whose body on the cross

The Resurrection - as fabulous, essential, all powerful, etc. etc. as it is - does not erase the Cross and its horror and suffering and cost. Although Christ DID take the sting of sin and death, bore our sins and pain, we must follow Him to/through the agony of the Cross. (definitely in a much lesser way - and for many reasons - we do not have to give up who we are and take on humanity, we will not be separated from our Father, etc. - here was the real cost!)

Songs like 'All to Jesus I surrender,' 'The Old Rugged Cross,' 'I am crucified with Christ, yet now I no longer live' are hard, hard meanings, but one who is 'in Christ' will come to this spot and it is not easy, actually it is impossible to proceed to freedom and power in Chirst without the Holy Spirit doing it ALL- here is where these principles and verses like Romans 2:20 and Romans 6 lend their fulness.

Christ did indeed say that we would 'taste the cup of which He drank.' So, those of us who talk about being 'in Christ' and 'crucified with Christ' need to realize the depth of that statement. We must indeed follow Him there. But the GOOD NEWS is that He walked there Himself and goes with / carries us there. By His humanity He experienced it all! Think of all He surrendered - (Phil. 2:1 -11.)

So - 'whose body on the cross?' And how do we 'taste the cup?' I must decide that 'sin must die in me' - not be surpressed - but a moral decision to offer ones' self up and to reckon (count as true!!) Romans 6:11 ( and the whole chapter) as 'mine' and truth. When our enemy roars around and wants to challenge - "I am dead to that" I do not HAVE to yield - to sin. I simply may 'choose' to sin, but no excuses, I do not HAVE to. This is a radial issue of my will.

We say -'I'll never be perfect until I get to heaven.' True - but this cannot be an excuse to continue on in sin. We must yield our wills and crucify them and allow the power of the same Holy Spirit that Jesus lived by abide and live in us. As we identify with Christ's death, we identify with His life. And that is a life of freedom and power and peace and one that glorifies God because it all depends on Him!!

This is a deal!! His life for ours.
The Resurrection life is possible in us. It is a daily thing - a daily dependance on the Holy Spirit - God has put the power of the Holy Spirit in us.

Romans 7 and 8 follow Romans 6. So when we fail, that doesn't mean that it doesn' work - it just means that we 'pull up short - confess our sin and move on.'

we can't - but He can!!