Alive in Christ
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Galatians 2:20
The apostle Paul states that he lives for Christ, and seeks to live in faith in the Son of God. Paul lived a very difficult life as a Christian, and he totally depended on Christ get him through all his trials, and Christ gave him contentment in all circumstances. We are alive in Christ when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, and we receive the Holy Spirit from baptism. Whatever we go through in life, when we are alive in Christ, we will receive contentment from Christ just a Paul did.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9) We know that Jesus took our sins to the cross and that we have forgiveness; but if we see ourselves crucified with Christ and we can count ourselves dead to sin. We are never perfect but we seek to overcome sin through the power of Christ. Our flesh is part of the sinful world, but we control our sinful desires by the Spirit.
The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you–they are full of the Spirit and life (John 6:63). The Spirit connects us to Christ, giving life to our soul. The closer we are to the Lord, the more content and satisfied we become; and we are less controlled by sinful fleshly desires. Satan attacks us through our flesh, but only the power of Christ can overcome Satan’s attacks with sinful fleshly desires.
Paul tells us, “You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness” (Romans 6:18). When we become slaves to righteousness, we are set free from being a slave to sin. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1). The more we live for Christ the more we experience freedom. The sinful world no longer has control of us because we are alive serving Christ.
Today know that you are alive in Christ and that sin no longer has the power to control you. You are free in Christ and have overcome the world, because you are in God’s family. Live today with no fear, because you are walking in the power of God.
Prayer: Lord, help me to crucify the sinful fleshly nature and to be alive serving Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.