Galatians 2:20 – I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. – NIV
“Living life crucified” is an oxymoron, like “jumbo shrimp” or “pretty ugly”. Yet, Paul talks about this in Galatians (and in the majority of his other epistles for that matter) as if it is something that is possible to do. How can one live crucified and why is it necessary?
To begin, we all have what I call “mirror mirror on the wall” disease (me most of all). We think a lot about ourselves, what house we will purchase, if we will be promoted, and if our administrators will notice us. Academia promotes this “me first” mentality. Our jobs are competitive by nature. We compete for students, grants, and laboratory space. This leads to greater focus on oneself, to the detriment of the “mission field” God has given us. As a professor, I look at my academic past, burdened by the collateral damage I left behind as I raced to promotion: neglected students, clients, faculty, and staff who needed the love of Christ when I was too blind to notice as I advanced my career.
Despite our nature, Christ can redeem us (praise God!). Jesus talks about following Him as if this is something that can be done (Matt 4:19). I feel less like Jesus and more like Paul from Romans 7 wherein Paul shares his struggles as a believer.
The Holy Spirit, through scripture, convicts me regularly that it is necessary for my “old self to be crucified” because it is hard to (1) love God first and (2) love my neighbor as myself (Matthew 22: 34 – 40) if “myself” is the only one who gets my attention. How can I long for Christ to save others, to work tirelessly on His behalf, and to pursue His will if my wants and desires win so frequently? The answer: I have to be crucified with Christ. My old self, warts and all, has to go.
How can I live if my old self is dead and gone?
Paul answers that question: “Christ lives in me” (Gal 2:20). The Creator of the universe, the Author of salvation wants to live through me. To make room, I have to let go of the old me and by faith let Christ live through me. This concept is taught repeatedly in scripture and is best exemplified in John 15 where Jesus tells the disciples to let Him live through them like a branch lives through the vine.
It is liberating to know that my old self can be put to death and that I can have a new life in Christ. In fact, it is only then that I can truly live; and, what a life it can be (John 10:10)!
Jamie Ellis
Entomology and Nematology
University of Florida