Crucified With Christ

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Scripture: Galatians 2:19-21 (ESV)

19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but 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. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

Devotion:

            This is one of the most quoted passages from Galatians. It gives us great hope that Christ will come to live within us and save us by his great love for us. Indeed, such hope is warranted but there is more to talk about here. These words in verse 20 echo the words of Jesus when he advised his disciples to, “take up their crosses and follow him.” (Matthew 10:38, Mark 8:34, Luke 9.23) So we must take up our crosses and follow him.

            There is a question as to exactly what Paul means when he says in verse 20, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” We know that Christ comes to live within us at the time of our salvation, but what exactly does that mean. Does he come in and change us radically so that we are no longer the person we were before? Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:17 says as much. However, Jesus will not force anyone to change against their will. Nevertheless, Christ will work in our lives until we are fit to live in His kingdom.

            Paul goes on to explain that his life is lived by faith in Jesus. Who with a love greater than he can imagine loved him (and us) more than could possibly be deserved based on works of the law. Christ’s sacrifice at the cross for sinful humankind was the ultimate act of grace towards us a graceless race of human beings. Yet it was not a sacrifice without a purpose. Jesus died upon that cross because he loved his creation so much that dying for us was the only thing, he could do to rescue us from our sins.

            If we could be made right and good in God’s sight by keeping the law, then Jesus died for no purpose. We know that only Jesus has ever lived a sinless life. Therefore, the law cannot justify us. We must rely on the unmerited favor (grace) of God for our salvation. Jesus will come into our lives and do magnificent things in us and through us if we will surrender our lives to him.

Prayer:

            Heavenly Father, we thank you and praise you because you sent your only Son Jesus to live and die for us. You, Lord, are great and mighty. You created the universe by your word. You took the dust of the earth and breathed life into it, and it became a living man. We sinned against you, and you forgave us and made a way for us to be right in your eyes by Jesus’ blood shed on the cross of Calvary. Teach us how to live daily with the fullness of Christ in our lives. Amen.

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