What does "I have been crucified with Christ" mean for daily Christian living? Setting the Context Galatians 2:19–20 anchors the discussion: “For through the Law I died to the Law so that I might live to God. 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 up for me.” Paul is not speaking in metaphorical fluff; he is affirming a literal spiritual reality that took place the moment he believed. That reality now governs daily life. Union with Christ in His Cross • At conversion, the believer is placed “in Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:30). • Romans 6:6: “We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless.” • Crucifixion language means a decisive, once-for-all identification with Jesus’ death. In God’s eyes, the old, sin-dominated person has already died. Dead to the Law, Alive to God • “Through the Law I died to the Law” (Galatians 2:19). The Law exposed sin and pronounced its penalty—death. In Christ, that penalty has been paid. • Now the believer is “released from the Law” (Romans 7:6) and free to “serve in the new way of the Spirit.” • Freedom from condemnation (Romans 8:1) fuels joyful obedience, not lawlessness. Daily Implications: Living Out the Cross 1. Self-rule is finished • Luke 9:23: “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.” • Each morning we reckon the old self truly dead. Pride, bitterness, lust, and fear have no legal right to dominate. 2. Christ is the new life source • Colossians 3:3–4: “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God… Christ who is your life.” • We lean on His indwelling presence, not our resolve, to respond to family, coworkers, strangers. 3. A continual posture of faith • “The life I now live… I live by faith in the Son of God” (Galatians 2:20). • Faith looks away from self-effort and keeps banking on His sufficiency moment by moment. Putting the Old Self to Death Practical expressions of crucifixion: • Refuse sin’s invitations—“Consider yourselves dead to sin” (Romans 6:11). • Starve the flesh—eliminate triggers, limit influences, practice fasting. • Confess quickly—when the old nature’s attitudes surface, drag them into the light (1 John 1:9). • Forgive—crucified people surrender the right to hold grudges (Ephesians 4:32). Walking in New Resurrection Life • Resurrection power accompanies crucifixion reality (Romans 6:4). • Look for Spirit-prompted opportunities to serve, encourage, and witness; the same power that raised Jesus emboldens daily ministry (Ephesians 1:19–20). • Celebrate grace: “It is by grace you have been saved… created in Christ Jesus to do good works” (Ephesians 2:8–10). Power of Christ Living in Me • Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” The verse makes sense only because the old “I” has been replaced by Christ in me. • 2 Corinthians 5:17: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” The crucified-with-Christ truth births a brand-new identity. Practical Rhythms for Every Day • Begin the day acknowledging: “Lord, my old self was crucified; live Your life through me today.” • Meditate on crucifixion texts (Galatians 2, Romans 6, Colossians 3) to renew the mind. • Invite accountability—others remind us we’re dead to the old ways. • End the day with gratitude: trace where Christ’s life surfaced—patience in traffic, kindness to a critic, courage to share the gospel. Because we have been crucified with Christ, daily Christian living is not self-improvement but Christ-empowerment. The cross settled our past, liberates our present, and guarantees our future. |
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