I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
-Galatians 2:20
Paul the Apostle said that he had been crucified with Christ, yet he was still living. At the time this was written if someone had checked Paul’s vital signs he would have been declared alive. He had become in Christ a living sacrifice. What exactly had been nailed to the cross? It was self, self-will, lust, ungodliness, and anything else that is contrary to the will of God. Until those things are put to death they will continue to hound us and try to throw us out of the will of God. If a man allows himself to get closer and closer to something he knows is against God’s will it becomes like a rope pulling him in and to his eventual undoing. At any time he can claim the power of God and the lure of the sin will be broken. Once that hold is broken he can keep moving away from it. The one who struggles with some sin will do well to avoid that sin at all costs. Do not go near it, do not walk past it, and do not even think about giving into it. Proverbs 4:14, 15 give the following instruction; “Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.” That is incredibly sound advice and Godly instruction.
Paul said that he had been crucified and he lived, but it wasn’t him doing the living; it was Christ living in him. Followers of Christ are not to live as the world lives. Our lives are based and rooted in Christ. We have abandoned self in favor of God’s will. We have abandoned the pursuit of that which is unrighteous in favor of what is righteous. Spiritual blessings and victory comes as a result of this attitude.
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