Jesus Christ Portrayed as Crucified

Jesus Christ Portrayed as Crucified

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?” Ch. 3:1.

In this epistle we read how Paul explains the difference between works of the law and being led by the Spirit. He was amazed that they had so soon been led away from the light they had received through Christ Jesus being portrayed as crucified. What kind of light was that? It was this: That if one died for all, then we are all dead so that we should no longer live for ourselves, but for Him who died for us and rose again. 2 Cor. 5:15. “But God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Gal. 6:14.

Paul portrayed Jesus Christ as crucified in such a way that the Galatians saw themselves as being dead with Him. In our days there are many who travel around and portray Jesus as crucified—but not in the same way Paul did it. The religious masses have fallen prey to the same deception into which the Galatians had fallen. They know nothing of the death of Christ which enables them to live no longer for themselves. If they live for themselves they have to be “kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.” Ch. 3:6. That was the faith in being crucified with Christ. If we—without that faith—are not kept under guard by the law, sin will take over completely.

All those who live for themselves need to be chastened by the law until they come to the faith that they are crucified with Christ. Only then can the Spirit begin to lead them, and only then are they no longer under the law. For all “those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Ch. 5:24. “Against such there is no law.” V. 23.

The religious masses argue about what is sin and what a Christian is permitted to do. This proves that they live for themselves and are under the law. Most of them are also enemies of the cross of Christ—the cross by which they were to be crucified to the world and the world to them. This is evident from their conduct—they desire earthly things. Phil. 3:18-19. All their worship of God, including Bible schools and mission work, is of no avail for as long as they live for themselves. All this is only their own righteousness, the righteousness that is from the law. Phil. 3:9-10. That is why they also have something to boast of. They compete with each other and strive against each other because they live for themselves in whatever they are doing. The Spirit cannot lead them; that is why they do not partake of sanctification and spiritual growth.

Paul did not come to them to preach the gospel of God with excellence of speech, because “I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” 1 Cor. 2:1-5. He did not want to know anything about their boasting of different people, or that they preferred the one above the other. Ch. 3:4-7, 21; 4:5-8.

All liberty, all freedom without being crucified with Christ is false liberty and deception. Jesus’ life can only be revealed in our body if Jesus’ death is working in our body. 2 Cor. 4:10-11.

For the Word of the cross is the power of God to salvation for those who believe. 1 Cor. 1:18.