The Jesus Question

 

With Christ have I been crucified, yet I am living; no longer I, but living in me is Christ.  Now that which I am now living in flesh, I am living in faith that is of the Son of God, Who loves me, and gives Himself up for me. 

Galatians 2: 20, Concordant New Testament 

For the past few months I have been contemplating what I have come to call the Jesus question.  That is, do we follow the words of the apostle Paul we find in Galatians 2:20 when describing our new life in Christ Jesus?  Or, do we accept that it is simply the spirit of the risen Lord who dwells in us while we live our everyday lives?  The revelation occurred to me this week, that Paul has already given us the answer to this Jesus question in his iconic passage in Galatians.  That is, there is no more Paul.  Paul admits to this as he clearly states that he is living...no longer "I."  That is, the man Paul once knew is gone, replaced  by Christ Jesus within him.  Furthermore, he recognizes that the life he leads in his flesh container, he lives in a faith that is of the Son of God.  Jesus is the only living being in the flesh remains of the apostle Paul.  So, to throw another monkey wrench into this Jesus question, do we live AS Christ or do we live IN Christ?  In my opinion, there is but one answer to this question.  We, lacking any evidence of our former life (having been crucified with Jesus), now exist AS the only living being Who inhabits our flesh containers...Christ Jesus.  Now, announcing ourselves as Christ to a world devoted to mainstream church theology might seem like a foolish thing to do, but is it a lie?  Are we blaspheming the name of Jesus by claiming that we live as Him?  I don't believe so.  If anything I believe that we are opening the eyes of the world around us to the truth of Jesus.  

For you died, and your life is hid together with Christ in God.  Whenever Christ, our life, should be manifested, then you also shall be manifested together with Him in glory. 

Colossians 3: 3-4, Concordant New Testament 

Paul takes this a step further in Colossians.  Here, he describes our life as being "hid" together with Christ Jesus in God.  It is not we who are manifested in this relationship, but Jesus.  When we look at Jesus, we can rest assured that we are gazing upon ourselves as well.  So, I believe that the answer to this Jesus question is that we live AS Christ Jesus.  This takes away any notion that we are somehow living separate from Him.  Consequently, this was the lie the deceiver spoke to Adam and Eve in the garden, that we will be LIKE God {Genesis 3:4-6}.  How could Adam and Eve know that they already were like God?  It took the sacrifice of Jesus to right that ship once and for all.  This is why we can say with confidence...Jesus my life! 

~Scott~