"... I am crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, and that living that I now have in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself to me same for me. "Gl.2: 19-21
Could you believe in life after death, even in life? The Word of God teaches us that yes. It is clear that this death is frightening to the spiritual reality in the Christian life. Just as Christ died and lived again so that we would have life, so we must die if we want to live. In Jo.12: 24 it is written, "Truly, truly, I say to you, if a grain of wheat falls on the earth, it does not die, it remains alone, but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
When the text says "I am crucified with Christ" he mentions the old life of man without God, because on the cross he left the old carnal nature dead, being now a new creature (2Co.5: 17), which in turn is of a new birth (Jn.3: 3). From then on, everything is different; values, desires, among many other changes brought about by the Person of the Holy Spirit who now resides in the new Christian, being led by Christ himself.
In this way, he becomes understanding when the text says: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me." The true Christian, in his genuine conversion, now has Jesus as his Lord. Keith Phillips says: "Christ can not be the Lord of my life if I am his lord."
They do not belong to themselves anymore, all that matters is doing the will of God. Everything He wants must be done, because now that we are in Christ we need to understand that "God is the one who effects in us both the willing and the performing, according to his good will." (Fp.2: 13)
Therefore, what has prevailed as desire in your life? How has your testimony and behavior been? What can be said about him who professes to have Jesus, but his actions prove the contrary? If Christ is in us, our behaviors must reflect his presence. This is the consequence of who is a true Christian. "Even so you consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God, in Christ Jesus." (Rm.6: 11)
It is necessary to understand that if he really gave himself to Christ then he is no longer the master of himself. "Do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit, which is in you, which you have from God, and that you are not of yourselves, because you have been bought for a price?" Now, therefore, glorify God in your body. "(1Co.6: 19-20)
As for the true Christian, John Piper says: "A Christian is not a person who believes in the teachings of the Bible in his head, Satan in his head believes in the teachings of the Bible! he died with Christ, whose stiff neck was broken, whose bronze forehead was destroyed, whose heart of stone was crushed, whose pride was killed, and whose life today is dominated by Jesus Christ, I no longer live, but Christ lives in me ! "
so that every Christian must live by faith in Jesus Christ. God bless you all.
