Our Identity

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

‭‭Galatians‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I don’t know many verses that better describe what it means to be a believer or the word Christian, or what it means to be a follower of Christ. This is one of my favorite verses in the whole Bible, I think maybe more than any other verse. It describes the Christian life, describes our idenity in Christ.

We have been crucified with Christ. Even just that is awesome. We have died to sin and ourselves we have been crucified. It is no longer I who live. You and I don’t live anymore, our lives are totally different. It’s Christ who lives in us. The old Eddie is dead, new Eddie, Christ in Eddie is alive. The same thing true for your life. You are entirely new.

Every single thing we think we desire, we say, we do, an overflow of faith in Jesus. The life we now live in the flesh, we live by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us. Oh, we live by faith in the one Who loves us with an immeasurable, supernatural, indescribable love Who gave Himself for us, Who laid down His life in love for you and me.

Even the way Paul makes that personal, not just Christ loved us and gave Himself for us. Yes, that’s true. This is collective, but he’s just boasting in a good right way and in God, and Jesus, and His love for Him for us, Paul says, “He gave Himself for me.” Just let that soak in, in your life today, Jesus gave Himself for you. Jesus loves you personally.

But God in His wisdom and grace, did not leave our new life in Christ to overcome alone. It is by faith that the world is overcome. It is by faith that the flesh is overcome and it is by faith that the devil is overcome. When I was baptised into Christ as His newly born-again child, God sent His eternal, permanently indwelling, life-giving Holy Spirit, to become my life-Guide and my soul-Helper.

It is as we submit to His gracious leading and gentle guidance, that sin is mortified and grace is quickened. The more we respond to His gracious leading and gentle guidance, the more we can say, "I live, and yet not I, but Christ lives in me," for it is His Spirit that communes with my human spirit. He is the Source that is leading and guiding my new-life in Christ in the things that I say and the way that I behave.

The more we die to self, the more we live for Him, until with Paul we will be able to say, "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!!!”

Father thank You for this day and for Your indwelling Holy Spirit Who was sent to lead and guide us and all believers through this earthly life. Lord let Your abundant blessings flow from the windows of heaven over my friend and family today. Lord teach us to listen to Your voice and recognize Your promptings. Lord pray that, more and more, Your will, not ours  be done. Lord help us to truly die to our old selves and to live a life fully surrendered to You. Lord use my friend to be the blessing someone needs today.

Father, we love You. Amen !