Galatians Series I am Crucified with Christ

Read Galatians 2:20-21

Other Scriptures for Study:

Colossians 2:20; 3:3, 2 Timothy 2:11, Romans 6:3-14

The phrase“Crucified with Christ,” Is symbolic for a spiritual truth. As we look at the picture… what truths are we seeing? What does Paul want the Galatian church to know; what does God want us to know about this Gospel truth?

1. We are No Longer Under Law

The works of the law, keeping the rules, will never justify a person. If you say that Christ has saved you and you go back to trying to be saved by keeping the law… you are still saying that you are a sinner needing to be saved and that Christ has not saved you.

You are saying that Christ is the minister of sin, because your faith in Him drives you back to keeping the Law. This is crazy! Paul uses strong language in chapter 3,”You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you?” This is ridiculous!

Rule keeping does not lead to salvation… it leads to death. The Law kills, the Gospel gives life. What is the purpose of the Law? The Law was given because of transgressions. It is used to identify sin, to restrict sin, to be used as a school master or as a tutor… to point us to the Savior.

The Christian life is not keeping rules and regulations. Christ kept all the rules and regulations perfectly for us.

2. We are In Christ

A Christian is one who has Christ living within them. The Christian is united to Christ. They are believing, trusting, clinging to Christ as Lord and Savior.

Something happens to the Christian. Christ comes into their life and we are then identified as being “in Christ.” Christ is your home, your refuge, your stronghold, and shelter. The Old sinful self comes to Christ to receive Christ.

Picture: Noah and the Ark - The people entered in the Ark to be saved from the judgement, from the wrath and penalty of sin… And they were saved from the wrath of God. Christ is our Ark. If you are in Christ… You are covered, protected, safe and secure; Christ will take you to safety.

Now: Here comes the enemy, the accuser, Satan. The law has been broken and someone has to pay for the crimes committed. The shame, the guilt and condemnation is there. But what? Christ has taken our place and has paid for the sins in full. There is now no guilt and no penalty. Since there is now no guilt, there is no shame and or condemnation.

When the Father sees you… He sees you through Jesus. Jesus died for your sins. You are not guilty and free. You are without sin-stains. You are perfectly righteous before God because you are in Christ.

This is how God sees you in Christ. He no longer see you as an enemy or as an object of divine wrath. He see you as His child.

3. We are New Creations

The Flesh “My Old Self” Is… Hostile toward God and Is… An Enemy to God. What Died? My Hostility and Insubordination My Inability to Submit to God and my inability to Please God died.

What Lives? The New Self Created by the Spirit of God (2 Cor. 5:14-17). Now, the love of Christ controls us. Now, we live for Christ and not for ourselves. We are New creatures.

4. We Have a New Love

We love Him because He first loved us.

Christ’s love compels and controls us. We do what we do because we love who we love. We are spiritually alive to God. We now love God, and we desire to serve, worship, and glorify Him in all that we do… Not to be loved, but out of love.

This causes right motivations, intentions and attitudes.

5. We Have a New Commitment

Life is about a Person. Life is centered around Jesus. Decisions are based on Jesus. All that we do, we do to please, honor, and glorify Jesus. We desire to seek Him, be like Him, and to imitate Him.

We commit our lives to go His way and do life His way.

6. We Have a New Way of Life

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus… for good works…” Ephesians 2:10

In Christ, with Christ within us, we live out life through faith… and Christ lives out His life in and through us.

This life has now been forever changed. There are new desires and new directions, a new will to do according to His good pleasure.

Christ will never leave us alone. He is the Author and Finisher of our salvation, and HE will be working on us until He calls us Home.

7. We Have a New Future

Now, as we are in Christ, seeking Him first, seeking the Kingdom first and His righteousness… God provides for us, fills us, sustains us, and satisfies our souls.

Your future is not filled with destruction, emptiness or despair. Your future is not one that is filled with guilt, shame, and condemnation.

Wrath, judgement, and hell is not our future. Peace, love,joy and mercy is our future. Heaven is our future. Individuals, families, and churches who are in Christ… have a bright future.

Christ is your future. You have a light and a hope that will never fade. You have promises that will never fail. You have a life that will last for all eternity in Paradise.

There will be a resurrection for you, a resurrection that will give you a glorified body, and you will receive the rewards of your faith and labor… And Christ will say, “Well done My good and faithful servant...”

But for those who are not in Christ. You shall have none of these. You are in your sins. You will continue to go your own way, living for yourself, loving yourself only, and committing to go your own way until you reach hell. You will face the judgement and wrath of God in your future. And you will live with your shame, guilt and condemnation until judgement day… In your sins, in your owns works, and righteousness… This is where you are and where you will be.

But, in Christ… Everything changes...

He is the one who loved you and gave Himself for you. He died to set you free and to make you fully alive in Him.

What shall I do? Believe on the Lord Jesus. Throw yourself on Him. Repent, turn from your sins, and cling to Christ only. Live out your lives trusting, and following Him.

I have been crucified with Christ. Have you?

I am living and walking by faith in Christ. Are you?