The Crux

 

“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

— Galatians 2:20

 

I have purposely cast off—crucified— my old self with its earthly desires and agendas. Why? When I believed in Jesus Christ, I asked Him to cleanse me from sin. If I continue doing what I’d always done, I am not changed or saved. I just give lip service to Christ. When I trusted in Jesus, I entrusted my life, dreams, and future to Him. I gave up my right to myself, so cast off my old sinful, self-centered nature/life. In essence, when Jesus was crucified and I trusted in Him, I crucified my old sinful self and put my whole being now and forever into His hands for His purposes. 

 

This means I do not live to accomplish my agenda; I now live to obey God so others may come to know about and believe in Him. So, Christ lives in me, now. 

 

I live by faith and trust in Jesus, so I do not need to worry about my agenda, safety, or physical needs. He will provide all these just like He provided salvation from my sins. 

 

That’s how much Jesus loves me. Because He literally “loves me to death” (by His own crucifixion), I know I don’t need to worry about things in this life. 

 

CHRIST LIVES IN ME.

Christ Loves me.

Christ Gave Himself up for me, so I can be in an eternal relationship with God now and forever.

 

I can trust my whole being (heart, soul, mind, and body) to the One who chose to die in my place. 

 

Yes, Christ, live in me. I give myself anew to you today.

Supernatural

 

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Philippians 3:13 [NASB]

Many verses speak about the change, the re-creation, of a person who believes in Jesus Christ as the Son of God for salvation. Paul encouraged and wrote to the Philippians about putting on the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:1-5). He wrote about being made new in the attitudes of your minds and putting on the new self, created to be like God in righteousness and holiness (Ephesians 4:22-23). With Galatians 2:20, Paul stated he no longer lives, but Christ lives in him. The life he lived was by faith in the Son of God. John wrote in John 14:6 Jesus said he who believes in Him receives new life. Later, in John 14:23, Jesus said for the believer, the one who loves Him, He and the Father will love him or her and will make their home in him or her. Many other verses in the New Testament speak of the fact Jesus lives within each Christian through His Holy Spirit.

Let’s consider briefly what this means for us today. Before Jesus saved us, we realized we did not have the strength, power, or will to avoid temptation. We fell into sin by our weak old nature, our self-centered and rebellious approach to life. When we become believers in Jesus Christ as the Son of God and as our Savior, His Spirit lives in us. This indwelling by the Spirit makes available to each believer God’s power to overcome temptation and be sinless, to gain victory over temptation and sin. Let me state it another way. We can do nothing of our own will, strength, and power to ensure we will not sin. Because of our fallen nature, we are susceptible to temptation and sin. This means discipleship, true growth of our closeness to God and being made in Jesus’ image, can occur only by the grace, strength, and power of God. Oswald Chambers said this similarly. He said, “Discipleship is built entirely on the supernatural grace of God” (My Utmost for His Highest). Just as we can do nothing to earn or merit salvation and eternal life, we can do nothing in our own strength to gain power over temptation and sin. Humans are frail and weak.

Consider this. Though we are frail, weak, and rebellious, God had mercy on us. He gave us His grace, a gift we did not earn. God did not give us what we deserve. We possessed nothing within ourselves to gain a righteous relationship with Him. Paul said it this way in Ephesians 2:4-9,

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loves us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ, and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” [NASB]

The only way a person can have victory over temptation, sin, and death is by God’s supernatural (divine) power. Having God’s power only occurs when His Spirit lives in a believer and he or she seeks Him and His will, and lives believing and acting upon His power. Zechariah, in a time before Christ came to live on earth to die and rise again for our salvation, recorded God’s angel’s words about this. He said in Zechariah 4:6, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit.” Only by living as Christians with God’s might and power dwelling within us through His Spirit can we withstand temptation and not sin.

Discipleship truly is built entirely on God’s grace and power. Nothing we can do can earn us salvation, and nothing we can do will make us strong enough to withstand temptation. Only by God’s grace, power, and might can we receive salvation from sin and death. Only by God’s grace, power, and might can we live victoriously over temptation. The latter is discipleship, growing in Christlikeness, knowing God more intimately, and standing victoriously over temptation and sin.

Lord, I am weak and a sinner. You have saved me and given me Your power and strength if I will call upon You and walk in Your way. Keep me strong. Grow me to be more like Jesus. Guide me in Your paths. Draw me closer to You. You alone are to be honored, glorified, and praised for You are almighty, victorious, loving, and merciful. Amen.

Rocks, Wrecks, and Relationship

“I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith, in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Galatians 2:20 [NASB]

This last week in our Bible readings, we learned Jesus taught His disciples and followers in Matthew 6:33 not to worry about what they would eat, drink, or wear. Trust God. He is in control. If God provides food, drink, and beauty for his birds and flowers, how much more will He care for His greatest creation-humankind? God takes care of His people. We can trust Him so don’t be anxious.

After the Sermon on the Mount, in Matthew 8:20 Jesus told a scribe who wanted to be His follower that the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head. In this chapter, Jesus did not revoke what He’d said in 6:33. He expanded on it. Jesus made a bold statement with implication. He meant even the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head; do not expect you will have more than Me. The cost of being a disciple requires giving your whole life. Did Jesus mean God would not or could not give Him and His followers a place to lay under shelter? No, He meant, trust God’s heart even when He doesn’t give you a place to lay your head. He has a plan and for now it doesn’t include a bed under shelter. Have hope. Keep God’s peace which He gives through Jesus. Do you have peace and contentment even when God doesn’t provide what you need right now knowing His plan is best? This provides peace and contentment; anxiety does not.

With Galatians 2:20, Paul explained to the church in Galatia how he could continue to be a disciple of Jesus even when he had little or no food to eat. He said in this verse, “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith, in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” [NASB] What does this have to do with trusting God, believing He will provide all my needs, keeping hope and peace, and being content knowing His plan is greater than what I can see? Paul said, he does not live in his own strength or for his own purposes. As a believer in Jesus Christ, he had been saved from his sins and was being sanctified daily by the Spirit. Because of this, Paul did not live out his will or life from his old natural self, but with the new life Christ gave him. He identified with and was crucified with Christ. Jesus lived in Paul’s body. Paul had given his whole being to God-heart, soul, mind, and strength. When he did this, he was crucified from his old sinful, self-willed person and was made into a new man by Christ through His life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Paul lived by the faith he had in Jesus to accept when he had enough and when he didn’t, and when he didn’t have anything. He was at peace because he trusted God to give Him what he needed in His timing for His purposes. This trust because of our hope and faith in God gives us peace and contentment. This shows a life in whom Christ lives because of His love for the person. It shows because of a person’s love for God through a close relationship with Him and evidence in obeying Him.

When Paul was saved from his sins, by faith (the faith God gives a person and the faith that person activates/uses to believe in Jesus Christ as the Son of God), he was saved from his sins, his shame, and the power of death. This means he was also saved from himself. Jesus in us as the Holy Spirit gives us the power to withstand temptation and sin. In our old nature, we do not have that power. By faith, Paul was saved from his sins and Christ came to live in him. Each day after his conversion, Paul, by his decision, chose to be more like Christ so he acted, spoke, and thought more like Christ and people saw Jesus living in him. That is faith in action, a daily giving our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength to Him in love. It requires trust and faith in God and His plan for our lives and the world. It requires recognizing we can do nothing to make this world a better place of our own will and design. God’s plan from the foundation of the world is to bring all people to a saving knowledge of Him. Paul’s faith grew. His trust in God grew. Paul trusted God to take care of all his needs. He had hope for his salvation in the future when Jesus returns. Paul had hope in Jesus each day to carry him through pitfalls and to give him what he needed. Even on days when Paul’s physical needs went unmet, Paul still had faith in God. He trusted in Him and God’s plans because he knew Him and loved Him with his whole being. This absolute trust came from peace and brought peace. It brought contentment with it as Paul trusted God.

Consider when Paul was on the ship going toward Rome and the winter storms tossed the ship and crashed upon the rocks. Remember when a viper bit him while they started a fire trying to get warm after swimming to shore. Next remember, Paul did not die from the snake bite, but ended up healing many people on that small island. We do not read that Paul was upset about not having food, dry clothes, a bed, or fresh water to drink. He trusted God’s plan to get him to Rome. Paul knew God had a purpose for their ship crashing on the rocks at that island. He had faith in God. Paul trusted Him. His hope in God sustained him because he knew God’s plan was greater than what he himself could discern. Paul was at peace and was content with where God put him for that time. He was daily and moment-by-moment being sanctified. This growing in Christ, the being sanctified, caused Christ to live in Paul’s body so Paul wasn’t seen, but Jesus was. By this, Jesus received the glory and praise. John said something similar when asked by his disciples what he would do now that the Messiah had come. John said, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30 [NASB])

When we allow God to have our whole being, when we love Him with our heart, soul, mind, and strength, then our relationship with Him becomes closer. We begin to become Christlike. When people look at us, watch us, and hear us, they no longer see who we were before we became Christians, but instead they see Jesus and are amazed and glorify God. All this takes faith in action and leads us to become Christians, seeking a deeper relationship with Him, growing in faith, hope, and love, gaining more peace, and having contentment. None of these is a once-off occurrence. As you daily walk with the Lord and seek His will, you grow, and your life becomes less about you and more about Jesus. You will decrease, and He will increase so that people see Jesus more and more in you.

Do you live by faith in your flesh or faith in the Son of God who loved you and gave Himself up for you? This is what Paul asked Peter in Galatians 2:20.

What keeps you from giving God everything and letting Him become your everything?

Is your faith growing? Are you activating it by seeking God, seeking His truth, and seeking to live in obedience to Him?

Are you living with the hope Jesus gives you and the peace and contentment that come from knowing God will provide all your needs?

Remember what Paul said to the Romans,

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28 [NASB])

God has a plan. He has a purpose. You are part of the plan. He will take care of you.

Trust Him. Have Hope in Him.

Receive Peace from Him. Be Content.

Lord, I am weak. There is nothing in me that can save me from my sins. I realize I need you to save me from my sins, shame, and death. Lord, I need you to save me from my plans so that I seek You and Your best plans. Help me remember when I fear You don’t care that Your plan is okay, and I can trust You because of Your great love for me. Forgive me for when I run off and do my own thing. Forgive me for not seeking and obeying You. Forgive me for not activating my faith in You and then doubting Your love and care for me. Help me to trust you and to have all my hope in You. Give me Your perfect peace and contentment. Lord, live in me so that I decrease and You increase. Let the world see You in me as I walk in this body. You are God and I am not.

Galatians 2:15-16

 “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles; nevertheless, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.” [NASB]

Paul’s ministry extended to the non-Jews within the Roman Empire. Prior to his conversion on the road to Damascus, he persecuted any person who followed Jesus. Paul taught strict adherence to the Laws of God and His teachings given to Moses and to His prophets and priests. With his conversion to Christianity, Paul’s heart changed to care for the Gentiles – people who were not Jews by birth.

In Galatians, a letter written to the Christians in Galatia (part of current day Turkey), Paul taught against men who said Gentile Christians must become Jews by law before they could be valid Christ followers. Those men meant Gentile Christian men had to be circumcised. In Galatians 2, Paul began his teaching against the need to become a Jew before becoming a Christian.

Paul, in Galatians 2:15-16, explained he, Barnabas, and the other Jewish-background Christians with him were Jews by nature – by birth. Even they, though Jewish by nature, God’s chosen people, did not become Christians by the works of the Law God gave them by which to live. God’s laws led the Jews to God to stay in relationship with Him, but did not make them clean from sin. If that were so, they would not have offered animal sacrifices repeatedly over the years.

Paul said, “A man is not justified by the works of the Law, but through faith in Christ Jesus.” He taught that obeying God’s Law through actions did not make a person clean from sin – disobedience to God. Only faith in Christ Jesus justified them – made them innocent and guiltless before God.

If a man such as Paul - born a Jew, in the tribe of Benjamin, circumcised on the eight day according to God’s Law, trained in the laws of God to be a priest and a chief Pharisee - could not receive acquittal/absolution from guilt and sin by being obedient to the laws of God, then the Law did not give salvation. Paul said even he believed in Christ Jesus so that he would be justified (made just, innocent, and guiltless) by Christ and not by the works of the Law. The works of the Law do not give justification – being made right in God’s eyes.

No actions or works we can do will ever be able to absolve our bad/sinful actions. We cannot make ourselves right before God. Even living by the laws of God from the Old Testament cannot remove our sin and guilt so that we can be in the presence of the righteous and holy God. We must each decide if we will believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God whose death and resurrection provides reparation for our sins. Belief is a choice and a gift. It is a choice in that we each must choose to believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God. It is a gift in that God provides faith for us to accept it. Paul said in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not as a result of works so no one may boast.” Faith is a gift from God according to 1 Corinthians 12:9. Peter said this, too, in 2 Peter 1:1.

Now, understanding faith is a gift of God as grace (God’s unmerited favor) toward you, do you choose to believe Jesus Christ is the Son of God? Do you choose to accept God’s gift of faith to believe in His Son and the salvation He provides for your sins? By God’s grace, He chose you to be His son or daughter by the expense of His Son’s life. He loves you that much. John 3:16 says that, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

God gave us free will to determine our own minds. We have a choice.

Will you choose to believe?