Christ Living in You

I have been crucified with Christ. (Galatians 2:20)
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​So often the battle with sin can be both challenging and exhausting.  And the trouble is the longer this battle rages within us, the more we run the risk of either tending toward legalism or antinomianism.  Legalism is the idea that our sanctification and our salvation is entirely up to us.  If we are ever going to become more like Christ and, ultimately, if we are ever going to make it into heaven, it entirely depends on our efforts and on how effectively we are able to mortify the sin that indwells us.  Antinomianism is the idea that both sanctification and salvation are completely by grace through faith; therefore, we need not concern ourselves with our sins or even think about them, simply let go and let God.  Legalism leads to a denial of the gospel, while antinomianism leads to a denial of God’s holiness.  The balance is to understand what Paul says in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  When Paul says, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.”  He is not saying the crucifixion of Christ gave Paul a better version of himself, but rather that the old Paul has died with Christ and now it is Christ who is living in him and through him.  He understands that he is a new creation, not simply an improved version of his old self.  Yet, when he says, “And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”  He is not saying he does not concern himself with living for Christ, that he is simply letting go and letting God.  Rather he says “the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God” (emphasis added).  Paul is the one living this life.  He is not a puppet being controlled by strings. Yet, he lives his life by “faith in the Son of God.”  He understands that he is the one who is living his life, but the strength to live his life and to overcome sin does not come from him but from Christ who lives in him.  Paul puts forth the effort to live the Christian life and to mortify his sin, but the source of his desire and ability comes from Christ who indwells him.  Thus, it is not a matter of not putting forth any effort, nor is it a matter of believing all the effort depends on you.  It’s a matter of putting forth the effort, knowing that the effort will not be in vain because of Christ who lives in you and through you.