I Live by the Faith of the Son of God
Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”
By faith I am crucified with Christ.
Yes, when He died there on the cross, I died with Him.
[Though we have not experienced salvation yet….we were not born, yet…..nevertheless….in God’s sight….I died to my sin, in Christ’s sacrifice….and yes, when He rose again,….I was also raised to newness of life….in God’s sight.
I would still have to be born….and born again, but Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection were so powerful…that they could save me (and all others who come to Him….”whosoever will”) from sin, self, the world, death, and hell.]
But how do I work this out into my everyday experience? Are we just to think that we are crucified?
No, thinking will not get the job done…we must die to our old way of life: our self life. And we must live to our new way of life: our Christ life.
Matthew 16:24-25 “Then said Jesus unto His disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it.”
I deny myself and take up my cross (not some Roman cross) but my cross.
As the cross was the Will of the Father to Christ, so our “cross” is God’s Will for me.
It is that which cuts across my will, and demands that I, the creature, bow before the Creator, and obey.
Then, I am following Him into His life for me.
(It is always the will, willing it. It is not emotional following…though our hearts are present in the act. Nor is it mental following, though our minds must understand He is asking us. It is the will…pushing you into it. Then the will…taking your arm and walking with you into His Will. For it is a process.)
He asks our willing cooperation: siding with Him against ourselves is a great joy to Him.
I must bear my cross till I come to the place where I no longer resist the Lord’s Will in anything.
It is there, my rebellion is ended.
(There are many Christians who say that you can not rebel against God after you are born again.
But the experiences of all believers from the first to last show differently.
We still have our old nature. Our selfish ways are ingrained in us deeply. And it is a process which requires God’s great patience to mold us into the character of Christ.)
“And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
The faith of the Son of God is a demanding, sustaining, victorious faith. It was for Him, it is in us.
It demands obedience. It says that we are to move at His direction, under His banner; leaving behind our old life.
It sustains against trials, sorrows, and change, around us.
It gives a victory within us, for this faith enlivens us when we are weary; it orders our thoughts to see Him in all circumstances; and it never gives up on us.
It gives a victory outside of us, for this faith guides us through the quicksand of people’s flatteries, or complaints;
it shows Christ to others through us…..and draws them to Him;
and it holds us up, with a power that moves heaven and earth to help us.
And it is ours in Christ Jesus.
Will we have His life? Then we must lose our self life…..for He has it for us, if we will.
Preaching, Teaching, and Notes 