Crucified with Christ

Points
1. Paul was born as a Jew and not a Gentile sinner, yet a person is not justified by works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ. No one will be justified by the works of the law.
2. We die to the law so we might be alive to God. We do not nullify the grace of God because if we received righteousness through the law then Christ died for no purpose
3. We have been crucified with Christ, we no longer live, but it is Christ who lives in us. The life we live we live by faith in the Son of God who loved us and gave himself for us.

Personalize
Paul wrote: "I 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". The pursuit of a right relationship with Christ does not come from our own efforts but comes in our death. Our pursuits are futile and will end in defeat but when we yield fully to Jesus Christ then we will experience life and victory. We love religion because it promises fulfillment if we do the right things or perform certain acts. It is a practice in what is tangible and visible. Religion may result in action but it also ends in death. The good news of the gospel reveals that our actions are not the way to life but our dying to self is the path to forgiveness and fulfillment.

We come to the Christian life in death. We die to our own efforts to live a righteous life and we yield to Christ's efforts as revealed on the cross. How can this be? Our death leads to life? Jesus is the answer. His death, on our behalf, will lead to life abundantly and eternally. He paid a price He did not owe but in doing so gave us the reward of righteousness that we cannot obtain on our own. Scripture reminds us that we are to "be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect". This is impossible for us and the only answer is the perfectness of Jesus Christ the perfect sacrifice. So when Paul says "it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me", we understand it is in Christ alone that we have the hope to be in fellowship with our heavenly Father and to live the life He has for us.

"I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me". Jesus loved me first and gave Himself for me. His love was not based on my own abilities or my own character, but Jesus Christ chose to love me and give himself for me. I have heard it said that "there is nothing I can do that will cause Jesus to love me any more or any less". Jesus is the originator of His love and he has chosen to bestow it upon us, in spite of our own achievements and actions. It is in this realization that we understand our Christian life finds its source in Jesus Christ alone and not in our own efforts.

Prayer
Lord we choose to be crucified with Christ and to surrender our agenda and will. We commit our lives to Your purposes and plan. We ask that You will exalt Christ within our lives and give us the insights to walk by faith in Your Son who loved us and gave Himself for us.

Created 6 months ago