Here Paul is laying the groundwork for the next chapter, where he will rip into the false "gospel" that the Galatians have begun to believe. "We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus" (vs 16).
This is the gospel, folks. It's so plain: salvation comes through faith in Jesus, NOT through obedience in the law. Obedience to God is simply the fruit of one who is saved. We talked about that a few days ago. One who has saving faith will also obey God's commands, because he or she is responding to the saving work which God has already done in their heart.
But then Paul shows something that is crucial to understanding the transformation that takes place: in order for us to have new life in Christ, we have to die first. "I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. 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" (vs 20).
Now we know that Paul was not literally crucified. So what does he mean? Remember back in Romans, Paul said he is dead to sin, and alive in Christ. His flesh, his sin nature, is no longer in charge of him, and now he is free to live in Christ. In fact, go back and read Romans 6:5-10.
May the same thing be said of us that was said of our Savior Jesus Christ: "the life he lives, he lives to God"!
No comments:
Post a Comment