A Brief Exposition on
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Galatians 2:20 – New American Standard Bible (NASB)
Paul begins with,
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;
Galatians 2:20a
Here, Paul speaks of the believer's spiritual union in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Romans 6:3-7).
This spiritual union with Christ is the essence of what it means to be born again (John 3:3). Entering, by faith, into this work of Grace qualifies those who receive and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ to be a Child of God (John1:12). Grace has dynamically exchanged a believer's identity from a sinner to that of a saint (1 Corinthians 1:2).
It is a believer's step of faith that makes the truth of Galatians 2:20 a reality in their humanity. Paul makes this abundantly clear when he states,
and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God,
Galatians 2:20b
To be unconditionally loved is the greatest need of all mankind.
who loved me
Galatians 2:20c
is the answer. Only God is the source of unconditional love which He proclaims for all mankind (John 3:16). Embracing the love of God through Jesus Christ fills this need to overflowing. His love is then interwoven through all aspects of a Christian's life (Romans 8:37-39).
The all-encompassing conclusion to Galatians 2:20
and gave Himself up for me.
Galatians 2:20d
is a truth that is established throughout the New Covenant and expounded by Paul in his writings by the phrase "much more." This phrase is the foundation of salvation.
Through Jesus' shed blood every believer is delivered from the power and effect of sin in our lives. It was sin that separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2). The sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross (1 Peter 2:24), took away our sin (1 John 2:2), removing the penalty of death that sin carried. We are no longer separated from God or under His wrath (Romans 5:9).
It was the death and resurrection of Christ that fulfilled the prophecy of John the Baptist in (John 1:29). Receiving the forgiveness established by Jesus is the gateway to entering the spiritual reality that "Christ lives in me" a new life lived in dependency on the indwelling life of Christ.
Unfortunately, we, like most believers, had only been taught that Christ died for our sins. Our experience has shown us that rarely are Christians taught the truth of Galatians 2:20 and the profound ramifications receiving this truth can have in our daily lives.
This lack of understanding and sound teaching leaves the believer with only one option and that is to depend upon their flesh to live the Christian life. A simplified definition of the flesh "is the body and soul (mind, will and emotions) doing the best that they can independent of God."
The result of this beguiled reliance upon their flesh is that most believers seldom walk in the freedom (Galatians 5:1) that comes from depending upon the indwelling presence of the Hoy Spirit (Romans 15:13, Eph 1:13-14, 1 Cor 6:19, Titus 3:5). The manifestation of that freedom is realized by the experience of their spiritual union with Christ which is the catalyst to know the incredible love of God and victory in Christ.
Embracing the love of God and our new identity in Christ
Embracing the love of God and our new identity in Christ has an incredible impact on how we live day to day. Learning to work FROM the perfect acceptance we have in Christ instead of FOR our acceptance is what leads to the true rest Jesus spoke of in Matthew 11:28-29.
If you, like so many other Christians, are tired of pursuing the elusive expectations of 'Christian living,' you will be ready to experience the peace that can only come from embracing the fullness of God's Grace.