Crucified with Christ

The apostle Paul understood better than most how his flesh wrestled against his spirit. He spoke candidly of the frustration that comes from wanting to do what is right while battling the pull of his sinful nature.

In Romans 7:18–19 he confessed, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.” That admission wasn’t weakness—it was honesty from a man learning that victory comes only through Christ.

Christians often talk about “battling the devil,” but the truth is that Satan’s greatest weapon is not physical assault—it’s temptation. He dangles the bait of sin, then lets our own flesh do the rest. He is a master manipulator who knows how to appeal to pride, ego, and desire. That’s why humility and vigilance are essential. Pride and self-reliance are like walking into a minefield thinking you’re too skilled to ever step on a mine.

Paul recognized this and put it all into perspective: he considered himself already dead—crucified with Christ. His old life of self-glory and independence had been nailed to the cross. From that point on, his mission was simple: to live for Christ, not himself.

To be crucified with Christ means making a deliberate choice to let the old, sinful nature die daily. It’s an act of surrender, fueled by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us. This is our identity in Christ—dead to self, alive to Him.

I’m a dead man walking…dead to self and alive in Christ!