… through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Summary: Paul’s expression of being “crucified” to something is unusual. The reason he uses this linguistic framework is because our flesh is like a drug.
What do the words “the world has been crucified to me” mean? In a nutshell, it means to put the world to death as far as “me” is concerned.
So what is that like?
Let’s do two thought experiments.
Thought Experiment No. 1:
Suppose you are in a room with no windows and only one door. You have been told that if you leave the room, you will not be able to get back in.
The room represents shelter and security. You do not know what is outside the door. Inside you have everything you need.
What do you do?
If you choose to leave the room and exit through the door, you are forever locked out of the place you have called home for all your life. If you leave, the room will be “dead” to you. There is no going back.
Thought Experiment No. 2:
A drug addict is given a chance at a new life. Friends or family intervene and bring the addict to a place where they can get help “kicking” the drug habit. The intervention is successful. The former drug addict can stay clean and sober.
Time passes, but the damage done by the drugs remains. The desire for the drug is still lurking in the back of the former addict’s mind. Each day is another decision to stay away from the drugs.
In the first thought experiment, there is a decision point called the “point of no return.” Once the decision is made, the door closes and there is no going back.
In the second experiment, we are confronted by a need to escape addiction. The first challenge is breaking free of the drug’s hold. The second challenge is staying free. Because drugs often chemically alter our brain function, the desire for the drug does not go away. We have to “crucify” that desire every day.
Both experiments have their place. When it comes to our choice of living for the spirit or the flesh, our soul finds itself addicted to the desires of the flesh. There is sensual gratification that comes from pleasing the flesh and the desire for this feeling remains even when we stop indulging ourselves. Like the addict, everyone who desires to “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16) has to choose to crucify the flesh.
As to the first thought experiment, the one-way door is very similar to the reality of death. When the body dies, we are forced to leave the “tent of this body” (2 Peter 1:13) and our soul confronts a new reality without the distractions of the flesh. For most of us, there is no going back. Dead is dead. Instead, we discover what eternal life is like. If we have chosen to claim Jesus Christ as our Savior, it will be very good, indeed.
Application: Choose Jesus, every day.
Food for Thought: What does Paul mean when he writes “and I to the world”?
What does Paul mean when he writes “and I to the world”?
Just as the contaminating power of this world is dead to Paul, in the power of Jesus Christ, Paul himself has become dead to any and all previous attractions to the powers of this world. He has no desire to return to his old life which he lived according to the ways of this world.
Colossians 2:13, And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,
Colossians 3:3, For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Romans 6:8, Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.
Romans 6:11, So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Thank you, Ron!
I love the phrase, “the contaminating power of this world.”
That describes the situation well. 🙂
I think Paul summarized this pretty well in Galatians 2: 19 – 20: “For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
A similar sentiment is expressed in 2 Corinthians 5: 15 – 17: And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: a The old has gone, the new is here!
Thank you, Rich.
Galatians 2: 19 – 20 is a great passage to refer to. Keeping track of what is going on in Paul’s mind is a challenge, but he is very consistent in his thinking.
I like Ron’s and Rick’s responses. I agree with both their comments.
What does Paul mean when he writes “and I to the world”?
I would add that, in the first part I think Paul is stating that he rejects “the world.” I think in that last part Paul is stating that “the world” rejects him. To me it is like two bookends. He is completely separated from the world (spiritually). He is placing complete faith in Christ. He gives his life to Christ, and does not seek the approval of the world, or according to worldly understanding.
I think it is an important point because even if we are to correct other believers, we are instructed to do so in love and always redirecting them to Christ. Christ is Lord and brings us to understanding. When we start looking outside of Christ for understanding, approval, or validation, we are gong to mess it up! Trying to help someone understand the love of Christ, without Christ driving the conversation, will only bring confusion and, oftentimes, misunderstanding that fosters hurt or anger.
John 15:18-19 “If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
Thanks Chris!
I really like the “bookend” analogy! As you point out, there is a great divide between the Spirit and the flesh, and Paul has chosen the Spirit. What a wise objective for all of us!