The Apostle Paul writes to the Galatians: “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth 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” (Galatians 2:20 KJV).
This is a wonderful testimony for Christians because they have trusted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. It is by God’s grace people are saved. The Scripture says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8). The Lord Jesus Christ not only saves, He keeps and satisfies all who are saved.
Paul is identifying himself with Christ in His death. He says, “I am crucified with Christ.” This means when Christ died on that Roman Cross, the “old self” that Paul once knew was crucified with Christ. And this is exactly what makes the difference. Once saved, a Christian cannot continue living as he choose to live by trying to please self and the world around us.
Since the old self has been crucified with Christ, Paul can now say with great confidence, “I live; yet not I, but Christ who lives in me.” Paul now considers himself dead to sin and alive with Christ who loved him and gave Himself for him.
“The believer is identified with Christ in His death.” Writes William MacDonald. “Not only was He crucified on Calvary, I was crucified there as well — in Him. This means the end of me as a sinner in God’s sight. It means the end of me as a person seeking to merit or earn salvation by my own efforts. It means the end of me as a child of Adam, as a man under the condemnation of the law, as my old unregenerate self. The old, evil “I” has been crucified; it has no more claims on my daily life” (Believer’s Bible Commentary, Thomas Nelson Publishers p. 1880).
It was on account of our offenses why Christ died for us.
Paul was fully committed in living the Christian life, and making it known. He declared, “But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Galatians 6:14).
The message of Christ’s death on the Cross defines christianity. It means a remarkable change takes place because the believer in Christ Jesus is separated from the world, the flesh, and the devil, and separated unto God.
Paul saw the crucifixion of Christ as making such a tremendous impact in his life that he could not boast about anything else. As MacDonald stated, “The old evil “I” has been crucified; it has no more claims on my daily life.”
Save in the death of Christ my God:
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to his blood.”
—Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Paul had many great and wonderful reasons for boasting in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Cross is the only way of salvation. Nothing else will save sinful mankind. Jesus paid the ultimate price for man’s sins on the Cross. The Cross shows the depth and awfulness of sin.
People worship God and pray to God in different ways. But there’s one and only one way to be saved, and that is by the Cross. The Cross represents the unconditional love of God in Christ Jesus. The Cross means “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away: behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The Bible says, Jesus “was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (Romans 4:25). The resurrection of Jesus Christ is proof positive that my sins are all gone. I am from sin and guilt set free. Yet not I; but Christ living in me.
Many lost sinners to reclaim.
Nailed to the Cross He shed His blood
To pay the penalty for all my sins
—Geoff Daniels 05/2022
Paul expresses his expectation of hope and deliverance. “It is my eager expectation and hope is that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:20,21).