I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I

Galatians 2:20 is my key verse for this week's Sunday sermon. I like the King James version of this verse best.

"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."

I suppose it will be many years before I can truly come to understand this passage. But I must grapple with it now. And what I'm understanding these days is that my God wants a friendship with me, like Abraham "the friend of God". Abraham had no law of Moses to follow, though he had circumcision. But he was justified by faith long before he was circumcised. And God wants to restore that faith to His people.

But we prefer to live by laws. Laws are easier than relationships. Ruling over and judging others is much easier than helping them, loving them, or living with them in a relationship. God wants us to walk with him and love him and obey his will out of our love for him, not because we're scared of Him. Those who love him know this, but often continue to live by fear and legalism---either because it's a habit or because we're conditioned by others in community to live by laws. This is why we start wearing clothes, though when we are little we are totally free to go running around naked. It is why we feel we must do things that no one is demanding us to do, e.g., in church or at work. It is why we make more and more laws, even though the laws our country already has are far to numerous to enforce.

Paul argues in this chapter that to get out of this legalistic lifestyle, we must let the law crucify us, and die to the law.

"For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God."

When we die because we are condemned, we call it justice. The law condemns us ALL, "For all have sinned." So when we proclaim the law or hear it proclaimed---as by preachers---we feel condemned and are, in fact. Most of the time, we justify ourselves. But Paul says, Let the law condemn me all day long. It has already condemned and killed me. Justice has been served. I am crucified by the law.

"Nevertheless I live." Though I am dead, I am also alive. I live, yet not I. How strange! I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me. THAT is the key. Understanding isn't as important here as trusting and knowing His great love. He gave himself for me. What can the law do to me? I am crucified with Christ. Who is he that condemns? If God has forgiven me (as my Lord prayed), I am forgiven indeed, not merely up to a point, but in surety for all time.

This forgiveness doesn't mean I am free to sin, nor that I am sinless. It simply means I need not feel condemned if I don't meet the standards of the law (or my own standards). If righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died in vain. But he did not die in vain.

Instead, he died according to God's will. And as we give ourselves to Jesus, we will do the same: We will live and then we will die according to God's will, for God's glory, in step with His plan for our lives. How blessed it is to know I AM HIS and HE IS MINE. Even if my children do something totally wicked, disowning them is never something I would do. I love them and want to be their best friend, even when they behave sub-humanly. God loves us much more than that. He will not disown us for our shortcomings.

But when we know this: He sent his own son to die for our sins, we can hate our sins as he does, and turn away from them to live for him. It isn't the law that compels us, but the love of God.

Lord, thank you for this love. Help me to live in the freedom that comes through Your sacrifice for me on the cross, crucifying the flesh to live to please the Spirit. IJNA