Dying for a New Beginning

Science writer Lee Dye of ABCNews.com observed the following:

“Ah, yes, New Year’s resolutions, which for many of us should be called New Year’s Dissolutions.”

In a survey conducted primarily over the Internet, psychologist at the University of Washington discovered that most people who keep their resolutions had thought about it for a long time before December 31. Those who came up with it at the last minute were less likely to maintain their yearly promise. In 1997, 63 percent of 264 people questioned remained faithful for at least two months.

An interesting fact was discovered through this study, however, people were more likely to do something that they perceived as right than to give up something they knew was wrong. Amazingly, 84 percent vowed to start doing something like exercising, while only 26 percent promised togive us something like smoking or alcohol.(1)

The problem with New Year's Resolutions is they tend to "go in one year and out the next."

Well, today I'd like us to consider adopting a Bible verse as a resolution. Some people choose a Bible verse at the beginning of January to set the theme for the coming year. If you could have one verse scripted and framed to hang in your living room for the next 12 months, which would you choose? I'd like to suggest Galatians 2:20

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

When Paul believed in Christ, he died to the old way ofhis life by becoming no longer subject to its demands. His identification with Christ's death left him still very much alive; but now it was Christ, not Paul who was living his life.(2)

Literally what Paul issaying is"With Christ Istand crucified."(3)

This morning in this verse we are presented with three configurations to the Christian life.

1. The Relinquished Life

Galatians 2:20 tells us the Christian life is a relinquished life: "I have been crucified with Christ."

In receiving Christ, we come to the old rugged cross and gaze upon the dying form ofone who suffered there for us. We see his hands nailed fast to the wood. We see the spike in his ankles. We see the blood flowing in streaks down his body, and, deeply moved, we turn aside fi-om the kind oflife we once lived and take our stand beneath the cross ofJesus. We die to ourselves and to our sin. We die to the world, the flesh, and the devil, and we identify with the cross ofChrist.

When James Calvert went as a missionary to the cannibals ofthe Fiji Islands, the captain ofthe ship sought to turn him back. "You will lose your life and the lives ofthose with you ifyou go among such savages," he cried. Calvert only replied, "We died before we came here."

Watchman Nee stated this about his dying to self, "I was sitting upstairs reading Romans and I came to the words, "Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him....** Knowing this! How could I know it? I prayed, "Lord, open my eyes!" and then, in a flash, I saw."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer a German Christian martyred by the Nazis made this comment: "When God calls a man, he bids him come and die."

George Mueller was asked the secret to his Christian life and he stated, "There came a day when George Mueller died, utterly died! No longer did his own desires, preferences, and tastes come first. He knew that firom then on Christ must be all in all."

One man in a church congreation shouted out: "Jesus, what do you want us to do for you today? We've blocked out the whole afternoon to go with you. What's it going to be today? Nursing homes, soup kitchens, visiting widows? Like I've said; we've scheduled you in for the whole afternoon."

With eyes that pierced through their shallow hearts, Jesus said, "Today, I want you to take up your cross, deny yourself, and follow me up that hill and die." "Die?!

We don't understand. How can we serve you ifwe die? We're doing a lot ofgood things down here and dying on a cross would ruin everything that we've done."

Like these church people, many ofus have missed the purposeofthe cross. Crosses were not made for carrying... they were made for dying. There should be no pride in the number and weight ofthe crosses we carry. Their purpose is for our death to self.

What part of you is the hardest to put to death? Your tongue? Your thoughts? Your actions? Why does it have such a powerful grip on your life? What can you do to control it, to squelch it?

Bring whatever it is to the cross of Christ and leave it there. Kill it!

2. The Exchanged Life

"It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." Missionary Hudson Taylor called this the "Exchanged Life." None of us can live the Christian life in our own strength or resist temptation solely by our own will power.

Only Christ can successfully live the genuine victorious Christian life—it is, after all, His life—and when we come to Him in full surrender, He begins living His life through us. This involves two levels:

• Christian Living: Christ lives His life through us, producing the Fruit ofthe Spirit (Gal. 5:20), which represents the character qualities ofChrist Himself.

In a children's church service, a seminary student spoke on the Christian's walk. He presented his message in the first person, or more accurately expressed—"the first butterfly." His dramatic monologue incorporated the following guise: two large antennas with sensors attached to the ends, halved eggshells for his nose and eyes, a bright orange suit, and beautifully knitted wings. He proceeded to tell his story as a butterfly who was describing his former state and lifestyle as a caterpillar. Obviously, he could no longer live as a caterpillar, since his state had been drastically changed.

The message was pointedly driven home. Just as he could no longer live as a caterpillar once he had become a butterfly, so we can no longer live as unbelievers once we have become believers.(4)

• Christian Service: Christ does His work through us. In Romans 15:18, Paul said: "I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished throush me" (NRSV). In 2 Corinthians 5:20: "We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading throiiah us." In 2 Timothy 4:17, the apostle said: "But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully throitsh me."

Someone asked an elderly Scotswoman what she thought ofRobert Murray McCheyne's preaching. She hesitated for a moment, then replied, "He preaches as if he was a-dying to have you saved." Is that our spirit? Those who watch us will know. How appropriate was Spurgeon's advice to a young minister who complained ofthe smallness of his congregation: "It is as large a one as you will want to give account for in the Day ofJudgment." The first thing others should discern in us, Paul says, is that we are servants ofChrist-subservient, obedient to Him; that He is Master and we listen to what He says and do what He commands.

Jesus in His death on the Cross allures me with His love, staggering me with with the wonder-filled cost for me to come and join Him. My collection of honors, recognition, things, even people, fall through my fingers like sand.

As Martin Luther says, "I give up the bright light ofreason for the darkness offaith." There, at the cross, in darkness, Christ's death is my death and the miracle happens. When I open my hand to Christ, letting go ofmy toys which I have grasped with such seriousness, he not only takes my hand, but fills it with himself.

"It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me." How is Christ living in your life? How is his residence in your heart? Are you allowing Him to have the control or are you in control? Ifit is you then Christ is not living but rather you are.

3. The Trusting Life

"...and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himselffor me." "This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith" (1 John 5:4).

Romans 1:17 tells us that the Christian life is one offaith from first to last, for the just shall live by faith.

Isaiah 26:3-4 says: "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever, for in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength."

Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart."

In heavenly love abiding, no change my heart shall fear;

And safe is such confiding, for nothing changes here.

The storm may rage around me, my heart may low be laid;

But God is round about me, and can I be dismayed.

In his book The Christ Life For Your Life, F. B. Meyer tells of traveling by train. He saw a man in his compartment reading the famous devotional book. Imitation ofChrist by Thomas h Kempis. Dr. Meyer said, "That's a grand book." "Yes, it is," rq)lied the passenger.

"But I have found something better," said Meyer, who proceeded to use the illustration ofpainting a picture. He said, in effect, "What ifI saw a beautiful masterpiece in the museum and I wanted a copy for myself? I could try to imitate it, to copy it onto a canvas using my own abilities ofimitation. But how different the picture would look ifthe spirit ofthe great artist himself could somehowflow into my heart, into my mind, into my body, into my fingers and paint the picture through me."

Christlikeness isn't just a matter ofimitating Christ. It is Christ Himselfliving His life and doing His work through us.(5)

Conclusion:

A. W. Tozer wrote, "Ifyou ask God to give you a special message for the openingyear, one that will be made seasonableand real in every exigency ofthe unknown future, you will be surprised how faithfully He will fulfill His word, and how fittingly the Holy Spirit will speak to you of thingsto come, and anticipate the real needs and exigencies of your life."

Perhaps Galatians 2:20 is that word fromGod for you today,if you're dyingfor a newbeginning and willingto be "crucified with Christ."

Endnotes

1. Lee Dye, "New Year's Dissolutions," ABCNEWS.com 30December 2001 http//abcnew.go.com/sections/science/DyeHard/dye36.htmI

2. Howard P. Colson & Robert J. Dean, Galatians: Freedom Through Christ (Nashville: Convention Press, 1972), 39.

3. Clifton J.Allen, gen. ed., The Broadman Bible Commentary vol. 11 (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1971), 94.

4. Green, Michael P., Illustrations for Biblical Preaching, (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House) 1989.

5. Morgan,Robert J., Nelson's AmmlPreacher's Sourcebook, 2002Edition^ (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 2001.