Galatians 2:20 Life of Faith

"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."

All is now faith. The Great Exchange has changed our life in many ways and one of them being that faith now anchors and interprets our fleshly life experience. I appreciate Paul referring to his life in the flesh - that the Christian doesn't exist on some parallel universe but is very active in this world, in the flesh.

I think here that Paul is firstly reaffirming the Christian justification, that it is by faith (see verses 15-18). But he also speaks here of a continual life of faith. In verse 19 he says that we died to the law so that we might.."live to God." And so, I think I can take accurate liberty here to say that if we do not accept the grace of God, or if we cling to a righteousness of our own, then we cannot live to God. We live as accursed.

So I ask myself - what does this mean, practically, everyday? I ask because I believe there must be a practical reality to the truths we confess with our mouths.

1. I've mentioned this before, I have to assure myself by preaching to myself that my righteousness is not my own, not based on my actions, good or bad, that it lies in Christ alone. This is a basic truth which our whole christian life experience will flow out of (I think!). 
2. That Satan is very active in the world and condemns us. His first line of attack is his oldest line in the book, literally..."Did God actually say? (Gen.3)" Oh yes, any reason to doubt God's love, His truthfulness and power, and promise to save is NOT from God. It is from the evil one...
3. This last one I'll mention is one I'm only beginning to learn...I must confess my complete inability to obey God without his supernatural empowering of the Holy Spirit. For me this means boasting in my weakness and futility of flesh and asking to Him clothe me with his Spirit and go before me and keep me from the evil one. I need the Helper.

These aren't 3 steps to a perfect life! These are first, truths, and second, truths that I am weak in understanding. So everyone has different places that Satan will attack. But let us continue in our life of faith and be thankful for for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken - glory!

Galatians 2:20 - The Great Exchange

"It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me..."

The Great Exchange. This is a fundamental truth, not necessarily according to human understanding for who can understand such high things, but as a literal heavenly truth of the gospel. I am no longer the center of myself, my ego has been replaced with the fullness of Christ! This is the most amazing truth ever revealed. While this truth was hinted at in the old testament it was only through the holy apostles and prophets that it would become known to the Christian. And oh what stumbling block to the Jew...for, we can never, in no way, nadda, approve ourselves to God by trying to be good or by heritage. It is this particular law and universal law that we must not fall back into, warns Paul.

To make much of ourselves is our human tendency and here in the States we are brought up to be individualist and self sufficient. We are taught that good things come by hard work. While this is fine in some earthly practical sense as the Proverbs make that clear, it must be violently opposed in our faith. I can think of nothing more offensive to God than to assume a righteousness of my own. But it's a natural tendency to fall back into this thinking for me. And I'll remain a babe in faith until I can think less of myself and of Jesus more (Phillipians 3). God help me!

But what joy and peace: when God looks at me he sees Jesus, in true righteousness and holiness! And this is not conditional on my works ever, good works or sins. It's this truth that I like to remind myself of before praying, or reading scripture or sharing the gospel, these are fruits of the Great Exchange. And when I sin...my first thought is to be something like 'grace in which I stand. Sin doesn't belong there." Another fruit of the Great Exchange: no condemnation.

Some people have never heard of this truth...

Galatians 2:20

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. The life that I now live I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Gal. 2:20

What a wonderfully succinct verse! I've loved this verse for awhile but have not feasted on it. I think I've only nibbled at it as I've feabily nibbled at many truths of scripture - enjoying the meat but not digging into the marrow! But this is verse worth spending time on because its truths are the truths of the gospel. Its truths are the truths that transcends the Jewish tradition of laws, right ways and also against the universal laws to which we all ultimately fail in acheiving. It's the truth that Paul sounds here that is trumpeted in Romans 3 - the solution to the universal problem! A righteousness earned by...Christ, not us? His righteousness, not ours. I think this little verse lays it out quite well to help us practically understand the truths of the Gospel. Today I will focus on the first sentence:

Implications knowing that. "I have been crucified with Christ..."

The 'I' that was, is no longer. It was killed. But here I am...alive sure enough. But in what way? Paul said somewhere that he no longer considers anyone according to the flesh - but only spiritually. And Paul himself, first to admit his being the worst of sinners, his low position among saints, and his sometimes offensive zeal...was yet quicker to accept that this didn't matter anymore! Paul could even say it was no longer him who sinned! How often do we think about ourselves? Our failings, sins, etc.? In reality what we're doing is dwelling on a corrupted and wasting away piece of flesh. Is that what God wants us to do? Is that what is beneficial? My own homework for today - don't think about my old dead, sinful, mangled, corrupted, insidious flesh! It's dead...what a rotten way to waste time! Glance at my self...but stare unflinchingly and faithfully at Christ! Glory!

Simple. Faith.

I confess that I often gloss over the many miracles of Jesus and instead look for something profound or something I've not noticed before or something pulling from the Old Testament. But I think it's important for me to be impressed with his miracles because that is why the gospels writers recorded them - that we would read or hear, be convinced that Jesus was the Son of God, and put our faith in Him.

I like the story of the woman who was healed after touching Jesus' garment. There are a few principles of faith that I learned from this passage of which I'll share. 

Mark 5:24-34

Woman's Faith

1. Her faith came after she had hit rock bottom. She had spent all she had on doctors, was no better but grew worse. What encouragement if we can manage to remind ourselves. How can we come to Christ? When we lose faith in all else. Be of good cheer when all you have to lean on is Christ!

2. Her faith was simple. It amounted to: I need help, he will help me. That's it. Did she have to grab his clothes a certain way? Strongly or lightly? The bottom or the top of his clothes? Did she have to pull? None of this mattered. My faith often comes with some baggage, some stipulations. But this is not right nor of faith. 

3. Her faith had one object, Jesus. Jesus was the beginning and end of her faith. 

4. Her faith preceded understanding. After touching Jesus she was healed, Mark says she felt it. But when Jesus looked around asking who touched him, in what tone we do not know, she fell down in fear and trembling and told him the whole truth. The reason (I think) is that she didn't really know Jesus and was a bit afraid of Him. Perhaps she thought he'd be upset with her for being so inappropriate. Oh what pleasant delight she must have felt after his kind assurance. 

Jesus' Response to her Faith. 

1. He affirms her healing. She was healed says Mark but was still afraid. How often are we afraid of something or worry about something. Instead of finding the root through the long and winding road of uncertainty perhaps we should better take solace in Jesus' words, "Daughter, your faith has made you well...". I ask myself if all winding roads lead back to our faith in Christ...

2. "Go in Peace.." what wonderful medicine! That's it. How does this woman go forth from here, after experiencing the most amazing thing that has ever happened to her? "Go in Peace..." this, from the Prince of Peace. It is why Jesus came, to give us peace with God. 

Rejoice today in a God who shed his own blood for our healing and peace! Our work? Believe and go in peace!

 

The Gift of Self-Forgetfulness

Someone sent me an article which I would like to pass along. This is a great and concise article about something I would say is prevalent in a society such as ours (one built on individualism, self-sufficiency, egoism, etc). This is such a great reminder to keep our eyes on our Savior at all times! Glory Be!

http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tullian/2011/12/05/the-gift-of-self-forgetfulness/

Trust. Delight. Commit. Wait.

Self-sufficiency is a mark of the American but not a mark of the true Christian. Not only does self-sufficiency take glory from God and make him to be a liar but it's also deceptive and simply not true. We are not, nor ever will be self-sufficient; I say this because I believe in total depravity, the heavenly realm, and the activity of the devil, to whom the unconverted is a slave.

So that brings me to a sequence of verses in Psalm 37 (3-7) that I think are applicable. Trust in the LORD. Delight in the LORD. Commit your way to the LORD. Wait patiently for the LORD. Below are some possible implications of the texts...

Trust in the LORD. (trust in nothing else).
Delight in the LORD. (delight in nothing else?...ouch).
Commit your way to the LORD. (commit to nothing else).
Wait patiently for the LORD. (stop working)

Are these rules to live by, or burdonsome standards? Not at all...if we trust in the LORD. I think it all begins with trusting God - it did with Abraham, who was considered righteous when he finally trusted God (he went on to show an imperfect faith yet this did not nullify God's covenant). How can we delight in one we can't trust? Or how can we commit to one we don't trust? How can we wait on one we can't trust?

Trust in Jesus for a beautiful, righteous, glorious, and perfect position before God. Then let this truth be at the forefront of your mind daily and be prepared for Satan to attack you at this very fine point!

What's Your God Project?

"What's your God project?" That was the question and sermon from our elder this morning. The point that he made was ultimately, "what do you boast in?", or "what do you do to climb to God?". He went on to reference those who attempted to build a tower to the heavens for their sake (gen.11) and the 'brood of vipers' who were proud of their forefathers so as to approve themselves to God (Matt.3).

I ask myself what my God projects are and it's pretty easy to think of things. In fact, I think all 'spiritual' things I do come at the risk of being actions to improve my place or reach God: bible reading, praying, sharing the gospel, loving my family, etc. I know without a doubt I'm often guilty of these as religious actions. And I make no excuses; I'm an arrogant sinner who can be prone to thinking my deeds are good. Period.

And this is the EXACT mentality that I must repent of; it's worthy of the pits of hell and makes me pharisee-like. But, something which is sweet, so sweet, is to confess this sin and then trust in Jesus as my savior.  Jesus' yoke is truly easy and his burden is light! If you don't believe me try it - take every single anxiety, every thing that you think is good about yourself, and every sin, every thing you're ashamed of and unload it on Jesus. All of it, be liberal, boast in your weaknesses. Then, and here is the most important part, trust Jesus that you are 100% righteous, cleansed, pure, perfect, in his eyes. PERIOD. No buts, no ands, no ifs, nadda. Jesus met every single condition for righteousness when he died and rose from the grave.

So if you have any God projects kick them to the curb. Don't work, just believe (Rom. 4:4-8). The cross is the only God Project. Glory!