Crucified With Christ Part 1 This idea is not a new teaching.

. The Catholics, Orthodox, some Anglicans and Lutherans hold to a version of this teaching. In Catholic and Orthodox circles I have heard statements like: "unite your suffering with Jesus suffering". In Rabbinical Judaism, suffering is seen by some as willed by God as (for some "Torahtrue" Jews) a result of Jewish disobedience. This is probably the first time you've seen this teaching applied in this manner. Redemptive suffering as some Christians call it - is the belief that human suffering, when accepted and offered up in union with the crucifixion of Jesus, can remit the just punishment for one's sins or for the sins of another. This suffering does not gain the individual forgiveness for their sin; forgiveness results from Calvary through God's grace, but it's through his grace He allows us to share in his sufferings as members of the body of Jesus Christ: I remember reading in the writings of Augustine, where he speaks of Christians particularly priests, as "Christs" with the implication of their suffering. (I can look for that quote if necessary. Being a Christian was to suffer. Many came to salvation through the suffering of the early christians. The blood of the martyrs was like the seed of the church, and its growth. We as christs must suffer as He did (not necessarily on a cross), this is part of our following Jesus. This must be our attitude, and by doing this is part of our teaching. Events in our own lives are signs for us and others to read not that I always get the meaning, many times I don't. I realize that Evangelicals have a teaching referred to as the "the finished work". I believe that scripture shows that this view is too glib. Jesus was able to say, "it is finished" concerning the work he was called to do, but not for the sufferings of the body of Christ which are still His sufferings. Galatians 6:17 is one verse that I get this view from, we as slaves must suffer as our master and bear his marks. Romans 6 seems to presuppose this truth in Paul's explaining of baptism, we are to be united with Christ in his death. It seemed good for me to write on this since I have gone through a little suffering in recent times, not that my trials should be compared with the early Christians. Anyways, I find myself a little surprised that this doctrine is being hotly questioned. It certainly doesn't deny Jesus sacrifice, that's a straw man argument. I am further surprised that you seem to consider this doctrine heretical, based on what - modern evangelicalism?? There is way too much scripture on this concept to dismiss it, see below: Clearly, Paul preached this idea and put it into practice: 2 Corinthians 4:1-12 - or we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake. For it is God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hardpressed on every side, yet not crushed, we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed-always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then is working in us, but life in you. Galatians 3:1 - "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?" Galatians 6:17 - From now on let no one trouble me, for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus. Yes, Jesus did suffer and die for our sins, and his sacrifice is suficient (Hebrews). This sacrifice is it, there is no further sacrifice in a literal sense. While you won't see "Christians must become sin for others, pay for others sins" in scripture in that literal sense. However, you will see that its through much suffering that we enter into the kingdom Acts 14:22, and not merely our own. Jesus doesn't bear the cross alone, nor was his suffering for sin limited to the cross.

Luke 14:27 - And whosoever doth not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. II Cor 4:7 - "But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed, always carrying about in our bodies the dying of Jesus so that the life Jesus may also be manifested in our body. So then death works in us: but life in you". Galatians 6:14 - But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. Philippians 3:8-11 - Furthermore, I count all things to be but loss for the excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ, my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them but as dung, that I may gain Christ. And may be found in him, not having my justice, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ Jesus, which is of God: justice in faith. That I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings: being made conformable to his death, If by any means I may attain to the resurrection which is from the dead. I Peter 2:19-22 - For this is thankworthy: if, for conscience towards God, a man endure sorrows, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, committing sin and being buffeted for it, you endure? But if doing well you suffer patiently: this is thankworthy before God. For unto this are you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow his steps Though our sufferings are nothing without His Sacrifice, we must suffer through feeling the guilt of not merely our own sins, but those of the body politic, there are Christians with that calling. The sins of other christians are thrown in our faces in this world, that perhaps some might be saved. We must be united with Jesus in his sufferings. Our sufferings can sanctify us, helping us become free from sin, and being dead to sin. We are to imitate Jesus, both high priest and spotless victim, so that we might partake of the divine nature. Colossians 1:23b-24 - ...whereof I Paul am made a minister. Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh, for His body, which is the church: Paul is not saying that Christ's sufferings and Sacrifice weren't enough. He is saying, though, that we are one body, we co-operate with God in profound ways. Paul is speaking here of the mystical body of Christ. It is in the members of His body that something is lacking, so we imitate Jesus in his sufferings. We suffer in union with Christ in such a way that it is actually Christ's work, not ours. Thus we all have roles to play. One is that we suffer with Jesus. In Acts, Saul goes to Tarsus and Jesus asks why he persecutes him. Saul, of course, did not persecute Jesus literally, instead, he persecuted the body of Christ, the true church. Just as people in the same family suffer for the sins of the others, so it is in the body of Christ. The Old Testament spoke of the sins of the fathers being transmitted to the next few generations, so the children pay. The parents also suffer for their children's sake, children's sin affects the parents. John 15:13 - "greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends" Just as Moses, a type of Christ, suffered for his people to appease God -Deuteronomy 9:15-20 - And when I came down from the burning mount, and held the two tables of the covenant with both hands, And saw that you had sinned against the Lord your God, and had made to yourselves a molten calf, and had quickly forsaken his way, which he had shewn you: I cast the tables out of my hands, and broke them in your sight. And I fell down before the Lord as before, forty days and nights neither eating bread, nor drinking water, for all your sins, which you had committed against the Lord, and had provoked him to wrath: For I feared his indignation and anger, wherewith being moved against you, he would have destroyed you. And the Lord heard me this time also. And he was exceeding angry against Aaron also, and would have destroyed him, and I prayed in like manner for him.

2 Corinthians 1:5-7 - For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us: so also by Christ doth our comfort abound. Now whether we be in tribulation, it is for your exhortation and salvation: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation: or whether we be exhorted, it is for your exhortation and salvation, which worketh the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer. That our hope for you may be steadfast: knowing that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall you be also of the consolation. Romans 8:16-18 - For the Spirit Himself giveth testimony to our spirit that we are the sons of God. And if sons, heirs also; heirs indeed of God and joint heirs with Christ: yet so, if we suffer with Him, that we may be also glorified with Him. For I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that shall be revealed in us. Acts 5:41 - "So they departed from the presence of the Sanhedrin, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus." 1 Cor 1:6-7 - "If we are afflicted it is for your encouragement, which enables you to endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is firm, for we know that as you share in the sufferings, you also share in the encouragement." II Cor .12:7-10 - ".A thorn in the flesh was given to me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' I will rather boast gladly of my weaknesses in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and constraints for the sake of Christ, for when I am weak then I am strong" Gal 2:19-20 - "With Christ I am nailed to the cross. It is now no longer I that live but Christ Who lives in me". Isa 53:5 - "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed". Here is, in one sense, a reference to Jesus sufferings, but I believe there was a prior fulfillment of this scripture concerning the nation of Israel.

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