9.66 It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me
In the last lesson, we said that the answer to the question of dying to self is found not in our actions but in a Person – Jesus. A lot of people focus on their effort to put the flesh under and they fail. But when we come face to face to Jesus, the journey truly begins.
Let us share a very powerful verse in the Bible.
(Gal 2:19-20)
For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 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.
The first point is that we have died to the law that we might live to God. Many people still see themselves as sinners trying to keep the law to attain to die to self. But the Bible says that it is not the answer. In fact, we have died to the law. We do not live for the law or on the basis of the law. We do not die to self by our efforts.
So what is the answer? The Bible says that we have been crucified with Christ. That old man died with Christ. And we have been resurrected into newness of life with Christ. This is why Paul says that, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” He is conscious that the old man is dead and he is a new creation.
He does not have to struggle with that which is dead; as long as he lives on the basis of the new creation. Sure he is still in the body and he is still in the flesh. He is not in heaven yet. But though he is still in the flesh, he lives by faith in the Son of God.
Likewise, how do we live as a new creation in Christ? By faith! By faith in the Son of God! So the Christian life is not one where a believer struggles with the old man. The old man has died. It is a struggle or fight of faith – where the believer struggles with believing his identity as a new creation in Christ. It is a struggle of believing that Christ lives in the believer.
So the key to dying to self is not to kill that old man. It is to believe that the old man is already dead because of Christ. It is to start walking by faith on the basis of the finished work of the cross. When we walk by faith, we will experience resurrection power. We will find that it is no longer we who live, but Christ lives is us and through us.
Announcement: The next Grace Meeting will be held on Thursday, 29th May 7.30pm, Singapore. Please contact Jeffrey at 81119307 if you wish to join us for fellowship. We meet every last Thursday of the month.
Let us share a very powerful verse in the Bible.
(Gal 2:19-20)
For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 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.
The first point is that we have died to the law that we might live to God. Many people still see themselves as sinners trying to keep the law to attain to die to self. But the Bible says that it is not the answer. In fact, we have died to the law. We do not live for the law or on the basis of the law. We do not die to self by our efforts.
So what is the answer? The Bible says that we have been crucified with Christ. That old man died with Christ. And we have been resurrected into newness of life with Christ. This is why Paul says that, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” He is conscious that the old man is dead and he is a new creation.
He does not have to struggle with that which is dead; as long as he lives on the basis of the new creation. Sure he is still in the body and he is still in the flesh. He is not in heaven yet. But though he is still in the flesh, he lives by faith in the Son of God.
Likewise, how do we live as a new creation in Christ? By faith! By faith in the Son of God! So the Christian life is not one where a believer struggles with the old man. The old man has died. It is a struggle or fight of faith – where the believer struggles with believing his identity as a new creation in Christ. It is a struggle of believing that Christ lives in the believer.
So the key to dying to self is not to kill that old man. It is to believe that the old man is already dead because of Christ. It is to start walking by faith on the basis of the finished work of the cross. When we walk by faith, we will experience resurrection power. We will find that it is no longer we who live, but Christ lives is us and through us.
Announcement: The next Grace Meeting will be held on Thursday, 29th May 7.30pm, Singapore. Please contact Jeffrey at 81119307 if you wish to join us for fellowship. We meet every last Thursday of the month.
posted by Joshua Lye @ 11:21 PM
<< Home