We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
I recall how my campus pastor, Robert Lange, spoke about this verse. It was very meaningful to him. Inspired by his enthusiasm I have memorized it. I love the idea that Paul gives witness to his ongoing life of faith. The fact that he has been crucified but is still alive is intriguing. And perhaps the key to understanding the phrase: “I’ve been crucified with Christ.”
Something has died in order to be united with Christ. Something has been killed. Something no longer defines us. In Paul’s case, it was certainly his determined effort to stamp out every vestige of adherence to Jesus’ teachings. He saw Jesus as a deceiver, false prophet, and usurper of God’s true identity and glory. He had believed that whatever it took to rid the world of his followers was not only proper, but properly called for. He had been doing everything he could to persecute Jesus’ followers.
Then he learned that he was persecuting Jesus himself when he encountered him on the road to Damascus. He soon realized that Jesus was (is) God’s Son. He learned that Jesus had risen from the dead. He discovered that God’s gift of salvation through faith in Jesus was the greatest treasure of all. He came to believe that Jesus died for his sins. His old self was nailed to the cross along with all his sins and Jesus himself. He (the old nature) was crucified with Christ.
Now he lives. He is more fully alive than ever before. His new life of faith took him to places he would never have gone before. The persecution he himself experienced was like that which he had previously sought to inflict on others. Now it was being inflicted upon him. But it did not turn him away. He had faith in Jesus. He believed. He trusted. He set his heart on Jesus’ promises. He embraced the goodness of God in the fullest sense.
For lifelong Christians the difference is often not so obvious. I cannot remember a time when I didn’t believe in Jesus. But I did take a sad and sinful detour during my college years. All the while I was outwardly identifying as being a Christian. But so much of what I was living for was abhorrent to God. I am still tempted to look away from God and his ways. Sins especially of thought, but sometimes word and deed seek to entangle me.
That’s why I am thankful to be crucified with Christ – to have those parts of me that go against God’s ways nailed there and die. That’s why my life of faith is so precious. I believe that Jesus died for my sins. I believe his promises are true. I believe God is good. I believe it is better to live in ways that honor God. By his power and with his help, I live faithfully and resist temptation. But I never outgrow the need for the cross, Jesus’ forgiveness, and God’s mercy. I believe Jesus gave himself for me, and I am deeply grateful: now and forever.
I believe that’s what it means to be crucified with Christ and yet to live.
David Bahn - Reflections 
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