Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God.
Today’s verse is one that is often quoted amongst believers, so you have likely heard the statement “crucified with Christ” at one point or another. And if you haven’t heard it yet, you will probably hear it at some point. Galatians 2:20 is not the only verse that makes this statement, so we know it is important. We also see it in Galatians 3:3 also mentions that we have died and our life is hidden with Him. And we see the same theme in 2 Timothy 2:11 and an extended discussion on the subject in Romans 6:3-14.
But what does it mean to be crucified with Christ?
We need to understand the context in which Paul made this statement in Galatians. We learn that there was division in the early church and people were teaching new believers that they had to earn their salvation through works, or doing things. But Paul reassures us that the only way we can be saved is through faith, not through works (Ephesians 2:8-9; Galatians 2:16). It is our faith in God, our belief that Jesus died for our sins and His death has conquered sin once and for all.
We have been crucified with Him and it is no longer us who live, but Him living within us. When we accept His death in our place, our sins are wiped clean and we are a new creation. The Holy Spirit lives within us and our life is now lived in and through Him. When we try to do things to make ourselves holy and set apart we realize we can’t do it. We are sinners and we cannot do it on our own. We need a sacrifice for us that cleanses us once and for all, and that is only through Christ.When He was crucified it was as if we were there with Him. The sacrifice He made was in our place. His death was the substitute for us, His blood sacrificed for our sins. We were forgiven when He gave Himself in our place. But we need to see that we are sinners in need of a Savior and ask for His forgiveness. We must surrender to Him and accept that He died on our behalf and understand that we were crucified for Him. It is by His blood that we are made new, raised to a new life with Him, a life that is acceptable and pleasing to God.
Do you accept His gift of grace and forgiveness? Do you accept that you were crucified with Him and the life we live we now live in Him? Meditate on what that means. If you have further questions, please reach out. It is by faith we have been saved through grace and we can be born again because of it.
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