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!

Evil heart?

"Take care, brothers, less there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God." Hebrews 3:12

I read a Charles Spurgeon sermon once on the Syrophonecian woman who approached Jesus because her daughter had a demon. Jesus ignored her and then told her it wasn't right to give what was Israel's to dogs. He was calling her a dog, a second-rate person compared to the Jews. Her response was "Yes, Lord...". Spurgeon then took three points from this story and elaborated on them and one of them was an admonishment to not argue or disagree with the Lord. The Lord called her a dog and she didn't object but accepted it, then boldy called upon truth and her faith appealed her to God. Her daughter was healed.

I think the same principle can be applied using today's verse. I do believe we all struggle with unbelief at different times and to different degrees - it is no doubt a powerful scheme of the devil who never stops feeding us lies. But, I think an appropriate, helpful, honest - the best response to this is to confess our sin of unbelief, the fruit of an evil heart. OUCH! At least that is what I think and it's much easier to account for unbelief in some pitiful way. But I think this is deadly.

Unbelief is the most evil of sins and eternally unpardonable. It denies God and makes him to be a liar. But confession is a sweet remedy. We can boldly confess our sins to our God because he is merciful - in fact this is the crux of Christianity! Recognize your sinfulness, even boast in your weakness but trust in Jesus Christ to save the ungodly. The Hebrew writer describes faith as rest. Yes, the remedy for an evil heart is to rest in the Lord. What a blessing!

Therefore My Heart is Glad...

"Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure." Psalm 16: 9

There is a wonderful sequence of scriptures starting in Acts 13:32-52 and ending in Psalm 16. In Acts, Paul, in effect is proving the resurrection using the Old Testament scriptures. From Acts 13:34 you can then go to Isaiah 55:3 and read about the "holy and sure" blessings of David (haven't done research but it appears that Paul may be quoting from the Greek translation of the OT, the LXX, as it appears his wording is slightly different from ours). From here we then can turn to Psalm 16 and read more about these blessings, written by David.

I'm not capable of saying anything about the blessings of the resurrection better than Paul, Isaiah, David or Peter (Acts 2) but have just been thinking of how Psalm 16 applies to us, as Christians, 2000 years later. And I think that it means to us, practically (or daily), the same thing it meant to David.

David set the Lord before him, at his right hand, and was not shaken (v. 8). And therefore, his heart was glad and his whole being rejoiced and his flesh dwelled secure. In David we have a wonderful example of one who was convinced of the 'sureness' of God's future blessing and thus he enjoyed temporal blessings: a glad heart and rejoicing. And without a doubt, Christ our Savior, who was dejected to the point of death, also rejoiced in the sureness of his resurrection.

Be sure of God's blessings, be glad, be secure, and rejoice!

The LORD has spoken!

"Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;" Psalm 85:8.

Are we Christians or are we OT Jews? Sometimes I find myself praying in a way that does not consider Jesus' finished work on the cross. Do you wait for peace - or do you believe have it in Christ? Do you seek salvation, or do you trust you have it in Christ? We live on the other side of the cross than the Jews did and we must always remember this.

Paul said that all the promises of God are a yes in Christ (2 Cor. 1), specifically peace (being justified by faith we now have peace with God through Jesus Christ) Since it is by faith I believe it's at this fine point that satan is so quick and successful to attack many Christians. Let us not dally or sulk in unbelief but be quick to confess our evil heart of unbelief (Heb. 4) and put our trust, hope and faith in Christ - for the LORD has spoken!

Blessed Indeed

"What then has become of the blessing you felt?.." Gal. 4:15

Christians are a blessed people, the most blessed people. It is common to hear blessing and happiness mentioned together but usually only to make known the distinct difference between the two: blessing or blessedness being something eternal while happiness being something momentarily or inconsequential, although the same word is often used interchangeably in the NT. While I do believe there is a difference between the two, as understood by our culture, I think Christians should be very careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Here in Galatians Paul is reminding them of the blessing they felt, yes felt, and what had become of it. If you have read Galatians you will know this whole book is about a people who are being tempted to fall back into the law, a legalistic view of salvation (a salvation dependent on your efforts and own merit). And one of the consequences of this as perceived by Paul? A lack of felt blessing.

Be reminded of grace today. For the sake of Christ and the gospel put your faith in Him alone. Let us be careful not to fall into a security based on our efforts but based on Jesus' alone. What a blessing!