Galatians 2:20-21 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me… I. THAT SELF-CRUCIFIXION IS THE SOURCE OF LIFE. This is the reason; there is an old life which must utterly perish, that by its death and out of its death the new life may arise. 1. The death of the old life. The life that must be crucified before the Divine life can rise is the self-life in all its forms. Why must man's self-life die? It is the very ground and root of all sin. The assertion of the "I" of the self is the perpetual tendency of the flesh. "I live" is the watch-word of carnalism — there is no sin which is not an assertion of self as the principle of life. Man not always conscious of this, blinded to it. Thus the sensualist may be conscious only of the wild cravings of desire, but by yielding to them he is asserting his passion, his pleasure, to be greater than the law of God. The old self-life must die. Before the Cross, faith and love are self-crucifixion. Faith renounces self and destroys the old life. Love goes out of self to Christ. 2. The awakening of the new life. "Nevertheless I live." This is more than being constrained by any new emotional motive of love; literally Christ was in St. Paul by His Holy Spirit. This is best understood by experience. You know that when you by faith died with Him to the flesh you felt the impulse of a life not yours possessing you, and inbreathing a Divine energy and a heavenly love. Christ living in you will consecrate all. II. NATURE OF THE LIFE THAT SPRINGS FROM IT. 1. Purity. The inspiration of the indwelling Christ will free from sensual and low temptation; it means perfect devotion to God. 2. Peace. Christ in us calms the troubled spirit; becomes the fulness of emotion. 3. Power. If the self-life is crucified with Christ, and Christ is dwelling in us, we have His power to overcome sin. The Cross-life is power, kingship over self. (E. L. Hull, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. |
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