|
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 NIV
Have you ever wondered why there are so many Christians today who are
living lives of mediocrity instead of victory? Most likely, it's because
they haven't gotten a revelation of the truth of the above verses. If you
have received salvation through Christ, you have been justified in the sight
of God, and like the Scripture says, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new
creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" (2 Corinthians 5:17) At the
moment of salvation, you were changed on the inside. You were crucified
with Christ, you died to the world, and you were "redeemed with the precious
blood of Christ from worthless ways of living." (1 Peter 1:18) Colossians
3:3 Amplified reads, "For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died,
and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God." Not only that, but
the above verses confirm that at the time of your conversion, Christ Himself
came to live on the inside of you through the Holy Spirit. But Satan wants
you to believe that you're no different now than before you were saved. If
he can convince you that you haven't changed on the inside, you will live a
lifestyle that's not much different than a non-Christian's.
But once you get a revelation of your true identity in Christ, and you
walk in the light of the truth, you will no longer be a defeated Christian,
but a victorious one. Once that happens, you are on your way to
sanctification, which is a process of growing spiritually and changing on
the outside. How do we live sanctified lives in a fallen world? "By faith
in the Son of God," as the verses above tell us. If you want your behavior
to change so that it will be more like Christ's, then you will have to
acknowledge your new identity in Christ, and you will have to resist Satan's
attempts to deceive you. Of course there will be times when you sin, but
the more you realize who you are in Christ, the more mature you will become
spiritually, and the less vulnerable you will be to temptation. First John
5:18 says, "We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the
one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him."
At the moment of salvation, God equipped you with everything you need to
live a godly life in an ungodly world. Now, all you have to do is believe
it. Jesus said that when we know the truth, the truth will set us free.
(John 8:32) It's my prayer that today, you will begin to walk in the
freedom that Christ gave His life to give you.
Prayer: Lord, your Word says that I should "consider myself dead to sin, but
alive to God in Christ Jesus." (Romans 6:11) Help me to do that, Lord.
Cause me to realize who I really am in Christ. Show me how to walk in the
light of your truth, so that the enemy cannot defeat me. I want my behavior
to reflect Yours, Jesus. Thank You for setting me free so that I am free
indeed! (John 8:32)
- J. M. Farro
|
