“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live,
but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body,
I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and
gave himself for me.
Galations 2:20
The Apostle Paul describes the life of the believer in Galations 2:20. The old person we once were no longer exists. Christ lives in us and that makes all the difference. We are not nearly perfect and yet the Spirit of God lives in us, empowering us to put off sin and live for Christ.
I know someone who knows this verse by heart. It is their theme verse, their favourite verse perhaps. This person is a model Christian and one whom I look up too. She came to know Christ later in life, but exemplifies what it means to have Christ empowering her now. Naturally, Christ is her example, and she follows Him with all her heart because He gave Himself for her.
This is a beautiful verse indeed. As believers, we could all benefit from knowing it by heart. Just knowing our old person died with Christ is crucial. The sinner we once were without Christ’s sacrifice and atonement for our sins is gone. The Spirit of God, which compels us to live for Him, has made us alive in the inner man. We live as a new person, alive in Christ,the grace and power of God’s Spirit inside quickens us!
As Christians, we live in complete dependance on Christ to bring this renewal in Spirit, to give us the grace to put off sin and put on Christ. There is hope in overcoming sin because we have the power that raised Christ from the dead, living inside of us! If you don’t understand God’s grace, a common term, think of God’s power to have victory over sin and bondage and live triumphantly because Christ was and is triumphant!
However, the key to all of this new life in Christ is submitting to His Spirit in us. We listen to His voice and heed His instruction. When we sin, we say sorry to God for breaking faith with Him. Yet, as we do this sincerely, He forgives us willingly and empowers us to overcome future sins of the same type.
Christ’s Spirit in us makes all the difference. Can you fathom Christ lives in us as believers? We are His temple. That alone should want us to do our best for our precious LORD. He knows us better than we know ourselves and He will empower our lives if we just ask. Many are too proud to humble themselves and ask the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, who humbled Himself unto death on a cross for us.
Jesus loved us and gave Himself for us. Does this impact you with a depth of gratitude that you cannot even begin to fully express? For the Christian, our souls sing with the joy of what Christ had done for us. We sing in the depths of our inner person; we sing with all our hearts to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords because He has given us LIFE! Life to live on earth with His Spirit directing us, protecting us, leading us, and guiding us. And when our earthly life is over, we have no fear of what lies ahead because we have LIFE eternal!
Do you live for Jesus? Is He real to you? He paid a costly price for your life and mine. He gives His life to those who will submit theirs to Him and believe.
This is a most beautiful passage to meditate on today or any day.
His grace, His power is real to make lasting change for the one who has lost their way in life. He gives life; He gives Himself to live in us and empower us as we depend upon Him.
Won’t you turn to Jesus today and ask for His grace to help you become a new person in Christ?
And sing in your soul for the new life you have been given in Christ Jesus our LORD.
Then say these words, no recite these words with joy along with me…