Just a Thought: Were there three crosses or four on Calvary? If you are familiar with the crucifixion of our Lord, you know physically there were three crosses. One of our savior and the other two were the criminals which were crucified on either side of Him. However, Paul suggests symbolically and by faith there was a fourth. One for the believer (those who are in Christ). On this cross hangs our sinful nature with all of its desires. Paul says this was his experience and that it is true of all other believers as well. But we must live out and make application of this fact by faith. Paul tells us, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.” (Gal 5:24) In other words, by the very power of the Holy Spirit in us, we have died to our sinful nature and sins power. Now, we could argue, there were only three crosses that day. And we would be right because our death to our sinful nature and sins pull and power over us was delivered through Jesus’ death. So, I don’t have to literally crucify myself to know this freedom. Jesus and I co-died on His cross! We can say with Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2:20) I heard the story once that after Martin Luther came to faith in Christ, a delivery man came to his door. When Luther opened the door, the delivery man asked, “Does Martin Luther live here, I have a delivery for him?” To which Luther answered, “No, he died. Jesus lives here now.” As believers, when we apply this truth by faith, we can be victorious over sin because it is dead to us. The same faith in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection that saved you, is the same faith that helps you live in the victory He delivered to you. So, we may ask, “Were there three crosses or four on Calvary?” We know physically there were only three. But, in all reality, the true believer was co-crucified with Christ that day as well. He died for sin. We died to sin! Are you living free today as if your old sin nature and sins power died in you? Can you say like Paul and Luther, “I don’t live here anymore. I died; Jesus lives here now”? You can if by faith you claim the victory Jesus won through His death so you could live risen and free! With the Holy Spirit living in you and bringing to bear the nature of Christ through you, greater is He who is in you! My friend, if you died with Jesus that day, show it by your faith and live free for Him today in Jesus name!
