Continuously Renew Your Life -- Pursue Only That Which is of Faith . . .

"I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me. (Galatians 2:20 NKJ)

I've been thinking about Bill Gaither's More of You, and I realize that the more of God I want, the less of me I can have. Having more of Christ requires having less of me, or rather the death of me. In order to have Christ, I can not have me. Without getting too theological or preachy, there are issues here that go deeper than merely repeating the sinner's prayer in an evangelism campaign.

Like everyone else, I have observed people who have claimed salvation, but the evidence of their lives did not show them to be crucified with Christ. They were living in the flesh and according to a fleshly lifestyle. Now, I am not being judgmental here, I am simply thinking through the ramifications of being crucified with Christ.

In regard to my own life, I've been thinking about "crucified with Christ" and what that means to me as Christ's disciple. In Paul's arguments with the Galatians, he personally illustrates the difference between justification by faith and justification by practicing religious rituals (i.e. works of the law). And he claims it is a "crucified with Christ" difference.

To understand the impact of my "calvary experience," I must consider my age, culture, physical maturity and understanding at the time, as well as what I had been taught and knew about Christ and salvation. 

How would what I knew then correspond to what I know today? Has physical and spiritual maturity and biblical knowledge affected my understanding of what occurred when I repented and asked Christ to come into my heart, as an eleven year-old boy? And of course the answer is an unqualified "Yes."

"I am crucified with Christ," Paul said. This is more than a simple kneeling at the mourner's bench and shedding a few tears. Instead, the impact of this spiritual baptism (i.e., immersion in Christ's death, burial, and resurrection) is significant.

The great Apostle argued with the Galatians that this new life in Christ is physical (in the flesh) and not merely spiritual. Paul is saying, "crucified with Christ is the reality of faith living. It is not spiritual fantasy." It is the present reality of Christian living, not just what life will be like in our eternal home. But this real, physical, crucified-with-Christ life is lived "by faith in the Son of God" and not by the practice of religious rituals.

But here in the twenty-first century, North American Christianity, it is not about faith versus works. Instead, we face the reality of what it means to live "crucified with Christ." My "calvary experience" was a work of the Spirit, and he immersed me into Christ's crucifixion at the time of my surrender through repentance and faith in Christ.

It is all wrapped up in a moment of believing, receiving and confessing, but it works out over time in a sacrificial lifestyle that conveys Christ instead of me. He loved me and sacrificially gave himself for me. So I continue yielding myself and growing and being transformed. My anchor of faith holds because Christ is the Savior of the then and the now.

Dear Father, thank you for Christ, my Savior and Lord. Empower me to live the crucified life so that Christ is seen. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN

Live the crucified life with Christ. Let Christ live in you, today.