Living by faith is part of a believer’s faith journey, though it is not easy and marks a major transformation in a person’s life. Identity is one of the deepest questions every person faces: Who am I? Many people answer that question by looking to accomplishments, reputation, status, success, failure, or others’ approval.
Paul once did the same. Paul’s identity had been built on religious performance. He was a Pharisee, a defender of tradition, and someone who worked tirelessly to earn righteousness through obedience to the law. But Paul discovered something life-changing that is a wonderful lesson for all of us. Through Christ, he realized that his old life had come to an end.
Galatians 2:20a My old self has been crucified with Christ.[1] Paul used language that points to a completed act with continuing effects. Something happened in the past, yet its reality continued into the present. When Christ died, Paul’s old identity died with Him. The self-righteous, striving, approval-seeking Paul no longer defined who he was. He no longer had to fear that he had somehow failed God after years of trying to earn His favor. Christ had perfectly fulfilled the law and completely paid sin’s penalty. This is true for believers today.
Christ Lives Within Us
Paul then says something astonishing. Galatians 2:20b “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”[2] Christianity is not simply behavior modification or self-improvement. It is spiritual transformation. Paul was still alive physically, but the center of his life had changed. His ambitions, purpose, and identity were no longer rooted in himself. Christ had taken residence in him.
Union with Christ is more than church attendance. Believers share in Christ’s death and resurrection; the old self dies, and a new life begins. Achievements, rules, and striving can’t fill the emptiness: only Christ can. This truth transforms our lives. We stop exhausting ourselves seeking worth or approval. Instead, we live knowing we are already accepted through Christ.
Living Daily by Faith
Paul concluded with how he lives in this transformation. Galatians 2:20cSo I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.[3] Faith is a continuous journey, not a single moment.
While believers remain in bodies prone to sin, they now live by Christ’s strength. Each day involves trusting Christ’s love, His grace, and His power within us. Because of His love and sacrifice, we can wholly surrender to Him. Living by faith means believing that Christ’s acceptance is enough. What old identity, label, or burden do you need to surrender to Christ today?
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You that my identity is no longer found in my performance, accomplishments, or failures. Thank You that my old life was crucified with You and that You now live within me. Help me live each day by faith, trusting Your love and resting in Your acceptance. Amen.
To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/the-gospel-of-grace-alone
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.
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