Let us read from Galatians 2:20, “ I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who lives, 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.” There are many ways that we have an identity of our own – as a person and as an individual. Let us look at some verses in Galatians to understand the context in which Paul speaks these words. In Galatians 1:6-8 we read, “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!” In Galatians 6:12-13, “Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh.” From these verses, we see that Paul is talking to the Galatians when something came up in the church. The people were giving more emphasis on the law. And this is the context where Paul says these verses that we first read.
There is no longer my identity now, but God has a new identity planned for me. Slowly and steadily God wants us to be in that state where it Christ who lives in us. There is a daily dying that is to happen. When a fleshly desire comes up, we can be reminded by this verse that it is no longer we our self that lives, but Christ living through us. In 1 John we read that it is our faith that helps us to overcome this world. We can say this word in faith. In Galatians 5:16 we read that the way that we can overcome the desire of the flesh is by walking in the Spirit.
God loves everyone in the world and He sent His son for all. But this verse that we read is for those who personally take this gift as their own. When we say we have been crucified with Christ, we agree that all my sins have also been crucified with Christ. There is no exception for any sin that we have done; they have all been crucified with Christ. By being crucified with Christ, we are saved from the penalty of sin. When we confess this, God gives us a new life – a new life in Christ. This new life where Christ lives in us is a life of victory over sin. This is the life that Paul is testifying of, and this is the life that can be ours if we submit ourselves to be crucified with Christ. Let us submit ourselves to these words.
God bless us all.
