Identifying with Christ's Death and Resurrection

May 8th, 2024
by Richard Sibbes

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.—2 Cor. 3:18

How are we changed into the likeness of Christ? When we believe in Christ, we are planted into the likeness of his death and his resurrection. This is somewhat mystical, yet it is taught in the Scriptures, especially in Romans 6. How do we come to die to sin by virtue of Christ's death and to live to righteousness by the fellowship of Christ's resurrection? The Scripture says we are transformed into the likeness of Christ. Let us expound these phrases a little.
When Christ died, it was in his own person; Christ died whole and was crucified. But the death itself was limited to the human nature—the human nature died and not the Godhead. Yet by reason of the union, all of Christ died and was crucified: the 'Lord of glory' was crucified (1 Cor. 2:8).
As it was in Christ natural, so it is in Christ mystical. All of Christ mystical was crucified, and all of Christ mystical is risen again, even though the crucifying was confined to Christ the head, not the members. As his death was limited to his human nature, so this crucifying belonged to the head, and the head rose. Yet all believers—all of Christ—as soon as they are one with Christ by reason of the mystical union, are dead and crucified in Christ their head, and they are risen and sit in heavenly places, in Christ their head.
So, a true believer, when he is made one with Christ, reasons: 'My corruption of nature, this natural pride of heart and enmity of goodness, is crucified, for I am one with Christ. I in my head was crucified, and I in my head am now risen and sit in heaven. So now I am in some way glorious and, in my head, I attend to things above. Because the members must conform to the head, I must die to sin more and more, be crucified to sin, and rise by the Spirit of Christ and ascend with him.' The more a believer knows and meditates on this, the more he is transformed into the likeness of Christ's death and resurrection.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Richard Sibbes 'Refreshment for the Soul.'
Glorious Freedom, pp. 116-17 [126-28]
Banner of Truth has granted permission for the use of this material.