CHAPTER FOUR

IN THE CRUCIFIXION OF CHRIST

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Scripture Reading: Col. 1:22; Eph. 2:15-16; Col. 2:9; 1 Tim. 3:16; Acts 20:28; John 8:29; 16:32; 1:29; Heb. 9:26, 28; 1 Cor. 15:3; Heb. 9:12; 2 Cor. 5:14-15; Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20a; Heb. 2:14; John 12:31; Gal. 6:14; Heb. 2:9; Col. 1:20; 2:14-15; John 12:24

OUTLINE

1. God having participated in the crucifixion of Christ:
1. The crucifixion being the suffering of Christ in the flesh—Col. 1:22; Eph. 2:15-16.
2. Christ in His body of the flesh being the embodiment of the Triune God—Col. 2:9.
3. The manifestation of Christ being God's manifestation in the flesh—1 Tim. 3:16.
4. Hence, the crucifixion of Christ being also God's crucifixion:
1. The blood shed by Christ on the cross being "God's own blood"—Acts 20:28.
   (Charles Wesley in one of his hymns, #296 in our hymnal, says, "Amazing love! how can it be /That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?" and "'Tis mystery all! The Immortal dies!")
2. God being one with Christ all the time—John 8:29; 16:32.
2. The accomplishments of God in the crucifixion of Christ:
1. Taking away the sin of the world for God's eternal redemption—John 1:29; Heb. 9:26, 28; 1 Cor. 15:3; Heb. 9:12.
2. Dying for all of us—2 Cor. 5:14-15.
3. Crucifying our old man—Rom. 6:6; Gal. 2:20a.
4. Destroying the devil, who has the might of death—Heb. 2:14.
5. Judging and crucifying the world—John 12:31; Gal. 6:14.
6. Tasting death for all things and reconciling all things to God—Heb. 2:9; Col. 1:20.
7. Abolishing the law in ordinances and slaying the enmity between peoples—Eph. 2:15-16; Col. 2:14.
8. Releasing the divine life for the producing of the believers to constitute the Body of Christ—John 12:24; 1 Cor. 10:17.
3. God's working during Christ's crucifixion:
1. Wiping out the handwriting in ordinances, which was against us, contrary to us, and nailing it to the cross—Col. 2:14.
2. Stripping off the rulers and the authorities and making a display of them openly, triumphing over them in the cross—Col. 2:15.