IT AIN'T ME
Having God’s life live through us requires accepting the fact that we died with Jesus Christ when he was crucified on the cross! If we would realize our life in the flesh is useless to God, we would abandon all efforts of trying to be good enough. When we accept what Christ has done on the cross, we experience a death to our old way of thinking to accept the new way of life in the Spirit, which is by faith.
Galatians 2:20 says, “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Romans 6:3-5 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were, therefore, buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.
The Bible speaks about losing our life, and this means no longer trusting in ourselves but in the truth that God has declared about us!
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:24-26
The most dangerous effort embarked upon by a Christian is trying to be good enough to deserve God! Don’t be mistaken; great effort is required! The effort, however, is to set our minds on God so that we believe him alone for our right standing with him. This will require dying to anything that is about self.
A muscle gets bigger when it is broken down (no pain, no gain). A seed dies before it brings forth life. Likewise, there is never a resurrection until there is a death! Successful Christianity is not about us living for God, but rather God living through us! True life begins when we relinquish our life and fully accept resting in God’s new life!
Oh yes! May your life be characterized as a life through whom Christ lives! Regarding your life as a Christian, I trust you will be able to say along with apostle Paul…
IT AIN'T ME
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