CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST – I LIVE- CHRIST LIVES IN ME GALATIANS 2:20

Paul made the extraordinary claim that he had been crucified with Christ, His Messiah. Prior to his dramatic, Damascus conversion he had refuted the death of the Jewish Messiah, and certainly His resurrection. Now, he writes that when the Lord Jesus hung on Calvary’s cross he, Paul, had shared that hideous, redeeming death. You, too, were crucified with Him.

‘Crucified with Christ’ were two blaspheming thieves, until one broken-heartedly turned , asking forgiveness. "Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom," for ( Christ is Prophet, Priest and King ) ‘. So, a converted thief was crucified with the Lord. Paul too enjoyed the immense benefit of His sufferings. Many kings, presidents, generals and common people like we are, have shared His royal company. We are crucified with Him

‘Nevertheless’ is a lever on which great truth hangs. We in the 20^th century ( soon to be 21^st ) are privileged to associate with our dear Saviour in His death. .

‘I live ‘ appears to be contradictory, for while Paul is dead , yet he is alive. How can this be? The world cannot understand this. It is indisputable. You are dead – yet you are gloriously alive.

‘Yet not I ‘for the old ‘I’ was judicially dealt with by our great Lord when He hung on the cross. That can only be good for us, for our University training highly valued the ego or the self life, which we thought to be sufficient for every hour. Now Paul teaches that it has died. Oh, what a triumph when our Lord died. WE must now regard our old life as dead.

‘ But Christ lives in Me’was God’s masterpiece for we were born again or regenerated. Regardless of our vigour or strength or frailty, the risen Son of God lives in us. Whether we are illiterate or college-trained, young or old, wealthy or poor, male or female, the miracle of the indwelling Christ should energise us. Paul in Colossians 1:27 writes that ‘Christ in you is the hope of glory.’ A.W.Tozer and A.B.Simpson spoke often on this theme.

‘The life that I now live in the flesh’ is the natural life of a full-blooded person, with normal senses of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch, while his appetites of thirst, hunger, sleep, sexual satisfaction within marriage bonds, and self-recognition show his manhood or womanhood. Paul was completely changed by Christ’s occupation of his life. Are you? The indwelling Saviour lives in normal people with everyday experiences. All is new.

‘I I live by the faith of the Son of God’ is an extraordinary life, for the faith is not Paul’s but Christ’s. It is not our’s but our Lord’s. Many say that they envy us our faith, when they too should receive from the same Lord His special gift. Christ’s faith is heavenly, not earthly. How precious for a believer to possess the faith of God’s dear Son, which replaces our great limitation with His illimitable faith resources.

‘Who loved me’ is the secret of the bride of Christ, whose Bridegroom went to the cross on her behalf. The Greek ‘agapeo’ demands a love that will die for the beloved if need be.

‘And gave Himself for me’ shows the sacrifice of God’s beloved One for Paul – and for you . He gave totally when He surrendered His life to the ungodly political and religious rulers, but especially to the eternal Father who accepted the death of His Son to cover our sin. Thus, He opened the door for forgiveness of our sin, the cleansing of our hearts and our reconciliation with the eternal God.

Do memorise Galatians 2:20.