Winter 1995

Crucifixion
Edited from the writings of
Seeley D. Kinne

Man, in his present fallen state is separated from and independent of God. His will is rebellious, stubborn, and wayward. His heart attitude inclines away from God. This is an abnormal condition, since man was created to be a habitation of God, a place for God to abide and make Himself known.

God uses various means and processes to deliver and restore man. Once he has been born again, the old nature must be dealt with. The means that is used to accomplish this is called, "crucifixion."

Spiritually speaking, crucifixion is not the destruction of any faculty of man, but of his "Adamic nature," which is in a state of independent activity. These independent activities must be eliminated, which is done through a process of crucifixion by the Holy Spirit.

The first step of this operation is described in Romans 6:6-7.

"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with
Him, that the body of sin might be destroyed,
that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he
that is dead is freed from sin."

In the sacrifice of Jesus upon the cross in our behalf, our crucifixion has been fully accomplished and is a "judicial" reality. Along with this, it is the desire and intention of the Lord that our "positional" relationship to Him become an "experiential" reality. This is accomplished through the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit.

"Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we
shall also live with him ... Likewise reckon ye also
yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto
God through Jesus Christ our Lord" Rom 6:8,11.

We are to count this as being a fact by reckoning ourselves to be what the Word tells us, "dead to sin." There are various terms that we may use to express this finished work of the cross, such as, "baptized ... into His death" (Rom 6:3); or, "our old man is crucified with Him" (Rom 6:6). Once this has become a reality to us, we are to "reckon ... yourselves to be ... alive unto God" (Rom 6:11).

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a
new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new" II Cor 5:17.

Because they do not understand their identification with Jesus in His death and resurrection, many who receive the Holy Spirit baptism do not realize that their "judicial" crucifixion must become an "experiential" reality through an identification with the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit. As a result, they have little spiritual depth.

"And you are complete in Him, who is the head of
all principality and power: In Him you were also
circumcised with the circumcision made without
hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the
flesh, by the circumcision of Christ. Buried with
Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with
Him through faith in the working of God, who
raised Him from the dead" Col 2:10-12 NKJ.

If there is to be a full release into our new creation life in power, there must be a deep work of crucifixion accompanying it. To remedy such a lack of spiritual depth and power, there is only one answer, that is, an earnest seeking of God, and a taking up of the cross that is given us.

Until we are "experientially" crucified with Christ, we are neither qualified or ready to be used in a deep exercise of the ministry gifts. Gifts often cause undiscovered traits to be exposed. Exercising gifts with purity requires the work of the Cross. Only then will the Lord's people be different in quality.

Crucifixion with Christ is not wrought by self-devised works of penance or severe austerities, but by a yielding to the work of the cross through the Holy Spirit. Our old bodily habits are put to death, and as a result we live.

"For if you live according to the flesh,
you will die: but if by the Spirit you
put to death the deeds of the body, you
will live" Rom 8:13 NKJ.

Our Adamic nature is crucified by the direction and operation of the Holy Spirit; that is, by the cross of Christ, which is the power of God working in man, bringing him into a proper relationship with God.

We are, by faith and obedience, to accept these adverse and crucifying circumstances, however bitter or uncomfortable they may be, by saying; "I accept this from the Lord and I reckon myself to be dead indeed to this distress and suffering, and alive unto Him." This will bring joy, victory, and peace. It will effect a separation from the flesh, and release us to walk by the Spirit.

These crucifying processes are described in the Word as being like fullers' soap, or refiner's fire (Malachi 3:2). Also, the Lord chastens and scourges those whom He loves and receives (Hebrews 12:6). These processes are exactly adapted by Divine wisdom to one's peculiar characteristics, and if rightly accepted and submitted to, will accomplish the destruction of our fleshly tendencies.

Thereby are we conformed to the will of God and made Christ-like. This is the way we are brought by the Lord past stubborn tendencies. Only then are we able to recognize that "it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" (Phil 2:13). Because the Cross has done its work, we are now able to respond, "I have come both to choose and do His good pleasure."