Description
*”The Crucified Life: How to Live Out a Deeper Christian Experience”* is a book written by A. W. Tozer, a well-known Christian author and pastor. The book explores the concept of living a life that is fully surrendered to Christ, emphasizing the call to die to self and to live for God, just as Christ Himself was crucified. Tozer’s writings often stress the need for a deeper, more intimate relationship with God and the importance of personal holiness.
Here are the key themes in *The Crucified Life*:
### 1. **The Call to Die to Self**
– Tozer argues that the true Christian life is one of self-denial. Christians are called to take up their cross daily and follow Christ. This involves dying to selfish desires, worldly pursuits, and personal ambitions. He suggests that many Christians fail to experience a deeper spiritual life because they haven’t fully surrendered themselves to God’s will.
### 2. **Union with Christ**
– A central theme in Tozer’s book is the believer’s union with Christ. The Christian life is not just about following teachings or imitating Jesus but about being united with Him in His death, burial, and resurrection. The crucified life means that the believer identifies with Christ’s death to sin, which enables them to live a new life in Christ, characterized by holiness and purity.
### 3. **Holiness and Separation**
– Living the crucified life means being set apart for God. Tozer emphasizes the importance of holiness, not as an external performance but as an inward transformation. A believer who has truly embraced the crucified life will be distinct from the world, both in their desires and actions.
### 4. **Living by the Spirit**
– The crucified life is not just about moral striving but about living by the power of the Holy Spirit. Tozer writes that Christians must yield to the Holy Spirit’s leading and empower them to live a life that glorifies God. He stresses that without the Holy Spirit’s work in a believer’s life, true holiness and victory over sin are impossible.
### 5. **Christ as the Model of the Crucified Life**
– Tozer calls Christians to look at Christ’s own life as the model for their own. Just as Christ was obedient even unto death, Christians are called to imitate His humility, sacrifice, and surrender. Living the crucified life involves walking in the steps of Jesus, embracing suffering, and loving others sacrificially.
### 6. **Total Surrender**
– Tozer’s message in *The Crucified Life* is one of radical surrender. He warns that many Christians live with a divided heart, trying to serve both God and their own interests. True discipleship, according to Tozer, requires complete surrender to the will of God. This involves not only personal sacrifice but also a willingness to embrace God’s plan, regardless of the cost.
### 7. **Victory Over Sin**
– Through the crucified life, believers can experience victory over sin. Tozer teaches that the power to overcome sin is found in a life that is surrendered to God and that the more a Christian dies to self, the more the power of sin loses its grip on their life.
### 8. **Eternal Perspective**
– A life lived in union with Christ and shaped by the crucified life looks beyond earthly comforts and ambitions. Tozer emphasizes that Christians should live with an eternal perspective, focusing on things that are of lasting value. The crucified life is a life that prioritizes God’s will above all else.
### Practical Steps for Living the Crucified Life:
– **Daily surrender:** Daily, consciously choose to surrender your life to God, acknowledging that you belong to Him.
– **Prayer and meditation:** Foster a deeper relationship with God through prayer and reflection on Scripture, seeking His presence.
– **Living by the Spirit:** Seek the empowerment of the Holy Spirit in daily life to overcome temptation and live according to God’s will.
– **Self-examination:** Regularly examine your heart to identify areas where self is still in control, and repent.
– **Fellowship with other believers:** Find encouragement and accountability within the Christian community.
### Conclusion:
In *The Crucified Life*, A. W. Tozer presents a challenging and profound call to live a deeper, more surrendered Christian life. It’s not a life of superficial Christianity or religious activity, but one that is rooted in the death of self and the life of Christ. It requires a complete shift in priorities, values, and desires, leading to a life of holiness, power, and spiritual intimacy with God. Tozer’s writing is deeply convicting and serves as an invitation to all Christians to pursue a life that fully reflects the example of Christ’s sacrifice and obedience.
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