The Apostle Paul wrote in Galations 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me.”
When we truly become a Christian, we are to give up our lives to God’s control. It is no longer about us, EVERYTHING is now about HIM! Far too many people claim to follow Jesus, but it’s like they “follow” Him for a few days or weeks and then say, “Okay, that was fun – now let me get back to my regular life!” Paul said, “it is NO LONGER I who live…” Once we truly give our lives to Him, we are to DIE to self and let God live THROUGH us.
Paul said in Philippians 3:7-8, “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ”
Whatever was important to me before, whatever selfish dreams and desires I had previous to becoming a Christian, whatever I valued then – I COUNT AS LOSS! Now, ALL I care about is knowing Christ Jesus and following HIM!
What Paul meant in Galations when he said he had been crucified with Christ was that HE DIED to SELF when He accepted Jesus Christ. Now his life was NO LONGER about ME, MESELF, and I – it was ABOUT JESUS CHRIST.
The crucified life is one ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED to following after Jesus Christ. To be more like Him. To think like Him, act like Him, walk like He walked, and to live in COMPLETE submission to Almighty God our Heavenly Father.
Paul said “it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”. And REMEMBER, to abide in Christ Jesus, we have to reject ALL sinful desires and ANYTHING contrary to God’s perfect will. Remember in the garden before He was to be crucified, Jesus, speaking of what was about to happen, prayed, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” (Luke 22:42).
If Jesus Christ Himself was willing to be crucified to pay the penalty for our sins, CERTAINLY we should be willing to DIE to self and follow Him! We CANNOT allow ANYTHING to come between us and KNOWING HIM!
Charles Tindley wrote in 1905;
Nothing between my soul and my Savior,
Naught of this world’s delusive dream;
I have renounced all sinful pleasure;
Jesus is mine, there’s nothing between.
Nothing between, like worldly pleasure;
Habits of life, though harmless they seem,
Must not my heart from Him ever sever;
He is my all, there’s nothing between.
Nothing between, like pride or station;
Self or friends shall not intervene;
Though it may cost me much tribulation,
I am resolved, there’s nothing between.
Nothing between, e’en many hard trials,
Though the whole world against me convene;
Watching with prayer and much self-denial,
I’ll triumph at last, there’s nothing between.
Nothing between my soul and my Savior,
So that His blessed face may be seen;
Nothing preventing the least of His favor;
Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.
The crucified life is NOT an easy life. In fact, it is an impossible life without COMPLETE trust in and dependence upon God. We can NO LONGER allow this world and it’s wisdom, it’s pleasures, and it’s foolishness to control or have ANY sway in our life. Yes, the crucified life IS NOT EASY – but it is the ONLY LIFE WORTH LIVING!