 |
 |
|
|||||
|
|
|||||
| >>> | |||||
Galatians 2:20 - Dying to Self and Living for Christ.Galatians 2:20 (NIV) I have been crucified with Christ and I No Longer Live, But Christ Lives In Me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.Galatians 2:20 (NLT) My old self has been crucified with Christ. It Is No Longer I Who Live, But Christ Lives In Me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. INTRODUCTION When we are crucified with Christ, it means that we agree to surrender to Jesus every dimension of our sinful lives - our goals, plans, ideas, and even relationships. We treat these things as though they died with Jesus on the cross. Then we live a life of surrender to the author of life. Because Jesus came back to life, he now lives in us by the Holy Spirit, filling up all the empty places that we have given to him, which all our old pursuits could not really fill. Our self-centered way of life ends, and our new Christ-centered way of life begins. This happens initially when we first believe in Jesus, but we must continually deny our sinful desires and "take up [our] cross daily". In daily life, we must resist temptation and regularly crucify sinful desires that keep us from following Christ. And yet, the focus of Christianity is not on dying but on living. In daily life, we have Christ's resurrection power as we continue to fight sin. We are no longer alone, for Christ lives in us - he is our power for living and our hope for the future. [Life Application SB 2019] COMMENTARY PEARLS Christ changes the heart. He abides in your heart by faith. You are to maintain this connection with Christ by faith and the continual surrender of your will to Him; and so long as you do this, He will work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure... When we speak of faith, there is a distinction that should be borne in mind. There is a kind of belief that is wholly distinct from faith. The existence and power of God, the truth of His word, are facts that even Satan and his hosts cannot at heart deny. The Bible says that "the devils also believe, and tremble;" but this is not faith. James 2:19. Where there is not only a belief in God's word, but a submission of the will to Him; where the heart is yielded to Him, the affections fixed upon Him, there is faith--faith that works by love and purifies the soul. Through this faith the heart is renewed in the image of God... There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ and who really desire to be children of God, yet they realize that their character is imperfect, their life faulty, and they are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. To such I would say, Do not draw back in despair. We shall often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes, but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God. No; Christ is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Said the beloved John, "These things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 John 2:1. And do not forget the words of Christ, "The Father Himself loveth you." John 16:27. He desires to restore you to Himself, to see His own purity and holiness reflected in you. And if you will but yield yourself to Him, He that hath begun a good work in you will carry it forward to the day of Jesus Christ. Pray more fervently; believe more fully. As we come to distrust our own power, let us trust the power of our Redeemer, and we shall praise Him who is the health of our countenance. SC 62-4 Human nature is ever struggling for expression, ready for contest; but he who learns of Christ is emptied of self, of pride, of love of supremacy, and there is silence in the soul. Self is yielded to the disposal of the Holy Spirit. Then we are not anxious to have the highest place. We have no ambition to crowd and elbow ourselves into notice; but we feel that our highest place is at the feet of our Saviour. We look to Jesus, waiting for His hand to lead, listening for His voice to guide. The apostle Paul had this experience, and he said, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20. MB 15,16 CLOSING PEARL The Living Christ Jesus Christ was crucified between two thieves on a rugged cross on Calvary, just outside Jerusalem. Think of it: The very Son of God came down from Heaven and 'humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross" (Phil 2:8). Jesus gave His head to the crown of thorns for us. He gave His face to the human spittle for us. He gave His cheeks and His beard to be plucked out for us. He gave His back to the lash for us. He gave His side to the spear for us. He gave His hands and feet to the spikes for us. He gave His blood for us. Jesus Christ, dying in our place, taking our sins on that cross, is God's love in action. But that's not the end of the story. He rose again, and He is the living Christ. If Christ is not alive, there is no hope for any of us. But He is alive! And because He is, "he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them" (Heb. 7:25 NIV). Hallelujah! [Hope for Each Day by Billy Graham] SPECIAL SERMON RELATED TO THIS TEXT Calvary by Charissa Torossian at GYC 2024 https://youtu.be/n-O1glhHvBY LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY Galatians 2:20 - Dying to Self and Living for Christ. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2023/20230817-1103.html Philippians 3:10 - Knowing Christ And The Power Of His Resurrection. https://www.abible.com/devotions/2025/20250316-1357.html 2 Corinthians 5:15 - Living for Jesus! http://www.abible.com/devotions/1998/19980929-1636.html LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT https://abible.com/links/ |