The simplest truth that we as Christians must understand is that the day we become Christians it is no longer about us. It is all about Jesus living in us. Galatians 2:20 states the following, “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” The truth contained in that verse is life changing because it instructs us how to live our Christian life.

The first statement in the verse (I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live…) mentions what happens to a believer when they get born again. The first thing we must understand is our death with Christ. Death in Christ means submission in Christ. Jesus demonstrates this to us on His path to the cross. In Matthew 16:24-27, Jesus outlines to the disciples what the life of a believer looks like. He explains that we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. Jesus, who is our example shows us how that is done in Matthew 26:39. Jesus submits His will to the Father’s will.

The second statement (…Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God…) tells us what to do after we have submitted our lives to Christ. This excerpt tells us that the day we get born again our life is no longer ours to live but Christ’s. This scripture is not saying that we are God’s puppet. He is saying that God has given us His life to live on this earth and for eternity. Living God’s life doesn’t mean that trouble won’t find us, it means when trouble comes we have a greater power within us (1 John 4:4, “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”).

The above excerpt goes on to add that we live this life by faith in Jesus. 1 John 5:4-5 states, “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” This scripture tells us that our faith is what overcomes this world. We put our faith in the fact that Jesus Christ lives in us and that is what overcomes the world.

The final statement in that verse (…who loved me and gave Himself for me…) shows us the motivation of God. He did all these things for us because He loves. In 1 John 4:19 it states, “We love Him because He first loved us.” God gave us His life and power because He loves us. Understanding that God loves you, and He is not out to get you is key. God did all these things because he wants to have a relationship with us. A relationship founded in fear won’t last long, but a relationship founded in Love, lasts for eternity.