NPC MediaChrist Lives In Me By Faith
I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me. That 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. I don’t reject the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!”
The Apostle Paul shares a powerful truth about our new life in Christ. He says, “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me.” This is not just a poetic statement; it describes a real spiritual transformation. When we truly embrace Jesus, our old way of life, our old self-reliance, dies with Him. What takes its place is Christ Himself, living through us. This means our identity, our purpose, and our very breath are now connected to Him, not to our own efforts.
Paul goes on to explain how this new life is lived: “That 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.” Notice the emphasis on ‘faith’. We don't live this new life by trying harder, or by following a list of rules to earn God's favour. Instead, we live by trusting completely in Jesus – in His finished work on the cross, His unending love, and His total sacrifice for us. He gave Himself up for us, a complete and perfect offering.
This brings us to a crucial point that Paul strongly defends. He states, “I don’t reject the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!” What does it mean to reject God’s grace? It means turning away from the free gift of salvation and right standing with God that Jesus paid for with His life. When we try to achieve righteousness or gain blessings through our own actions – like buying certain items we believe have special power, or sowing money seeds as if we can force God’s hand – we are essentially implying that Christ’s sacrifice was not enough. Are we really saying that His death was in vain, and we need to add something to it to make ourselves acceptable to God?
No, God forbid! The good news is that salvation, healing, and all of God's blessings are received through faith in Jesus Christ, not by our works (Ephesians 2:8-9). Let us rest in the complete and sufficient work of Jesus, living each day by faith in Him, knowing that His sacrifice was truly enough for everything we need.
Let's Pray
Almighty God, we thank You for the incredible grace shown to us through Jesus Christ. We confess that sometimes we are tempted to rely on our own efforts or external acts to gain Your favour. Help us, by Your Holy Spirit, to truly understand and embrace that Christ lives in us, and that we live by faith in Him alone. May we never reject Your precious grace or insinuate that Jesus' sacrifice was insufficient. Strengthen our faith to rest fully in His finished work. Amen.
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