Crucified with Christ

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Crucified with Christ

Date: Jun. 22, 2016

Passage

Galatians 2:11-21 (ESV)

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 justified by 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 righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 2:20

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.

First, Paul rebukes Cephas' hypocrisy (11-18).

Cephas (Peter) had gone to Antioch to fellowship with the Gentile believers there. However, some men, who wanted Gentile believers to follow Jewish law, arrived. Then Cephas began to distance himself from the Gentiles. The supremacy of Jesus, his death on the cross and resurrection from the dead, destroys any human barrier between believers. All are justified the same and by faith in Christ. Cephas' hypocrisy was not merely a tactless act. It was an affront to the gospel. Paul publicly rebuked him.

Second, dead to the law; live for God (19-21). The law reveals our sinfulness but it cannot save us. Paul died to the law so that he might live for God. His life was no longer his own but joined together with Jesus. Paul had been crucified with Christ. Jesus alone had given him life. Paul lived only by faith in the Son of God; so must we.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for loving sinners like us and giving yourself up for us. Help me to live by faith in you every day.

One Word: Christ lives in me

King of Kings and Lord of Lords

Revelation 19:11-21

Key Verse: 19:16

On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

Today's Question

Can anyone perfectly keep the commandments of God?

See answer and references