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.
You see, faith is the ongoing heartbeat of the Christian life. You don’t just begin by faith—you continue by faith.
Hebrews 10:38 (NLT): “And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”
Faith is not a one-time prayer; it’s a lifetime of surrender. You live by faith every day you choose to depend on Jesus instead of yourself.
Charles Stanley wrote, “We must trust God not because of what we see, but because of who He is.”
That’s faith—resting in the unchanging character of God, even when the circumstances shake.
Faith in the Modern World
In our world of control, instant gratification, and self-dependence, living by faith feels countercultural. But that’s what sets the believer apart. We don’t live for sight—we live for the unseen reality of Christ’s presence.
When the bills stack up, when health declines, when relationships break—faith says, “Jesus, You are enough.”
Our world says, “Believe in yourself.”
The Gospel says, “Deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Me.”
4. “Who Loved Me and Gave Himself for Me” – The Heart of the Gospel
This is where Paul’s words become personal. Jesus didn’t just die for the world—He died for you.
The Greek for “gave” is pa?ad?d?µ? (paradidomi)—to hand over, to surrender. Jesus willingly gave Himself into the hands of sinners out of love for you.
John 15:13 (NLT): “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
The cross wasn’t a tragic accident—it was a divine exchange. Jesus took your sin, your guilt, your shame—and gave you His righteousness, His forgiveness, His life.
R.T. Kendall once said, “Jesus didn’t die to make bad people good. He died to make dead people live.”
And that’s the Gospel truth! We were dead in sin, but Jesus’ love resurrected us. His blood didn’t just wash you clean—it brought you back from spiritual death.
Gospel Presentation:
Friend, the crucified Christ calls you to die—to your pride, your sin, and your self-sufficiency—and to rise again in His life. Jesus died for you, was buried, and rose again on the third day. His resurrection is your guarantee that new life is possible.
Romans 10:9 (NLT) says, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
You don’t earn salvation—you receive it by faith. Christ has done it all. Your only response is to surrender your life to Him.
5. Go! And Live the Crucified Life
To “Go!” in the name of Jesus means to live differently. You are not your own—you belong to the One who died and rose again for you. The crucified life is a daily death to self and a daily rising in Christ’s power.
Luke 9:23 (NLT): “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.”
This is not comfortable Christianity—it’s committed Christianity. The crucified life means living for eternity, not for earthly applause. It means forgiving when wronged, serving when tired, loving when unappreciated—because Christ is your life.
Max Lucado said, “God never said the journey would be easy, but He did say the arrival would be worthwhile.”
When Christ lives through you, even the hardest path leads to glory.
Call to Action:
Are you living as if your old self is still alive? Or can you say with Paul, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”?
If you’re still clinging to control, surrender. If you’re weary, let Christ’s power fill you. If you’ve never trusted Him as Saviour—today is your day.
Die to sin, rise to life. The cross is where death ends and life begins.
Invitation to Salvation:
If you do not yet know Jesus, hear His voice today. He loved you and gave Himself for you. He took your sin so that you could be forgiven. Right now, confess your need for Him. Ask Him to forgive you, to be your Saviour, to live in you.
Say, “Jesus, I give You my life. Live through me.”
That’s the beginning of true life—the crucified life.
Benediction:
Go and live as one crucified with Christ.
Go and love as one filled with His Spirit.
Go and shine as one made new by grace.
May the life of Jesus be seen in you—so the world may know that Christ lives!
“It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
Go—and live the crucified life.
All for His glory.
Amen.
