GALATIANS 2
11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. 13 And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. 14 But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”
15 We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; 16 yet we know that a person is not justifiedby works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.17 But if, in our endeavor to be justified in Christ, we too were found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. 19 For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 20 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. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousnesswere through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. – Galatians 2:11-18
GALATIANS 2 NO LONGER I BUT CHRIST WHO LIVES IN ME
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When God chose me to be one of his children
I have been transformed by Jesus’ resurrection
I no longer live for myself, but for Christ who lives in me
I have been crucified with Christ and I now live by faith in him.
In this letter, Paul explains to the Galatians that when we profess our faith to the Lord Jesus Christ, we have been transformed. We do not follow our old sinful nature anymore since that old self has died when Jesus Christ died for us on the cross. In our old life, we live in the flesh which means that we cater to our cravings. But when we become born again, the resurrection of Jesus gave us that new creation in him that we now live for.
REFLECTION
- What can you say about Christians who live for the works instead of in faith?
