2Corinthians 5:15-17 (Amplified) says, "And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake." Verse 16 says, "Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a (purely) human point of view (in terms of natural standards of value), (no) even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a man, yet now (we have such knowledge of Him that) we know Him no longer (in terms of the flesh)." Verse 17 says, "Therefore if any person is (engrafted) in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether), the old (previous moral and spiritual condition) has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come."
2Corinthians 13:4 (Amplified) says that, "For though He was crucified in weakness. Yet He goes on living by the power of God. And though we too are weak in Him (as He was humanly weak) yet in dealing with you (we shall show ourselves) alive and strong in (fellowship with) Him by the power of God."
These scriptures are hard to understand from where we are now in Jesus. When Jesus was crucified on the cross, He became weak (as in the flesh) with our weaknesses. When He became sin, He became sin with our sin (and weaknesses). When He became the curse, it was in our weaknesses that He became the curse (for me). Everything that Jesus did on the cross was through and for the weakness of the flesh which was sinful.
Romans 8:1-3 (Amplified) says, "Therefore, (there is) now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live (and) walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit." Verse 2 says, "For God has done what the Law could not do. (Its power) being weakened by the flesh (the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit) sending His Own Son in the guise of sinful flesh, the weakness of the flesh) and as an offering for sin (God) condemned sin in the flesh (subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice)."
As sinners, we identify ourselves with Jesus as He died in our place. Mostly, we still identify Him in this same way. Once we identify ourselves with Him on the cross and receive and accept that sacrifice by faith, we died with Him in the weakness of the flesh. He identified Himself with the weakness of my flesh so that I might identify myself with the power of His resurrection and view Him not only as a man any longer,but after the Spirit Who raised Him from the dead as in 2Corinthians 5:16 (Amplified).
We've always identified ourselves with the man Jesus. Mostly, though, we've not identified ourselves with the risen Christ Jesus. He didn't stay on the cross and He didn't stay in the grave. If He had, then we'd still be in our sin and weakness. Because Jesus rose from the dead, we also have been raised together with Him. Ephesians 2:6 (Amplified) says, "And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together (giving us joint seating with Him) in the heavenly sphere (by virtue of our being) in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."
This is what the Apostle Paul was saying in 2Corinthians 5:16 that we no longer only estimate and regard Jesus from a human viewpoint, but from a spiritual viewpoint as the resurrected Christ and the Messiah. We see Him not as just a man, but as the risen Christ. Now, as new creatures, we are supposed to live our lives after the Spirit Who raised Him from the dead on our behalf. Does this mean we're to disregard the man Himself? Of course not. But, we're to look to the cross from both sides. On one side, as sinners we look to the cross for the sacrifice of Jesus to set me free. We accept Him as our substitute and our sin bearer. From the other side of the cross (the side where He was raised and given Authority over death, hell and the grave). The side where God justified Jesus (and us) when He raised Him from the dead.
Hebrews 2:9-11 (Amplified) tells us, "But we are able to see Jesus, Who was ranked lower than the angels for a little while, crowned with glory and honor because of His having suffered death in order that by grace (unmerited favor) of God (to us sinners), He might experience death for every individual person." Verse 10 goes on, "For it was an act worthy (of God) and fitting (to the divine nature) that He, for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence in bringing many sons into glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect (should bring to maturity the human experience necessary to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest) through suffering." Verse 11 says, "For both He Who sanctifies (making men holy) and those who are sanctified all have One (Father). For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren."
If we read the rest of Hebrews 2, then we find that Jesus tasted death for us so that we might live through Him. We need to see the man Jesus' walk as our example of how we're to walk now in power, in the authority of His Name, in the compassion of His heart and in the fearlessness of the Holy Spirit Whose been given to us through Jesus' resurrection. As new creatures, we need to learn to identify with Him from the side of the cross that raised us in His power to glory.
After reading the Word and coming to the knowledge of what Paul was saying, we can understand Philippians 3:9-10 (Amplified) which says, "And that I may (actually) be found and known as in Him. Not having any (self achieved) righteousness that can be called My Own, based on My obedience to the Law's demands (ritualistic uprightness and supposed right standing with God thus acquired) but possessing that (genuine righteousness) which comes through faith in Christ (the Anointed One) the (truly) right standing with God, which comes from God by (saving) faith." Verse 10-11 say, "(For My determined purpose is) that I may know Him (that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His person more strongly and more clearly) and that I may in that same way come to know the power out flowing from His resurrection (which it exerts over believers) and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed (in Spirit into His Likeness even) to His death (in the hope) that if possible I may attain to the (spiritual and moral) resurrection (that lifts me) out from among the dead (even while in the body)."
The power of Jesus' resurrection has transformed us into His Image as He is now in the Spirit of Glory. We must learn to identify ourselves with not only the Man Christ Jesus, but also with the Risen Christ Jesus. Jesus died so we might now live His life through us. We must learn to know Him as He now Is. Romans 6:4 (Amplified) says that, "We were buried therefore with Him by the baptism into death, So that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious (power) of the Father, so we too might (habitually) and behave in the newness of life." Verse 5 goes on, "For if we have become one with Him by sharing a death like His, we shall also be (one with Him in sharing) His resurrection (by a new life lived for God)."
Hebrews 13:20-21 (Amplified) says, "Now may the God of peace (Who is the Author and Giver of peace). Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that Great Shepard of the sheep, by the Blood (that sealed, ratified) the everlasting agreement (covenant, testament)." Verse 21 says, "Strengthen, (complete, perfect) and make you what you ought to be and equip you with everything good that you may carry out His will (while He Himself) works in you and accomplishes that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ (the Messiah) to Whom be the glory forever and ever (to the ages of the ages) Amen (so be it)."
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