Go! And Live The Crucified Life: Christ In Me, The Hope Of Glory - Galatians 2:20 Series

Go! And Live the Crucified Life: Christ In Me, The Hope of Glory - Galatians 2:20

Introduction – Living Dead but Fully Alive

Have you ever heard of someone being “alive but not living”? Many people in this world exist—but they don’t truly live. They breathe, they eat, they work, they even succeed—but inside, they’re spiritually empty. The Apostle Paul, in one short but powerful verse, shows us the true secret of life—not just existence, but eternal, Spirit-filled life.

Let’s read Galatians 2:20 (NLT): “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

This verse is the heartbeat of Christian discipleship. It’s not just about knowing Christ—it’s about dying to self and allowing Christ to live through us.

1. The Context of Crucifixion – Paul’s Declaration of Identity

Paul’s letter to the Galatians was written to a church struggling with false teachers who insisted believers must follow Jewish laws to be saved. Paul confronts this distortion of the Gospel head-on. In Galatians 2, he defends the truth that salvation comes only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, not by works of the Law.

The phrase “crucified with Christ” is from the Greek s??sta???? (sunstauroo), meaning “to be co-crucified, to die together with.” Paul is saying, “When Jesus died on the cross, my old sinful nature was nailed there with Him.” It’s not metaphorical—it’s spiritual reality.

In Roman culture, crucifixion symbolised total death and finality. No one came down alive from a Roman cross. Likewise, Paul is saying: “The old me is dead—completely gone.”

Romans 6:6 (NLT): “We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin.”

The word “crucified” again points to a once-for-all event. When you came to Christ, you didn’t just turn over a new leaf—you experienced death and resurrection. The old life of sin, self, and pride is no longer your master.

John Piper once said, “Christianity is not about merely being nice; it’s about being made new.” That’s the truth Paul proclaims. You don’t just become a better version of yourself; you become a new creation altogether.

The Caterpillar and the Butterfly

Think of a caterpillar. It crawls, it feeds, it hides. But once it enters the cocoon, something miraculous happens. It doesn’t just grow wings—it undergoes total transformation. The old body dissolves, and a new creation emerges. When the butterfly comes out, it doesn’t crawl anymore—it flies!

That’s the Gospel. You are not a sinner trying to improve; you are a sinner made new by grace. The moment you trust Jesus, you die to your old self and rise to a new life in Him.

2. “It Is No Longer I Who Live” – The Exchange of Lives

Paul says, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”

This is not spiritual poetry—it’s spiritual truth. The Greek word ??? (zao) means “to be alive, to live fully.” Paul is describing an exchanged life—Christ’s life replacing his own.

Christianity is not about trying harder; it’s about trusting deeper. It’s not self-improvement; it’s Christ-empowerment.

Colossians 3:3–4 (NLT): “For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.”

Your “real life” is hidden with Christ in God. That means your identity is not in your job, your family, or even your failures—it’s in Jesus. The true believer lives by surrender, not striving.

Tim Keller once said, “The gospel is not that we live for Jesus, but that Jesus lives in us.”

That’s a profound shift. When you wake up in the morning, do you say, “How can I live for Christ today?” or do you say, “Christ, live through me today”? The second is the heart of the Gospel.

The Glove and the Hand

A glove is powerless on its own. It lies limp and lifeless. But once a hand slips inside, it moves with purpose. The glove does not act independently; it follows the will of the hand completely.

In the same way, when Christ dwells in you, your words, actions, and desires are animated by His Spirit. You are not empty—you are filled with the very presence of God.

3. “I Live by Trusting in the Son of God” – The Faith That Sustains

Paul continues: “I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God.” The Greek word for trusting is p?st?? (pistis)—faith, belief, complete reliance. Faith is not passive belief; it’s active dependence.