I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.
Being a disciple of the LORD is not mathematic, the adding on of one more accessory to you lifestyle.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. 1
This is an exchange—my former life exchanged for Christ living in me. I am not intended to be me plus but to be a new creature in Christ. I no longer live by my former enablings but by an entirely different means,
And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 2
What gives God the right to ‘live in me’? I have placed my faith in Jesus who both loved me and gave Himself for me! To have God love me while I was still a sinner and to even give Himself for me so that I need not live out my life in sin is beyond comprehension. I do not deserve that Love nor that sacrifice. But I will accept what I cannot do, earn or merit for myself and I will in that acceptance take the terms that this kind of life can only be lived out by Jesus in me and not by my own abilities. If I could do it on my own, I would have but I am unable.
I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. 3
The righteousness of God is not in my life by my earning it for righteousness by works would be me earning it through the Law rather than receiving the gift as the grace of God given apart from works. To live as though I was earning righteousness would be living as though Jesus’s sacrifice was insufficient and I needed more than God. Such may not be!
LORD, thank You for the sufficiency of living in your crucified life in me. Amen