Christ Lives Within Me

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:

            The Old Testament law caused the death of all who tried valiantly to obey it. With its rules and lists, following the law in every detail was a full-time job. In these verses, Paul makes it plain that there is a new way to be right with God that does not depend on obedience to the law of Moses to perfection. A new day of righteousness has dawned for those willing to accept that God had come to live, die, and be resurrected for our salvation.

            Verse 20 has long been a favorite of gospel preachers and with good reason. In this verse, we see Paul and ourselves sharing in Christ’s crucifixion. Our old nature was put to death, and we have been raised to a new and everlasting life in Christ. Christ has come and lives inside the believer. This is the great victory story of all those who come to Christ. We know that Christ loved us because He died on our behalf. Our faith in Jesus Christ is enough. The work of salvation has been accomplished if we accept that we are free from the law and its many requirements by faith in Jesus.

            Paul explains that obtaining favor with God by obedience to the Law’s requirements is no longer the way to salvation. Christ’s death and resurrection are entirely sufficient for our salvation. If the old way of Torah observance had been enough for salvation, then Christ’s sacrifice on the cross would have been useless.

            What does all this mean for the 21st-century follower of Jesus? It means that we have been released from following all the demands of the Law of Moses. We now follow Jesus and His way of salvation through death to ourselves and walking in the newness of life with our salvation found in Christ alone. Christians are always tempted to return to a rules-based way of life. It is much easier to check the boxes of a code of the law. The way of Jesus looks messy, and at times, our feelings will betray us and try to convince us that we are not and cannot be saved without following those precious rules given to Moses. Let us pray that God will give us quiet confidence to live lives based on grace through faith in our savior, Jesus Christ.

Prayer:

            Father in heaven, we come before you today humbly admitting that we sometimes prefer the law's certainties to trying to follow Jesus. Help us by making us aware of Christ living within us to help us follow Him wherever He may lead us. May your presence be real to us. When our feelings lead us astray, send your Holy Spirit to convict us of sin and repent to follow you more closely. May we bring glory and honor to your name, almighty God our Savior, and Lord. Amen.