The Study Room: Dying To Myself (Gal. 2:20)
Submitted by: Pocket Ministry
"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." - Galatians 2:20
Accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior means that you accept his payment for your sins and that you repent of those sins. You desire to sin no more because of the love Christ exhibited on the cross. Becoming more and more like Christ means that we should want less and less of "us" to be seen in our lives and more and more of Christ to be seen through us.
Being crucified with Christ means that not only our sins were crucified and put down, but that our willful, sinful ways are also put down. As Christians we need to examine our lives daily and put down our carnal selves as we lift up the holy spirit residing in us. From our thoughts to our desires and actions and words we have a responsibility to become more and more Christ-like even while on this earth. The holy spirit residing in us helps us with this process by showing us our sins and showing us what Jesus wants for us - but we have to listen and respond with the right attitude.
Paul is saying in these verses that he is no longer just Paul. He is Paul who was saved from hell by Christ - a totally new creation! Daily prayer and study aids us in becoming more like Christ, and the freedom given to Christians to turn away from sin is the greatest freedom there is.
