FOUR STEPS, Galatians 2:20.
A verse that sums up the Christian Life. Four fundamental steps for the Believer. Paul, the Apostle, writes to the Galatian Church, troubled by problems of legalism, to correct them and encourage them in the Faith.
Step 1. 'I have been crucified with Christ' . The Christian life begins with Crucifixion-Death. Not a logical way to start one's life. The world wants a successful way to start life. Crucifixion was a cruel, unpleasant way to die. We identify with Christ's death, we are not persuaded. It has already happened.
Why die? We die to the flesh and sin. We die to live a new life in Christ, 1 Cor.15:35-36. All of nature speaks of death and new Life.
Christ went to the Cross willingly, He did not have to do it. We follow in His footsteps. We should be of the same mind-Heb.12:2. We must die to the old life, it is vital to do so-John 12:24. New life and Old life cannot mix.
How does it work in our lives? We consider ourselves dead to sin and to the flesh-Rom.6:5-11. The flesh, however, is still there. The old nature, its passions and desires have been crucified. We have to live this out-Col.3:5-10. What is the result? The new man is free to grow in Christ, fed by the Word of God and led by the Holy Spirit.
Will I now have any more problems? Yes. The old nature, with its desires and opposition to the new one, will give me constant problems. I have to deny these desires and opposition daily.
Now I do not battle on my own because the Holy Spirit is in my life to help me and lead me in God's path. We must see to it that our spirits are strong and not ruled by the desires of the body and the soul. To be continued
A verse that sums up the Christian Life. Four fundamental steps for the Believer. Paul, the Apostle, writes to the Galatian Church, troubled by problems of legalism, to correct them and encourage them in the Faith.
Step 1. 'I have been crucified with Christ' . The Christian life begins with Crucifixion-Death. Not a logical way to start one's life. The world wants a successful way to start life. Crucifixion was a cruel, unpleasant way to die. We identify with Christ's death, we are not persuaded. It has already happened.
Why die? We die to the flesh and sin. We die to live a new life in Christ, 1 Cor.15:35-36. All of nature speaks of death and new Life.
Christ went to the Cross willingly, He did not have to do it. We follow in His footsteps. We should be of the same mind-Heb.12:2. We must die to the old life, it is vital to do so-John 12:24. New life and Old life cannot mix.
How does it work in our lives? We consider ourselves dead to sin and to the flesh-Rom.6:5-11. The flesh, however, is still there. The old nature, its passions and desires have been crucified. We have to live this out-Col.3:5-10. What is the result? The new man is free to grow in Christ, fed by the Word of God and led by the Holy Spirit.
Will I now have any more problems? Yes. The old nature, with its desires and opposition to the new one, will give me constant problems. I have to deny these desires and opposition daily.
Now I do not battle on my own because the Holy Spirit is in my life to help me and lead me in God's path. We must see to it that our spirits are strong and not ruled by the desires of the body and the soul. To be continued
