Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
The crucified life involves not only being separated from the world but also dealing with the self. The “self” here refers to our natural life, preferences, desires, and ambitions that often oppose God’s will. Paul’s declaration in Galatians 2:20 reveals the essence of the Christian life: a life no longer governed by the self but by Christ living within.
When we were baptized into Christ, we were joined to His death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). In this union, our old self was crucified with Him. However, living in the reality of the crucified self requires a daily denial of the self and its desires (Luke 9:23). The Lord Jesus Himself modeled this for us when He said, “Not My will, but Yours be done” (Luke 22:42).
To live the crucified life is to allow Christ to take the place of the self. This means letting go of self-centeredness and embracing Christ as our life, living in absolute dependence on Him.
Practical Expressions of the Crucified Self:
1.Surrendering Control: Yielding every aspect of our lives to God’s will, trusting in His sovereignty and goodness.
2.Submitting to Others: Practicing humility and considering others above ourselves, reflecting the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:3-5).
3.Dying to Pride: Rejecting the desire for recognition, status, or personal glory, and seeking to glorify Christ alone.
4.Living by the Spirit: Allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts, decisions, and actions rather than following our own reasoning or impulses.
Main Points:
– The Self is Crucified in Christ: Our old man has been put to death, and we are now a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
– Christ Lives in Us: The Christian life is a union with Christ, where He lives His life through us as we abide in Him.
– Daily Denial of the Self is Required: Walking in the reality of the crucified life demands a daily choice to deny ourselves and follow Christ.
Related Scriptures for Reflection:
Matthew 16:24 “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
Romans 6:6 “Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.”
John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Prayer Confessions:
Lord, I surrender my self-will and desires to You. Teach me to live by Your life within me.
Crucify my pride, ambition, and selfishness, so that Christ alone may be exalted in me.
Grant me the grace to deny myself daily and take up my cross to follow You.
Holy Spirit, guide me to live by Your life, putting to death the deeds of the flesh and living for God’s glory, Amen.
