Editor's Note

Crucifixion – A Very Painful Death

Beth Johnson

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin” (Romans 6:6-7 KJV). What is the old man, and in what sense does the old man die? Why does Paul describe the death of the old man as a crucifixion? In whatever sense we understand it, the death of the old man is very painful. Crucifixion was never an easy death. Jesus said, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13:24). Many want to enter heaven, but few are willing to endure a crucifixion. Crucifixion is a very “strait” gate. If we do not “…strive to enter in at the strait gate,” we will not be able to enter the path that leads to life. Jesus teaches in many other ways that entering the pathway is not a simple thing. For example, He says, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it” (Mark 8:35). The Lord compares the old and the new man in several different ways. There must be a conscious decision to crucify the old man so the new man can be born.

Even making the decision to lose one’s life is a very painful process. Again, Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23). The decision to deny oneself is also very painful. Similarly, the decision to forsake all that one has is quite painful, but Jesus said, “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:33). The reason that Jesus died is so that we would no longer simply live as we desire to live. “And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:15). Making the decision that we will no longer live for ourselves, but will only live for Christ, is not an easy decision. Jesus purchased God’s children with His blood (Acts 20:28). Paul wrote, “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (1 Corinthians 6:20). “Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men” (1 Corinthians 7:23). We no longer belong to ourselves for Jesus has purchased us. This makes it clear why we should no longer live for ourselves. Crucifixion of the old man is losing one’s life, no longer living for self, being willing to be purchased and being willing to live only for Christ. Unless the old man is crucified and fully dead, he cannot be buried with Christ in the waters of baptism.

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