Daily Devotional Details

Date

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Galatians 2:20 (NIV)

Notice these two dimensions of the gospel—the death of Christ for me, and the life of Christ in me.

“I have been crucified with Christ.” The Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me. That was a historical event. It happened in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago. Jesus Christ died for my sins.

“Christ lives in me.” The Son of God lives in me by His Holy Spirit. This is a present-day experience. The gospel is about Jesus who died and rose. He died for our sins, and He rose again to bring us new life.

Here’s where the Galatians got into trouble—they believed the gospel, but then when they faced the question of how to live the Christian life, they turned away from Christ and back to the law. This is the theme of chapter 3, but it begins in chapter 2: “If I rebuild what I destroyed, I prove that I am a lawbreaker” (2:18).

When they believed, they tore down the house of their own righteousness and moved into the house of Christ’s righteousness. So, if they were to rebuild what they had torn down, (that is, move back into the house of their own righteousness), then they would become liable again to keep all the law. They would be placing themselves back under the curse of the law.

Some Christians have the idea that it is grace that brings us into the Christian life, but it is works that keep us in. But if we assess our standing before God by the things we do for Him, rather than the things He does for us, then we have abandoned the gospel and gone back to the law. That is not what Christ calls us to do. He calls us to find our rest in Him.

Do you feel that your standing before God depends on your quiet time? Your experience in worship? Whether God is blessing your ministry? If things seem to be going well for you? If so, ask God to help you find your rest in Him.