But the story of our life in Christ doesn’t end there. If we and all of our sin died with Jesus on the cross, who then lives? We can’t say on one hand that we died with Him and on the other hand that we are still alive in our natural selves. We must choose – our old life or its death. And if we choose its death, then how do we live on?
The Apostle Paul offers an amazing answer: “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20). The life we live by faith in Christ is an exchanged life – the sin nature that we were born with was nailed to the cross with Jesus. Everything He is, all that raised from the tomb, is given to us. When we asked for our sin to be forgiven, everything in our old nature, all our lostness, was nailed to the cross of Christ. In return, we gained the everlasting life found only in Him, with all His privileges and power. What An Exchange!
The sad truth is, we are forgetful creatures. Having accepted Christ’s payment on the cross for our sin, we forget to live in His resurrection power that follows. Our old nature wants to ignore its death certificate. Its demise is a legal fact, not a biological reality (yet). Our old nature reminds us of what we were before the cross. And for some crazy reason we listen.
“I Am the Resurrection and the Life.” (John 11:25)
Jesus gladly offers to fill us with His glorified self. The substitute of the cross is not just in death, but in resurrection. We now may live in the power that raised Him from the dead, but only if we live by faith. Are we living that life? Or better yet, are we allowing Him to live His life through us? Let’s believe it. Let’s live like we believe in the resurrection and the life. And let’s be reminded daily: We no longer live, but Christ lives in us.
Have a glorious weekend. Make it better by worshiping The LORD with those who allow Him to live His life through them because they know there is no better way to live.
All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.
Vic Alvarado 