“I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me.” (Galatians 2:20 NASB1995)

If I have been crucified with Christ so that I no longer live, but Christ lives in me, this means that I (me in my flesh) have been put to death with him. Not physically, but spiritually speaking, my flesh, my sin nature, by faith in Jesus Christ, has been put to death so that I might now live for God in obedience to his commands in holy living and no longer for the sinful desires of the flesh. The old me has been done away with so that I may now serve the Lord with my life and no longer live for the sinful desires of the flesh.

Jesus Christ is not just an add on to my present life, but he becomes my life. My life now belongs to him and is no longer under sin’s control. And this is not to say that I will never sin again (1 John 2:1-2) but that sin should no longer have dominion over my life. And now Jesus Christ should be Lord and Master of my life. For if Christ lives in me and I no longer live, that means that I should be letting him live out his life through me and my flesh should no longer be in control over my life, all by faith in Jesus Christ.

But this does not make me perfect, for I still live in a flesh body. But lack of perfection should never be used as an excuse ever for deliberate and habitual sin. For if truly we have died with Christ to sin, and we have been raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but as servants of God and of his righteousness, then sin should no longer be our practice. Our lives must now be surrendered to God to doing his will in his power at work in our lives (see Romans 6:1-23).

But this is not something that we do in our own flesh to try to win “brownie points” (favor) with God via our own fleshly “good deeds.” The works of the flesh, and going through religious rituals and customs, will not earn us favor with God. What God is looking for is for us to deny self, die to sin, and follow him in obedience to his commands in holy living, by the grace of God, in the power of God. He wants our all on the altar, surrendered to doing his will his way, all in his power (see Matthew 7:21-23 and Luke 9:23-26).

For the grace of God is not a “get out of jail free card” which gives us permission to keep living in deliberate and habitual sin without conscience. God’s grace, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we await our Lord’s return. For Jesus died to deliver us out of our slavery to sin so we will now serve him with our lives in walks of obedience to his commands (see Titus 2:11-14 and 1 John 1,2,&3).

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 1:18-32; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 3:23; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; 2 Corinthians 5:10,15,21; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 10:19-39; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

To Be Like Him

Based off Scripture
An Original Work / March 16, 2014
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Crucified you are with Jesus.
To be like Him, oh, you’ll be,
Because He died at Calv’ry,
So from sin you’d be free.
Oh, what joy He brings into your life,
Giving life with Him endlessly.

Oh, what plans He has for your life.
Share the gospel faithfully.
Show the people He loves them.
Now His witness you’ll be.
Tell the world of sin about Jesus,
How He died for them on a tree.

Purifying hearts, He saves them,
Who believe on Christ, God’s Son.
Turning now from their idols,
New lives they have begun.
Jesus saves from sin; we’re forgiven.
Over sin, the vict’ry He won!

When He comes again to take us
To be with Him evermore,
There will be no more crying.
Gladness will be in store.
Heavens joys will now overtake us:
We’ll be with our Lord evermore.

No Longer I Who Live
An Original Work / April 7, 2026
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love