Wanted! Dead and Alive

TEXT: Galatians 2:20

INTRODUCTION:

I.          Crucifixion – "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live."

A.        Our crucifixion, as does all death, involves a separation.

1.      From sin.

Romans 6:2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

2.      From past beliefs and ambitions.

Colossians 3:1-3 "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

B.        Our crucifixion involves a burial.

1.      Represented in baptism.

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

2.      Burial symbolizes the end of a life.

II.       Characterization – "Yet, not I, but Christ liveth in me."

A.        Christ becomes our purpose for living.

1.      When we are buried in baptism, we rise to walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

2.      We are to let our light shine so others may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

B.        Christ becomes our pattern for living.

1.      We, like Christ, are to be about our Father’s business.

Luke 2:49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?

2.      We, like Christ, are always to do those things that please our Father. John 8:29 – "And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him."

III.    Causation – "And the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

A.        We live in the flesh.

1.      Our physical bodies are described as "our earthly house of this tabernacle."

II Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

2.      Paul’s words, "I now live," remind us of the contrast between the life we now live and our life before becoming a Christian. They also serve to remind us of the brevity of life.

James 4:13-15  Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

B.        We live by the faith.

1.      Elsewhere Paul wrote we walk by faith, not by sight

a)      (a reference to our personal faith – II Corinthians 5:7).

b)      But here Paul speaks of living by "the faith," that is, the system of the faith.

c)      II Timothy 4:7 – "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:"

2.      To live by the faith is to live as Christ directed.

CONCLUSION: As Christians:

a) We are crucified with Christ.

b) Christ lives in us.

c) Our new lives are made possible because of God’s love for us.