May 25, 2019 NO LONGER I
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Ephesians 1:18 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”
If there was just one truth that was most necessary in order to live life as God intended, it would in my mind be Galatians 2:20. When Paul made the confession that he was crucified with Christ and it was no longer him who lived, he captured the heart of what it means to be a new creation. The basic question that makes all the difference is whether I am living my life-doing what I want, or, is my life an expression of Christ living in me. The word of warning for us is that it is possible for believers to live the self life-not experiencing the life of Christ in them daily. Many believers would confess that they are living the self life, but would like to experience Christ living in them in a much greater degree, but do not know how that becomes a reality for them. We can have mental agreement with the truth, but not experience that truth deep within or be transformed by the most sincere mental agreement. We need to know the truths of God in our innermost being. There are no three easy steps to knowing Christ as your life; knowing Christ as our life comes only by God revealing that truth to us. Since God is the one who gives revelation, then what are we to do? Are we helpless? Do we just wait and hope that God will reveal this great truth to us? I believe that we can make ourselves good ‘candidates’ for this needed revelation concerning the truth of the scriptures. First, the all-important factor is whether or not we are seeking Him first; is knowing God my greatest desire in life. “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13. If we are trying to work God into our schedule, then we will not know Him as He desires to be known. Second, if we say we are seeking Him first, then we will spend time reading His word because that is where we learn of Him. Attending church and listening to sermons is good, but not a substitute for personally reading and studying His word-His message to us. Thirdly, there is a connection between hearing God’s word and obeying God’s word; as we obey what He says in His word, He gives more revelation. Remember that we have been transformed, but we are also being transformed; the Christian life is a journey. The key thing for us is that we are seeking to know God in ever increasing ways and we are walking in His ways. It is His desire to be our life.
John 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love Him and will disclose Myself to him.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Ephesians 1:18 “I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.”
If there was just one truth that was most necessary in order to live life as God intended, it would in my mind be Galatians 2:20. When Paul made the confession that he was crucified with Christ and it was no longer him who lived, he captured the heart of what it means to be a new creation. The basic question that makes all the difference is whether I am living my life-doing what I want, or, is my life an expression of Christ living in me. The word of warning for us is that it is possible for believers to live the self life-not experiencing the life of Christ in them daily. Many believers would confess that they are living the self life, but would like to experience Christ living in them in a much greater degree, but do not know how that becomes a reality for them. We can have mental agreement with the truth, but not experience that truth deep within or be transformed by the most sincere mental agreement. We need to know the truths of God in our innermost being. There are no three easy steps to knowing Christ as your life; knowing Christ as our life comes only by God revealing that truth to us. Since God is the one who gives revelation, then what are we to do? Are we helpless? Do we just wait and hope that God will reveal this great truth to us? I believe that we can make ourselves good ‘candidates’ for this needed revelation concerning the truth of the scriptures. First, the all-important factor is whether or not we are seeking Him first; is knowing God my greatest desire in life. “You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13. If we are trying to work God into our schedule, then we will not know Him as He desires to be known. Second, if we say we are seeking Him first, then we will spend time reading His word because that is where we learn of Him. Attending church and listening to sermons is good, but not a substitute for personally reading and studying His word-His message to us. Thirdly, there is a connection between hearing God’s word and obeying God’s word; as we obey what He says in His word, He gives more revelation. Remember that we have been transformed, but we are also being transformed; the Christian life is a journey. The key thing for us is that we are seeking to know God in ever increasing ways and we are walking in His ways. It is His desire to be our life.
John 14:21 “He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love Him and will disclose Myself to him.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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