Renewing Your Mind: Episode Summary – "Crucified with Christ"
Podcast Information:
- Title: Renewing Your Mind
- Host/Author: Ligonier Ministries
- Description: Renewing Your Mind is the daily podcast of Ligonier Ministries. R.C. Sproul launched this outreach to help Christians gain a deeper understanding of who God is as their minds are renewed according to His Word. Listen to today’s message to dig deeper into Scripture and apply its timeless truth to your life.
- Episode: Crucified with Christ
- Release Date: July 29, 2025
Introduction to Union with Christ
In the episode titled "Crucified with Christ," Sinclair Ferguson delves deeply into the profound theological concept of the Christian's union with Christ. The discussion is anchored in Galatians 2:20, where Paul articulates the believer's intimate connection with Jesus Christ.
Notable Quote:
"These amazing words of Paul that in a way nothing seems to prepare you for. When he says, 'I have been crucified with Christ,' it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me and the life I now live in the flesh."
— Sinclair Ferguson [01:02]
Exposition of Galatians 2:20
Ferguson emphasizes the significance of Galatians 2:20, highlighting how Paul succinctly encapsulates the Gospel through four pivotal prepositional phrases:
- I have been crucified with Christ
- Christ lives in me
- I live by faith
- He gave himself for me
Notable Quote:
"I'm not sure there's another verse in the whole of the New Testament where the whole Gospel is summarized by the use of four different prepositions."
— Sinclair Ferguson [01:20]
The Four Prepositions: Unpacking the Gospel
Ferguson breaks down each prepositional phrase to uncover the depths of the Gospel message:
- He gave Himself for me: Emphasizes the personal and sacrificial love of Christ.
- I live by faith in the Son of God: Highlights the believer's reliance on Christ.
- I have been crucified with Christ: Illustrates the believer's identification with Christ's death.
- Christ lives in me: Denotes the ongoing presence and life of Christ within the believer.
Notable Quote:
"He is saying, this is the one to whom you are united."
— Sinclair Ferguson [05:15]
Measuring the Greatness of God's Love
Ferguson explores how Paul measures love by the greatness and dignity of the lover, and the distance between the lover and the loved one. He draws parallels to the Cinderella story to illustrate the overwhelming love of the Prince for Cinderella, a poor girl rather than a princess.
Notable Quote:
"We measure the greatness of the love by the greatness and dignity of the lover... there is no greater dignity. That's what's so astonishing to the apostle. It's the Son of God who loved me."
— Sinclair Ferguson [09:30]
Assurance of Christ’s Love Through His Sacrifice
Addressing common doubts among Christians regarding God's love, especially during hardships, Ferguson reiterates that assurance comes not from life's circumstances but from Christ's sacrificial love.
Notable Quote:
"The Bible never tells you to believe that Jesus loves you because good things are happening in your life. The Bible tells you to believe that Jesus loves you because he gave Himself for you."
— Sinclair Ferguson [15:40]
Living by Faith in the Son of God
Ferguson delves into the nature of faith, describing it as an amalgam of knowledge, assent, and trust. He stresses that believers live not by their own faith but by the faith in the Son of God who sustains them.
Notable Quote:
"He’s saying, it’s not my faith that sustains me, it’s the object of my faith that sustains me."
— Sinclair Ferguson [18:25]
Parsing Galatians 2:20: Tense, Voice, and Mood
To fully grasp Paul's statement, Ferguson parses the verse by analyzing its grammatical components:
- Tense: Past perfect – "I have been crucified with Christ" signifies a completed action.
- Voice: Passive – indicating that the crucifixion was something that happened to the believer.
- Mood: Indicative – a declarative statement of fact, not a command.
Notable Quote:
"This is a statement about something that has happened to us in the past when we became united to Jesus Christ."
— Sinclair Ferguson [20:10]
Identity in Christ vs. Worldly Identity
Ferguson contrasts the transient nature of worldly identities with the stable, unchanging identity of being united to Christ. He emphasizes that true Christian identity is found in the believer's union with the crucified and risen Lord.
Notable Quote:
"The person who takes up the cross and follows him is like the person who puts his hand to the plow and does not look back to that old life."
— Sinclair Ferguson [22:00]
Practical Implications for Christian Life and Assurance
Concluding his exposition, Ferguson encourages believers to internalize their identity in Christ. By recognizing that they have been crucified with Christ and that Christ lives within them, Christians can find assurance and a steadfast identity irrespective of life's fluctuating circumstances.
Notable Quote:
"Salvation is so big, because that's who you are. Christian. What do you believe about yourself? I've been crucified with Christ, and yet I live. And yet not I, but Christ lives in me."
— Sinclair Ferguson [23:00]
Conclusion
In "Crucified with Christ," Sinclair Ferguson offers a profound exploration of Galatians 2:20, illuminating the depth of the believer's union with Christ. By dissecting the Apostle Paul's declaration, Ferguson provides listeners with a richer understanding of their identity in Christ, the assurance of God's unwavering love, and the transformative power of living by faith. This episode serves as a valuable resource for Christians seeking to deepen their comprehension of foundational Gospel truths and apply them to their daily lives.