Paul talks about the death of Christ as if he (Paul) participated in it. With this language he emphasizes two realities. First, he emphasizes the death of the old self (Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 3:9).1 No longer does Paul live for himself; he now lives for Christ. Second, he refers to his union with Christ. Through faith, the believer is united to Christ in such a way that the death of Christ is considered to be the death of the believer.2 That is to say, when Christ died, he paid the penalty for the sins of all those who trust in him. Believers will not have to pay that penalty for themselves because it has already been paid in Jesus’ death. Essentially, in Christ, the believer has died the death that their sins deserve.
20 J'ai été crucifié avec Christ; et si je vis, ce n'est plus moi qui vis, c'est Christ qui vit en moi; si je vis maintenant dans la chair, je vis dans la foi au Fils de Dieu, qui m'a aimé et qui s'est livré lui-même pour moi.