Crucified Christians
Christ Who Lives in Me
Christianity Oasis provides this Crucified Christians Bible study looking into the ... For I am crucified with Christ Who lives in me Bible verse.
Christianity Oasis Ministry
presents
Daily Bread Devotional Bible Study
The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians
Chapter 2
Crucified Christians
I Am Crucified With Christ Who Lives in Me
Welcome to our Christianity Oasis Daily Bread study program. This is our very though provoking and important Crucified Christians Bible study taking an in depth look into the ... For I am crucified with Christ Who lives in Me Bible verse. The absolutely awesome Crucified Christians - Christ Who lives in me message will truly bring a smile to the lips and heart and shine the LIGHT of Truth upon your be-YOU-tiful Christian walk path.
Crucified Christians Truth
I Am Crucified With Christ Who Lives in Me Verse
Greetings to you from Daily Bread. When we left off, Paul was recounting to the Galatians how the Gospel was brought to him by revelation from Jesus. We know he spent three years in Arabia and Damascus, then he went to Jerusalem.
He saw only Peter and James the Lord's brother, then went to Syria and Cilicia, still being unknown by sight to the churches of Judea, and the other Apostles, but they had heard about his reputation.
Fourteen years later, guided by the Holy Spirit, Paul took Barnabas and Titus to Jerusalem again. Keep in mind that in Jerusalem were mostly Jewish people and Paul was the Apostle to the Gentiles. So Paul explained the Gospel as he preaches it to the Gentiles to a group of people who seemed to be upstanding folks.
Titus, being a Gentile (Greek) was not required to be circumcised, but some impostors pretending to be Christians didn't know who Paul was (Remember not many recognized Paul by sight, and even if they knew him before, fourteen years changes a person's appearance quite a bit.) and they were sent in by the Jewish leaders to spy on them and catch them in something unlawful so they could throw them in jail.
Crucified Christians Warning
I Am Crucified With Christ Who Lives in Me Meaning
They didn't give in to their demands in the slightest, but defended their beliefs so that the Truth of the Gospel could be told.
6 But of these who seemed to be of repute [important],
(whatever they were, it makes no matter to me: God does not accept
the appearance of men), for those who seemed to be of repute in
conference added nothing to me;
7 But to the contrary, when they saw that the gospel of
the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the
circumcision was unto Peter
8 (for He that showed Himself forth in Peter for
Apostleship of the circumcision, the same also showed himself forth
in me toward the Gentiles);
9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be
pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me
and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship [approval and respect] that
we should go unto the Gentiles, and they unto the circumcision.
10 Only they asked that we should remember the poor; the
same which I was also diligent [very willing] to do.
Crucified Christians Hope
I Am Crucified With Christ Who Lives in Me Vow
Next, Paul explains the disagreement that he had with Peter:
11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to
the face [confronted him] because he was to be blamed [wrong].
12 For before certain ones came from James [before
James' friends arrived], he [Peter] ate with the Gentiles, but when
they were come [after James' friends arrived], he [Peter] withdrew
and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.
13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him,
insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with [was influenced by]
their hypocrisy.
Let's research a couple of things. In the Old Testament, it was unlawful for the Jewish people to associate with the Gentiles, let alone eat with them, a fact that Paul was clearly aware of, as he just mentioned in the last chapter that he was very well versed (better even than his peers) in the traditions (laws) of his ancestors.
Now, Paul is also aware that Peter knows from experience (Acts 10:28) that this is not the case in the New Testament and that all should be treated as God's people. This is also a perfect example of how nobody should ever feel unworthy of God's Grace when they stumble. Even "pillars" like Peter, as Paul refers to them, can have something as life changing as seeing visions from God and then turn around and fall again.
Who Are Crucified Christians
I Am Crucified With Christ Who Lives in Me Defined
The important thing is, first, never use God's Grace as justification or as an excuse to fall, and also, don't let your tumbles keep you down. Get up, admit your faults and carry on just as the Apostles did. They repented and accepted God's Grace, then pushed forward in their Faith, probably with more determination than before.
Back to Paul's story. He says:
14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according
to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If
thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do
the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews?
15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the
Gentiles,
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the
law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus
Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by
the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be
justified.
17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we
ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of
sin? God forbid.
So, Paul is pointing out to Peter, Hey, dude, if you know the new law of Grace means that nobody is unclean, why are you teaching the Gentiles by your example, to live like the Jewish people obeying the old law. You know a person isn't made clean by obeying the old law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. If we expect to be saved by Christ and we still go around sinning, does that make Christ the teacher of sin? Certainly not.
Jesus even ate and hung around with tax collectors and sinners and Gentiles and the unclean ... Folks were constantly commenting about this fact. Just an observation.
Crucified Christians Blessing
I Am Crucified With Christ Who Lives in Me Hope
18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I
make myself a transgressor.
19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might
live unto God.
Remember that the law is for the lawless, or, sinners. And God replaced the old law, so to try and live by it and failing like so many many generations before Jesus brought in the New Testament, you will find yourself in sin and the fate of sin is death. If you live by faith in Christ, (the New Testament) God's law is written in your heart and you live in God's favor.
Paul could really sum up a matter brilliantly, and to make his point clear about the Galatians having been led back to the belief that law and works were to be lived by instead of the Truth of the Gospel of Faith and God's Grace, he tells them confidently:
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless [and yet] I
live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now
live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved
me, and gave himself for me.
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God [I do not count
God's grace meaningless]: for if righteousness come by the law, then
Christ is dead in vain [for nothing].
Crucified Christians Conclusion
I Am Crucified With Christ Who Lives in Me Summary
You can't really say that any clearer in today's terms than what Paul wrote right there. He was so insightful, we should all pray for a little measure of his spirit in our own lives.
More great study of this letter to the Galatians ahead, so be sure to come back and share a while again, right here at Daily Bread.
There is a force out there that is attempting to overtake us all; it is Satan. There is another force that is protecting us from him; it is the Holy Spirit. It is a battle for souls. This battle is called Spiritual Warfare, and like it or not, you are right in the middle of it.
Copyright © 2000-2024 All Rights Reserved.
