Joel M Bradshaw

 20I 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.–Galatians 2

Paul was going after that either/or again of the work of the Spirit versus the work of the flesh. We cannot be saved by our works. We cannot be justified or considered not-guilty before God be the things we do. No, it must be the work of God. Justification is by faith and not by works.

With that said, Paul landed the plane with a most important verse. It’s very hard to find a Bible verse about your life that is more important than Galatians 2:20. Live this verse. Memorize this verse. Hide it in your heart and have it at the ready at all times.

1. I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST. Jesus’ crucifixion was of course literal and physical. Yours is not for you are obviously alive and reading this. So how were you crucified? The former you. The one who lived for fleshly, earthly pursuits. The sins you confessed and the selfishness you repented from are on the cross. Why not the selfishness of your present? That former you has been crucified spiritually with Christ.
2. I NO LONGER LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME. The Christian is not about the self. The Christian life isn’t about loving yourself, finding yourself, or pursuing yourself. We live to deny ourselves. Our lives are now about Jesus not the self. No longer is the motivating principle what pleases me the most. I am to live as if it is Jesus living. That is my goal. That is my perspective. The self that was crucified can’t be me anymore. Dead things are supposed to stay dead for a reason.
3. THE LIFE I LIVE IS NOW LIVED IN FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD. My works do not save me. Faith in Jesus does. So now that faith is the primary operating principle of my life. Trusting in God is the primary attitude. When it’s not, it must be pursued and lived. No other perspective is more important than faith and trust in Jesus. I’m no longer to live for myself, but for Jesus. My life is to demonstrate the object of my faith and the focus of my trust.
4. WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME. There is nothing greater than the love of God. The famous verse John 3:16 starts with that love. The song we learn as kids is Jesus Loves Me. Jesus showed that love by dying in your place. He was not a martyr but a willing substitutionary sacrifice. He died the death that my sins earned. Same for you. He expects me to deny myself. He gave himself for me. I am to mimic Jesus.

This is a most important verse that governs your every day.–JMB