Crucified with Christ

 

READ Galatians 1-6

Some say heaven will surprise us with those we thought would not be there, while others we thought would be there will not. This statement Paul made to the church in Galatia might explain how this confusion happens:

I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed . . .  (Galatians 1:6–9)

Recently I met a person who talked like a Christian yet remarked: “We are not in heaven yet; we have to earn that.” A person belonging to a large cult told me, “Christ died to give us the right to earn our salvation.” A Christian friend admits that she believes Jesus saved her, but struggles thinking she needs to do something. Was this like the problem they had in Galatia? Paul warned them about their error:

O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? (3:1–6)

Imagine a loving father telling his bratty child that he will give her a pony, no matter what, no strings attached, and forever. The child believes her dad, is thankful and her bad behavior begins to change. Then for some reason she begins to fear that her dad will take the pony away if she is not a perfect little girl. She works hard to be deserving and worries that she is not good enough, forgetting that the gift was not given on the basis of merit but on the goodness of her father.

While salvation involves more than that — this illustrates the tendency of humans to think nothing so grand as eternal life could be free, a gift from God who send His Son to die so we could have a saving relationship with Him. Human pride tends to think we must do or can do something to earn it.

Paul realized that the Law of God was interpreted that way — a list of what must be done to earn heaven. He explained that the Gospel says otherwise, begging the question: “Is the law then contrary to the promises of God?” He answers, “Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” (3:21–22)

No one can keep God’s laws. Some do better than others, like the 5-year-old who once said to me, “But I’ve never murdered anyone.” So quick we are to justify ourselves by the sins we do not commit!

Salvation is a gift given freely to those who admit their inability to save themselves and who trust Jesus Christ to save them and be their justification and righteousness. But then the question becomes, “Does this mean I can do whatever I please?” Salvation based on faith alone seems to mean that, but two things say otherwise. First, those saved by faith are reborn, given new life and the mind of Christ. Our “I wants” change.

Second, Paul says, “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another . . . . But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” (Galatians 5:13; 16–18)

New life and that old life coexist. The new is able to obey God and the old is opposed to that. The flesh sins still. The Spirit within produces love and obedience. It is as Galatians 2:20 says: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” This explains why I still need to confess sin but also need to be filled with His Spirit to live as a Christian. This awesome thought begins my days!