Identity in the Crucifixion and the Resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus, first identified with us. Man could not spiritually redeem himself by reformation or by following the rules. Mankind is innately a sinner in great need of a redeemer. The Redeemer had to come in the same form as our first-ancestor-father Adam. God provided the only sufficient sacrifice in the Redeemer—His Only Eternal Son.
Jesus identified with us in His incarnation. He being God, the Son; yet he became as flesh as we are. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, / who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, / but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5-7 NKJV).
His physical body became as our physical bodies. He took upon Himself a soulish being (mind, will, and emotion) as our soulish being. Only His spirit-man (innermost being) was NOT broken, corrupted, fallen, and dead as ours.
Jesus identified with us in His crucifixion. He was sinless but He took upon Himself the sins of the world. “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8 NKJV).
Our sins became His sins. Our death became His death pronouncement. Our grave became His grave. Some even say our hell became His hell. “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NKJV).
Now, we are identified with Jesus. We, who put our trust in Christ as our Savior and Lord are identified with Him in His sacrifice and resurrection. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20 NKJV).
We identify with Jesus’ sacrifice. His sacrifice was our appeasement to God. Throughout the Bible, God only accepted unblemished sacrifices. Mankind was too blemished to sacrifice his own but needed a perfect sacrifice. Jesus was in the form of man but sinless. ”For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:10 NKJV).
We identify with Jesus’ resurrection. His resurrection became our resurrection and life. He lives therefore we live. Not only in the afterlife but the life of Christ is in us now by the habitation of the Holy Spirit in our born-anew spirit. “Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4 NKJV).
An un-regenerated man is dead in His sins until he is born-again by the power of the crucified and resurrected Christ.
“Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), / and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:5-6 NKJV).
Big Takeaway: Jesus identified with us in the incarnation and crucifixion. We identify with Him in His sacrifice and resurrection.
How can one be born anew spiritually and identify with the life of Jesus Christ?
“That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. / For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:9-10 NKJV).
From the heart, pray this simple prayer of faith, repentance, and commitment:
Father God, I have sinned and lived apart from You. I know your Son Jesus died for my sins so I could live and not die spiritually. Jesus died for me and was resurrected on the third day so I could have spiritual life and not death. I turn from my sinful ways and commit my life to You; so live in me so I can live in You. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so that I can be empowered to live like Jesus. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.
If you sincerely prayed that prayer, tell someone about your new life in Christ. Welcome to the family of God! (Email me as I would love to know.)
If you are already a committed follower of Jesus, please use/share this simple teaching to lead others to Jesus.
On the Journey with Jesus,
Harry L. Whitt
Contact: HarryWhitt@PathwayJourney.com
Pathway Journey 