Monday, March 24, 2025

Have We Been Crucified?

 

Introduction:

 

     A.   "Have We Been Crucified?"

 

     B.   Crucifixion was a form of death as you recall in the            Ancient World!  It was the way Christ was killed!

 

     C.   Paul says he was crucified with Christ!  Are we?

 

     Trans.    Let's look today and see!

 

                            Prayer

                         Gal. 2:19 & 20

 

I.   What does Paul mean: Crucified with Christ?

 

     A.   He couldn't have literally meant he had been killed

          with Christ.

          1.   We know that it was two thieves who were killed                  with Christ.

          2.   We know Paul was alive here when he writes this!

 

     B.   Could it be that he meant, as a Christian, the old

          self had been Crucified, and now, he had risen to walk           in a new life with Christ.  "Old things are passed               away, behold all things . . . ."

 

II.  To Crucify our old selves, since we are made up of many     parts, we must Crucify many parts.

 

     A.   We must Crucify our feet!

          1.   A Christian shouldn't go the same places as                      before.

          2.   But a Christians new feet should take them to the                house of God and to the business of God!

              a.   visit the sick

              b.   help others

              c.   visit the unchurched

 

     B.   We must Crucify our hands!

          1.   A Christian's hands shouldn't be used to hurt                    people.

          2.   They should be used to help people as Christ                     helps through them.

          3.   They should be used to fold in prayer.

          4.   They should be used to work for the Lord.

 

     C.   We should Crucify our ears!

          1.   We need to watch what we listen to!

          2.   Christian's shouldn't, as much as is in their                    power, listen to things that are against Godly                   principles!

              a.   Dirty jokes - Do we bend an ear to listen to                    them?

              b.   Provocative music

              c.   Gossip - Again, do we bend an ear to hear                       it?

          3.   But we should instead listen to God.

              a.   in prayer

              b.   through the Spirit

          4.   We should listen to peoples needs and pain;                      Christians being willing to listen shows people                  that God is willing to listen and loves them!

 

     D.   We should Crucify our eyes!

          1.   Watch what we look at.

          2.   As a Christian, we shouldn't use our eyes to lust                after something that isn't ours (as much as is in                our power).

          3.   But we should use our eyes to look for God; one                  place to find God is in the Bible.

          4.   We should look for ways to help others!

 

     E.   We should Crucify our Tongues!

          1.   Watch what we say!

          2.   As a Christian, on the most part, we shouldn't                   use our tongues:   

              a.   to spread gossip

              b.   to tell lies

              c.   to swear

          3.   But we should speak up for God in our lives by                   the way we live and what we say. 

          4.   It isn't always easy to tell what to do, but with                Christ controlling our tongues, we'll say the                   right things!

 

     F.   We should Crucify our hearts!

          1.   A Christian shouldn't have a cold, resentful                     heart with bad motives.

          2.   But a loving, merciful heart with good motives.

 

III. How Can We Do All This?

 

     A.   By saying no to our old self every day and yes to the            leading of the Holy Spirit each day!  It is a yielding           to the Spirit of God!

    

     B.   Paul says it this way:

          ". . . 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 . . . ."

 

     C.   Saying yes to Jesus!

 

Conclusion:

     A.   Have we been Crucified with Christ or are we trying to           let our old self live along with the new self?

 

     B.   The scriptures say it won't work!  We can't have 2               masters.

 

     C.   Oh, yes we will all fail from time to time; we won't             be perfect!

          1.   But do we choose to fail?

          2.   Do we choose Satan?

          3.   Do we willfully go against what we know God wants                for our lives?

 

     D.   If we do, we haven't been Crucified with Christ.

    

     E.   As we encounter Christ at the table this morning, do

you need to say yes to Jesus?  After you receive

communion, do you need to come and kneel at the cross

for prayer this morning?

 

Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion

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