I No Longer Live
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 verse above scares a lot of non-Christians because of the phrase “I no longer live.” Some people think that their lives will no longer be theirs, and that they will be controlled by a God they don’t know. The term “I no longer live” means that we die to the old sinful self and live in the new Godly nature through the power of the Holy Spirit.
People who are molded by the world, and have little or no understanding of God, naturally believe that they will lose control of their lives. The truth is, when our minds are renewed and we live the way in which God created us to live, we are in control for the first time in our lives. 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). We are either free in Christ or we are in bondage to the world. However I have met many non-Christians who say they are free and not in bondage to the world. These people have their own truth and believe eternal life awaits them, or they don’t believe in God, or they don’t believe in hell.
When we realize that God is the author of love, and we see his love and forgiveness through Christ, then we see the truth about God. When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior we receive the indwelling Holy Spirit. Through the Word, prayer, and Christian fellowship, the Holy Spirit guides us through life with the Lord’s blessings. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).
I have been walking with the Lord and growing spiritually for fifteen years. I can look back at who I used to be and remember how my prior thinking was totally different from today. The person I used to be has died and the person God created has emerged. Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). The old person has passed away, and all things have become new; we have become new and the world has become new. The spirit of Christ lives in us enabling us to see everything, including ourselves, others, and the world, through the eyes of God.
We continually grow in faith, with less fear, becoming more Christ-like in mind and heart, and we overcome the world. We become more connected to God, through the Spirit, than we are to the world. This is true freedom in Christ. Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4).
Today, live free in Christ and be prepared to reflect and explain the free, blessed life that Christ gives us. The most powerful witness of Christ is to reflect love and peace, with gentle words of wisdom.
Let’s Pray: Thank you, Lord, for taking away the old me and making me the person you created me to be. I know all of my relationships will flourish with the new me. In Jesus’ name, Amen