It’s No Longer I Who Live
Galatians 2:19-21 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
A Scripture that’s really familiar to many people is this one, “it’s no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” But as familiar as that may be to many, I wonder whether we truly realise what it means.
Freedom is such an elusive concept for us. We want it, we chase it, but few ever really experience it. And I mean that especially for people who believe in Jesus.
Because deep down inside, most of us have this nagging sense that we’re simply not good enough. In fact, the more you grow in your relationship with Jesus, the more you see your own weaknesses and failings. That’s just how it happens.
The closer you draw in a rich, dynamic relationship with Jesus, the more aware you become, the more sensitive your spirit becomes to the things that break that fellowship. And sin … sin always disrupts the closeness, the intimacy between you and God, right?
I believe that God wants to deal with this in your life today.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
Galatians 2:19-21 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
So, what’s God saying to us today through His Word? Quite simply this. The moment you accepted Jesus into your life, the old you died. The old you was nailed to a cross – that’s the effect of making Jesus your Saviour and the Lord of your life.
The whole point of Jesus suffering there for you on that Cross was and is to set you free from the old you –and give you a new life. A radically, completely, abundantly new life. So in God’s eyes, it’s no longer the old you who lives but Christ who lives in you.
If you believe in Jesus, you have a complete and perfect right standing with God not because of what you’ve done, but because of what Jesus has done for you, despite what you’ve done. In fact, because of what you’ve done – that’s why Jesus died for you.
That’s the whole point. That’s why they call this the good news. You and I, in and of ourselves, will never, ever be good enough to stand before God. If we were, who’d need Jesus? If we were, then Jesus died for nothing.
But as it is, we’re not. And what’s more we never will be. But that’s completely irrelevant. Because it’s no longer you or I who live – that old person is dead and gone – but Christ who lives in us.
That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.
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