” I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me…” – Galatians 2:20
LIGHT FOR NOW: The Christian life is not simply Christ helping us to live better; it is Christ living His life through us. The old “I” has been crucified with Christ, and a new source of life now governs the believer.
There is a profound statement in Paul’s words: “I am crucified with Christ”. Paul was not speaking poetically about having a difficult Christian life. He was unveiling a spiritual reality. Something happened to the believer when Christ died. The old identity that belonged to Adam was brought to an end. The person we were in the old order was crucified with Christ. This is why Paul did not say, “I am trying to crucify myself”. He said “I am crucified with Christ”. The cross was not merely something Christ did for us. It was also something that happened to us in our union with Him. When Christ died, He died as our representative. When He was buried, we were identified with Him. When He rose, we rose with Him into newness of life. This is the mystery of union with Christ.
Paul then says something that appears almost contradictory: “Nevertheless I live”. If the old “I” has been crucified, who is now living? This is where the revelation becomes even deeper. Paul says: “Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me”. The Christian life is therefore not the old self becoming religious. It is Christ becoming expressed through a new creation. The old life was centred around I; my desires, my ambitions, my righteousness, my strength, and my wisdom. But the new life is centred around Christ; His desires, His wisdom, His righteousness, His strength, and His character. This is why Christianity is fundamentally supernatural. God did not simply give us principles to follow. He gave us a Person to live through us. Christ lives in me.
Think about the magnitude of that statement. The One who walked upon the waters lives in you. The One who calmed the storm lives in you. The One who loved sinners lives in you. The One who conquered death lives in you. The One who was raised by the power of the Spirit lives in you. This does not mean that we become independent of Christ; it means the exact opposite. We become completely dependent upon His life within us. Jesus said: “Without me ye can do nothing”. The branch does not produce fruit by its own independent strength. The vine supplies the life. Likewise, Christ supplies the believer with everything necessary for the Christian life. This changes how we approach obedience. Instead of constantly asking, “How can I become more like Christ by my own effort?” we learn to ask, “How can I yield myself to the Christ who already lives in me?” The difference is enormous.
Self-effort says: “I must produce”. Grace says: “I must yield”. Self-effort depends upon human strength. Grace depends upon divine life. Self-effort eventually produces exhaustion. Dependence upon Christ produces fruit. Paul gives us another beautiful picture of this in his words: “For me to live is Christ”. Christ was not merely part of Paul’s life. Christ was the life around which everything else revolved. This is the goal of spiritual maturity. Not merely knowing more about Christ. Not merely doing more for Christ. But becoming increasingly available for Christ to express Himself through us. Glory!
INSTRUCTION: Before making important decisions today, pause and consciously acknowledge the life of Christ within you. Instead of relying solely on your natural ability, yield yourself to His wisdom, His strength, and His character.
CONFESSION/PRAYER: Father, thank You for the finished work of Christ. I declare that I have been crucified with Christ, and the life I now live is by faith in Him. Thank You that Christ lives in me. I yield my thoughts, words, desires, decisions, and actions to Him. Let His life be clearly expressed through me today, in Jesus Name. Amen.
For More Light; get the message, “Understanding Salvation” by Dr. John Linus
QUOTE: The Christian life is not the old man trying harder to imitate Christ; it is Christ expressing His life through the new man.
DAILY BIBLE READING: MORNING: GALATIANS CHAPTER 2:15-21; EVENING: ROMANS CHAPTER 6:1-14
LIGHT FROM THE WORD 