Living in victory

Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: 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. (KJV)

If we were not literally crucified with Christ, then what does Paul mean by this phrase “I have been crucified with Christ…”? It is symbolic of a spiritual truth: When Christ was crucified, our sins—which He bore for our sake—died with Him. Because of that, believers are no longer under the penalty of the Law. The penalty for our sins was paid for by the precious blood of Jesus Christ. 

In Luke 9:23, Jesus told His disciples, “…If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” So, the Cross was not just a place of death for Christ, it is also a place of death for us—for our flesh (carnal / worldly desires).

When our Lord Jesus arose from the grave, those of us who believe in Him also arose to new life with Him. His resurrection power enables us to live for Him in a way that pleases God. The life we lived before we believed was based on works, but now we “live by faith in the Son of God”.

Being crucified with Christ also means:

• We are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17)
• We have a new love (1 Peter 1:8)
• We have a new commitment (Matthew 10:38)
• We seek to please the Lord in every way possible (Hebrews 12:2)

Every day is a battle to fight sin and our old ways, which the enemy constantly reminds us of. But Christ who lives in us is our power to say “no” to sin, and “yes” to God.