Crucified with Christ
Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking.
1 PETER 4:1
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Crucified with Christ
In the fourth chapter of the third book of his On the Trinity St. Augustine teaches that the suffering of Christ is both a sacrament and an example—a sacrament because it signifies the death of sin in us and grants it to those who believe, an example because it also behooves us to imitate Him in bodily suffering and dying. The sacrament is what is stated in Romans 4:25: "Who was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification." The example is what is stated in 1 Peter 2:21: "Christ suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. "Paul treats of the sacrament very extensively in Romans 6 and 8, in Colossians 3, and in many other passages. Thus he says . . . that he is crucified with Christ according to the sacrament, because he has put sin and lusts to death. What the apostle is saying is this: Those who seek to be justified through the works of the Law not only fail to crucify their flesh but even increase its lusts—so far are they from being able to be justified. For the Law is the strength of sin (1 Corinthians 15:56) in that it stimulates lust and its contrary inclination even while forbidding it. But since faith in Christ loves the Law, which forbids lust, it now does the very thing the Law commands; it attacks and crucifies lust.
From Lectures on Galatians (1519) (Luther's Works 27:238)
1 PETER 4:1
+
Crucified with Christ
In the fourth chapter of the third book of his On the Trinity St. Augustine teaches that the suffering of Christ is both a sacrament and an example—a sacrament because it signifies the death of sin in us and grants it to those who believe, an example because it also behooves us to imitate Him in bodily suffering and dying. The sacrament is what is stated in Romans 4:25: "Who was put to death for our trespasses and raised for our justification." The example is what is stated in 1 Peter 2:21: "Christ suffered for us, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His steps. "Paul treats of the sacrament very extensively in Romans 6 and 8, in Colossians 3, and in many other passages. Thus he says . . . that he is crucified with Christ according to the sacrament, because he has put sin and lusts to death. What the apostle is saying is this: Those who seek to be justified through the works of the Law not only fail to crucify their flesh but even increase its lusts—so far are they from being able to be justified. For the Law is the strength of sin (1 Corinthians 15:56) in that it stimulates lust and its contrary inclination even while forbidding it. But since faith in Christ loves the Law, which forbids lust, it now does the very thing the Law commands; it attacks and crucifies lust.
From Lectures on Galatians (1519) (Luther's Works 27:238)
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