GALATIANS 2:20-21: “I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” NKJV

OBSERVATION: We walk by faith and not by sight…or do we? How do we walk by faith? Is it simply by confessing that Jesus is Lord, or are we required to do more? While most evangelical churches proclaim salvation by grace through faith alone, our practice is many times very different.

One can immediately be pulled into the age-old debate of faith and works. It would be easy to quote James at this point and declare that faith without works is dead. Yet, in all honesty, this sometimes makes the whole discussion more difficult. James shows us what real faith looks like, but the question remains.

How do I walk in faith?

If I am honest, I don’t think I like the answer. To walk in faith is to truly live. To truly live requires that I die. This is the call of the Gospel. This is the call of Jesus Christ. If I want to live by faith, I must learn to die.

John 12:24-26: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.” NKJV

The concept of death before life is the very center of the Gospel. Jesus had to die on the cross, taking our sin and punishment, so that we could receive His life by grace through faith. We are called to die with Christ so that we can live through His life. Yet, no one likes to die. And, how do I die to myself anyway?

Paul proclaims, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…” This is more than a statement of doctrinal truth. This is Paul’s daily confession, daily affirmation, and daily approach to all of life. He could bring nothing to the cross for his salvation, and he can offer nothing in this life for his continued walk with Christ (his sanctification).

Paul refused to return to the failed system of trying to please God by his observance of the Law. Yet, that is where most of us find ourselves. We begin to live our Christian lives as if it were a reward-based system. Surely if I do this…God will do this. Surely if I give this…God will give this. God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, so I am going to show God how much I can do!

And then it happens. Jesus brings us to the cross to die. We resist the cross and proclaim – “But I want to live! I want to do this! I want to receive this!” And the cross stands before us and bids us to die. Dying to ourselves is painful. Relinquishing control of our lives is the very reverse of what we are humanly conditioned to do.

Yet, if I want to live, I must die!

• Die to my self-effort.
• Die to my own understanding.
• Die to my plans.
• Die to my dreams.
• Die to my strength.
• Die to my potential.

As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:31, “I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.”

Each day, if I truly want to live, I need to come to the cross anew. I need to reckon myself dead indeed unto Christ, but alive through Him. God is not calling me to a life of inactivity or disappointment. On the contrary, God desires to give us life and life abundantly. Yet, this life, this promise, can only be realized when we live solely and fully by the life of Jesus Christ within us!

When I am crucified with Christ, I live…

• In the power of His life.
• In the revelation of His wisdom.
• In the center of His will.
• In the continual unveiling of His plan for my life.
• In the strength of His grace.
• In the full potential of His resurrection.

I brought nothing to the cross for my salvation except my full surrender and complete trust in the sacrificial death and miraculous resurrection of Jesus Christ, my Lord. As I begin a new day, I bring nothing to the cross except the same. As I die to myself, I can walk in the newness of His life. As I lay down my life, His life rises up within me to do what I could not do in the weakness of my own flesh. And, I find something moving me, changing me, lifting me, compelling me, step by step and moment by moment.

It is the love of Christ!

II Corinthians 5:14-15: “For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.” NKJV

Father, help me to die today, to everything, so that You can live through me today in everything.

In Jesus’ Name!