only way God can accept us in Christ and dead to sin. God looks on us as perfect in Christ, and because we are a1ive to God, He sees the perfection of Christ in us.

Then Paul covers the experience side of the truth when he says, "Yet I live; and yet no longer I, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God ". Paul knew himself to be unalterably " in Christ" by faith, but he also reckoned that Christ lived in him, experimentally.

Knowledge of Christ and experience of His living in us are received by faith. If this faith were more real, victory would replace the dismal failure which we experience so often in our walk before the Lord. Some Christians live in a vacuum, having broken with the old life in the world yet they fail to live the abundant life which Christ promises. This results in living on the fringe of both and enjoying neither.

"As therefore ye received Christ Jesus the Lord, (past experience) so walk in Him " (present experience) (Colossians 2.6).

"Walk humbly with thy God" (Micah 6.8).

The opposite of humility is pride. Satan is the author of pride. When we see pride, we see Satan personified in our fallen nature. Pride is a satanic characteristic, humility is a divine attribute. Beware of psuedo-humility, or "will-worship and humility" (Colossians 2.23). We can be proud of the things we do not do, even though it is right not to do them. This is a wrong attitude. Pride is a destroyer. It will stunt spiritual growth, and hinder progress in the knowledge of God and of Christ. Yet none can say he is without it. Beware pride!

God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble (1 Peter 5.5).

R. Armstrong, Toronto | Aug 1969
Crossroads