I No Longer Live

“I no Longer live”

Galatians 2:20

WEEK 2 – 3.22.2026

Easter is not just a holiday… It is the CENTER of Everything

EASTER declares:

? Jesus died for our sins on the CROSS

? He was buried

? And on the third day… He rose again…the TOMB is EMPTY

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (NIV):

“Christ died for our sins… he was buried… he was raised on the third day…”

But Easter is not:

? just about what happened to Jesus…

? It’s about what happens to us

The Apostle Paul says Galatians 2:20 (NIV):

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live…”

Easter means:

? The old you can die

? And a new you can LIVE

Easter is a big deal for everyone:

- because we all have sin that needs forgiveness

- and because Jesus displayed His love for us on the CROSS

That’s why Easter matters:

? Because Easter is not just about a resurrection…

? It’s about your resurrection

Easter proves that Jesus has the power to bring dead things to life.

But here is the CATCH:

? Jesus won't compete with you for the throne of your heart.

? He didn't come to be your co-pilot; He came to be your Pilot.

For Him to live in you:

? The 'you' that wants to run the show has to STAND DOWN.

? The Christian life begins by declaring The End of Self-Rule."

1. The end of Self-Rule

When we come to Christ:

- we MUST surrender to His Lordship

- there is a new boss

- and it is Christ, not us who is in charge

You can’t follow Christ and still be in charge

On a trip recently:

- I rented a car, it was a fancy “Chevrolet Equinox”

- it had all the features…

- I soon discovered I did not like the car

The car seemed to have a mind of its own:

- if I got too close to someone it would slow me down

- if I thought I wasn’t in the exact center of the lane

- it would somehow take control of the steering wheel and

- pull the car in direction it wanted me to go.

At first, I had no idea what was going on

The car thought it was helpful:

- and maybe it was making me safer

- but I did not like to constantly be undermined by the car

- I did not like the car telling me how to drive.

Eventually I learned how to disable all the “self-driving” controls on the car

In hindsight:

- the car was helping me be safer

- but I still do not like the car

The reason I don’t like the car:

- is that I like to be the one in control

- I do not want to hear input that says I am going the wrong direction

- I don’t want to hear any correction or input…

I want to be the master of my fate:

- I want to do things my way

- Don’t tell me what to do…

- No one is the boss of me…

And I think….

- that is how many of us approach God

- we’ll take Love, the forgiveness and the comfort

- but “Don’t try to be the boss of me”

But God requires full surrender…death even…

“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

It is natural for us to want to have things our way:

- but our way leads us into sin and death

- it is God’s way that leads to salvation, forgiveness, eternal life and PEACE

It is time to surrender to God:

- ask the Lord to lead you

- die to yourself and live with Christ in you

- let go of the need to be in control, let go sin

Freedom and new life come:

? only when we fully let go and

? surrender to Jesus

? dying with Him so we can truly live.

2. Death PRODUCES LIFE

In John 12, everything is building toward the cross:

• Lazarus has been raised, and Jesus’ popularity is rising.

• Crowds follow Him from Bethany into Jerusalem.

• He rides in on a donkey, and the people shout, “Hosanna!”

It looks like Jesus is about to be Crowned King—but then JESUS begins talking about death.

Jesus teaches a truth that runs straight through the cross:

• The truth is that, If we cling to our life, it remains small and fruitless.

• But if we surrender it, even to death,