A Fact, A Consequence, and A Design

What is the outcome of co-death with Christ? What is the design behind it? What is the consequence of having this sin factor—the old man—crucified? To where does this lead us?

Well, the consequence is, that "the body of sin might be done away." This phrase "the body of sin" is the same as "the old man" mentioned above. It is called "the body of sin" because the sin factor within us is personified, organized and activated. "Done away" means a putting to death, a being rendered powerless. Since our old man was crucified with Christ, our body of sin was put to death, thus rendering it powerless. Believers have all experienced the activations of the body of sin, and they find themselves bound. But if they have faith in the co-crucifixion of the old man, they shall experience the ineffectiveness and inactivity of the body of sin.

Now as to the design behind our co-death with Christ, the Scriptures again provide the answer: "that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin." Before a believer ever realized his co-death with the Lord, he was a servant of sin (Rom. 6.17). Sin was his master, which means the sin factor controlled and directed him. He could not follow his own will, but was forced to follow sin, for sin had authority as well as power over him, just as an earthly master has over his slave. The purpose of having our old man crucified with the Lord is to set us free from sin—that is, from the control of sin. Believers naturally were unwilling to be servants of sin, but due to the lack of the experience of the being "done away" of the body of sin, they had to do what they loved not to do. However, if we have the experience of having the body of sin "done away," we spontaneously arrive at the liberty of the sons of God.

Hence, we have before us three things: a fact—"our old man was crucified with him"; a consequence—"that the body of sin might be done away"; and a design—"that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin."

These three elements are joined together and are not to be separated. Yet now that we know there are fact, consequence and design, how can we enter into them? Is there any condition we must fulfill before we can experience this co-death with Christ? The answer is to believe, for there is no other way.