Dead to Self, Alive in Christ

“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, who loved me and gave himself for me.” — Galatians 2:20 (NIV)

There are moments in life when we look in the mirror and quietly wonder whether we are enough. Strong enough. Pure enough. Worthy enough. Yet the glorious truth of the Gospel is this: our hope was never meant to rest upon ourselves. The Christian life is not about trying harder to become acceptable to God. It is about surrendering to the One who already gave everything for us.

When the Apostle Paul the Apostle wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ,” he was describing a profound spiritual transformation. The old life — chained to pride, fear, guilt, selfish ambition, and sin — was nailed to the cross with Jesus. In its place, a new life emerged. A life animated not by human striving, but by the living presence of Christ Himself.

Imagine that: the risen Jesus dwelling within you.

Not distant. Not indifferent. Not merely watching from heaven. Christ lives in you.

This means you do not walk through sorrow alone. When burdens press heavily upon your shoulders, Christ strengthens you. When temptation whispers, Christ empowers you. When your heart grows weary, Christ renews you. The same Savior who calmed storms, healed the broken, and conquered the grave now walks beside you every single day.

And why? Because He loved you.

Not a polished version of you. Not a future perfected version of you. He loved you at your weakest, your most flawed, your most undeserving. At the cross, Jesus stretched out His hands for the world — and for you personally. Every nail declared His mercy. Every drop of blood proclaimed redemption. The empty tomb now announces eternal victory.

Therefore, faith is no longer merely believing facts about Jesus. Faith is entrusting your whole life to Him. It is waking each morning and saying, “Lord Jesus, live through me today. Let my words reflect Your kindness. Let my actions reveal Your compassion. Let my life point others toward Your salvation.”

The world today is aching for hope. Many carry hidden wounds behind smiling faces. Many are searching for meaning in success, wealth, pleasure, or recognition, only to discover emptiness. But Christians carry the greatest news ever given to humanity: Jesus Christ is alive.

The grave could not hold Him. Death could not defeat Him. Darkness could not extinguish His light.

And because He lives, hearts can be restored. Addictions can be broken. Tears can turn into joy. The lost can come home. No life is beyond His saving grace.

So walk closely with Jesus today. Spend time in prayer. Open His Word. Listen for His voice in the quiet moments. Let His love soften your heart and transform your spirit. Then go into the world boldly — into your workplace, your family, your community — carrying the light of Christ wherever you go.

You may never stand on a great stage or preach before thousands, but your life can still become a living testimony that Jesus lives.

And sometimes, one soul seeing Christ in you can change eternity forever.

Thank you for reading Tell The World That Jesus Lives!

I Have Been Crucified with Christ

"I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]; it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Galatians 2:20 (AMP)

Much have been said and taught that the Word of God is Life and Spirit and that man shall not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Knowing the truth of God's Word in our mind is insufficient. As A.W. Tozer had observed, "Truth that is not experienced is no better than error, and just as dangerous."

However, when we experience God's Word it would elevate us to a whole new plane of knowing it in our heart. Now, I wouldn't say that I have fully experienced Galatians 2:20, but just scratching the surface of this kernel of truth was enough to propel me powerfully today so much so that I wanna penned it down as a tribute to the Word of God and God Himself.

This morning the Holy Spirit brought to my mind Galatians 2:20 and it infused new energy for me to carry out my work and all for the day. I have memorized the aforesaid verse before in the New King James version and did not even have to meditate on it to be superlatively rejuvenated in my spirit, soul and body.

Much intrigued, I am meditating on this verse and cross-referencing it to other Bible verses. My short study is presented here along the way. 

'I have been crucified with Christ' ....When Christ died, all of my sins were nailed to the cross. My old self was crucified on the cross and sins do not have power over me. As Romans 6:6 (AMP) explains, "We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin."

Galatians 5:24 (AMP) says, "And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires." 

Further on, we have Paul's declaration, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in Galatians 6:14 (AMP), "But far be it from me to glory [in anything or anyone] except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) through Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world!"

'It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me'.... Far be it from me to think that I can run my life the way I want it. It is Christ whom I need to enthrone on the seat of my heart so that my every thoughts and actions will be captivated by the will, purpose and delight of the LORD of lords and KING of kings. God is worthy of my all; He alone is my all in all. 

Following from this, whom shall I fear and of what shall I be afraid of? God alone is supreme. all-powerful, all-present and all-knowing. With God as the Chief Operating Officer of my life, I am more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:37) and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)

'I live by faith in the Son of God' .... My life is centred on Christ Jesus who has said, inter alia, that He is the Bread of Life and has come to give us life and life more abundantly,and He will come again. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and no one can come to God the Father except though Him (John 14:6). 

This means that I submit myself to live life in a manner that is according to the Word of God such as 2 Corinthians 5:15 (AMP): "And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake."

'the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me' .... this truth is expounded expansively in Ephesians 2:4-6 (AMP), "But God—so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us, 

Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved ([a]delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation). 

And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us [b]joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."

Oh, such unconditional love of Christ for us! As Isaiah 53:12 (AMP) describes it, "... He poured out His life unto death, and [He let Himself] be regarded as a criminal and be numbered with the transgressors; yet He bore [and took away] the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors (the rebellious)."

Thank God for His Word which is living and active. 

May the truths of Galatians 2:20 spurs us to live in a like manner after Colossians 3:1-4 (AMP), as well:- 

"If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.

For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory."