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because it was the Risen Christ he came to know; it was that knowledge which gave him insight into the real meaning ot Christ’s sufferings and death. But here he thinks altogether of a spiritual process which is carried on in the soul of him who is united to Christ. He has no idea of martyrdom before him (so, e.g., De W., Myr.). Nor is any earthly suffering pre- sent to his mind except, perhaps, as a discipline which overcomes sin. Thus Col. i. 24 is nota true parallel (so also Hpt.). The passages which illuminate his meaning are especially Rom, vi. 3- 12, Viil. 29, Gal. ii. 19-20, vi. 14. Christ, in Paul’s view, carries the man who clings to Him in faith through all the great crises which came to Him on the path of His perfecting. The deepest of men’s saving experiences run parallel, as it were, to the cardinal events of the Christian revelation, more especially to that aton- ing death accomplished once for all for the remission of sins. Cf. Rom. vi. 5, σύμφυτοι γεγόναμεν τῷ ὁμοιώματι τοῦ
ανάτου αὐτοῦ. Thisis the “ crucifying of the flesh” in fellowship with Christ, which results in ‘‘ newness of life ” (Rom. vi. 4). On the Cross Christ died, 7.e., the earthly part in Him died—His human flesh. But that was the only element in Him that could be tempted. And, as regards that element of His being, He died victorious, able to offer up His human life without spot unto God. They that are Christ’s are enabled, by His power communicated to them, through a process of overcoming, to die to earthli- ness and the appeals made to their fleshly nature. But in dying on the Cross Christ identified Himself with the sin of the world, acknowledging that God’s judg- ment upon sin was righteous and true, as the Head of mankind representing sinners and bearing the burden of their trans- gression. So, in the Apostle’s view, they that are Christ’s have the firm assurance that in Him the Crucified they have made full confession of their sin to the holy and gracious God. They know, by the wit- ness of the Holy Spirit, that God accepts that confession and forgives them freely and joyfully. For they know that Holi- ness has accepted Love, and that Love has acknowledged Holiness, or rather, that the holy love of the Father and the Son is revealed in its unity on the Cross of Christ. The result of death with Christ is lifein Him. This new life depends on Christ’s resurrection. ‘‘ Because I live, ye shall live 4150. The power (δύναμιν) of His resurrection as experienced by the
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