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
Paul to the Galatians 2: 20, Concordant New Testament
One of the hardest things which I have ever had to wrap my understanding around about my life in Christ Jesus is the truth spoken by the apostle Paul in Galatians that I am no longer living. All which remains is Christ in me {Paul to the Galatians 2:20}. I am, in fact, dead to that which I once was. I'm not that guy anymore. Some would say that I am, indeed, a dead man walking. For I was crucified on that cross with Christ. So, what does that translate to as far as my life today is concerned? This is the question which a few good friends of mine broached in a recent "Living as Jesus" podcast. What is our life like now that we know who we are in Christ? Are we the same as we thought we were before we knew Him? I would say no. Before I knew the truth of my life lived within Christ, I carried the worries and concerns of what it was that I needed to do in order to satisfy Jesus. I had been taught in the long standing church theology that Jesus and I were separated. That I toiled away here on earth while Jesus resided a the Fathers side in heaven {Johns Account 1:18}. According to the separation theology spoken by the church, it is my own sin which has separated me from God. This is why Paul's message spoken in Galatians is so very important to us. Yes, we WERE once in sin and fell short of Gods expectations for us {Paul to the Romans 3:23}. But when Jesus was crucified on that cross to put sin to death, we were there with Him {Paul to the Romans 6:6}. Not only did Jesus die for the forgiveness of sin, He TO sin once for all time {Paul to the Romans 6:10}. Where too many Christians fall short is believing that Jesus only forgave "some" sin, and that they must continue to be concerned with all which might occur in our daily life. In other words, we're still sinners despite the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.
Whenever I get into a conversation about Jesus and the forgiveness of sin with other believers (which is quite often), I often refer them to the words of Paul which we find in Romans 6:6-11. It is here where Paul gives us the truth of sin as it pertains to those who have been crucified with Christ Jesus. The truth that we're no longer "slaving for sin" {Paul to the Romans 6:6}. This is what I see in my life lived within the Father. That being branded by sin is something which I have died to already. That having been put to death with Jesus, that I am now no longer condemned as a result of sin {Paul to the Romans 8:1}. As a result of being crucified with Christ Jesus, I am a new creation in Him {Paul to the Corinthians (2) 5:17}. As I told my friend the other day, this is how I see the difference in my life today than from before I had the Fathers revelation of His Son in me. I no longer need to be concerned with living the perfect life, or of simply "Being like Jesus" as those within the church are so fond of proclaiming. I am not like Jesus, I live today AS JESUS. Indeed, if my life is lived within the love of the Father, this is who I am! Jesus confirms this in His words spoken of our life today, that we live a life in union with He and the Father {Johns Account 14:20}. Of course, this fly's in the face of the separation theology taught by the church, but it is indeed backed up by the scriptures. I truly believe that it has never been the Fathers intent that we live our lives in fear of His judgement. This is the very reason by which Jesus has been introduced into this world {Johns Account 3:16-17}. Not to condemn, but that "The world may be saved through Him." Others might see a sinner, I see a dead man walking.
In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you
Johns Account 14: 20, Concordant New Testament
~Scott~
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