Crucifixion, A Two-way Street

“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Gal. 6:14.

Salvation is not the same as eternal life or regeneration. These are readily available through our redemption that Christ bought for us on the Cross. He paid the price. Yet our salvation is different. Salvation is unto something and from something. We are saved unto the Kingdom of God and from the the kingdom of this world. We are saved, separated from this world for God’s purposes. That is the true meaning of biblical salvation. Saved is to be set aside for a special purpose. Just as you save up money for a special purpose, God is setting you aside from the world for a special purpose.

It is when I am crucified with Christ that I am saved. I am set aside for God. But not only am I separated from the world but the world is separated from me, “and I unto the world.” Just as I have no hope nor future laid up in the world system so it, the world, has no hope nor future laid up for me. It disdains me as I should disdain it.

When once you are dead to a thing do you continue to invest in it further? Of course not. If you know that your place of employment is closing down in a week do you begin to develop a program that will be useful to its future? Of course not. If the bank you are placing money in is going down the tubes, in receivership, do you continue to set aside your money there for your future? Of course not.

Why then, do so many professing Christians continue to make large deposits into the world as though it were secure there? “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit.” Rev. 18:2. I assure you that the world is dead to you if you are a Christian. In some ways the world acts more appropriately toward a Christian than a Christian acts toward the world. The world sees you as dead to it and treats you as such. Why don’t you see the world as a dead thing and treat it that way?

Crucifixion is a two-way street. “The world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”