Death equals life

Justification “by faith” is for Paul justification by co-crucifixion. Those described as “hav[ing] come to believe in [eis] Christ Jesus” ([Galatians] 2:16)—meaning those who have responded affirmatively to the gospel with faith and thus moved from outside Christ into Christ—and having been justified by pistis Christou rather than by doing the works of the Law, are subsequently redescribed (if we assume that Paul is speaking representatively) as those who have died to the Law and been crucified with Christ in order to live. It is hard to resist the conclusion that faith is, for Paul, a death experience, a death to the Law (and/or to the “flesh”) and a death with Christ. —Inhabiting the Cruciform God, p. 67

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Are you starting to get the picture? Death to self = alive in Christ. Real life, vibrant life, real freedom, true freedom. All available to us here and now through Christ, as long as we are in Christ
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