The Life That I Now Live   
 

by Aubrey C. Belue

 

In my mind, one of the more significant passages in the N.T. is the one where Paul says:’ Gal 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless 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.” Paul was “dead” – yet Paul “lived”! Without trying to dissect the theological distinctions some are prone to emphasize at such times, consider the extremes that inhere in those words: “death” – “life”…. “death” – it’s before and after implies finality and completeness. His immediate context speaks to the law of Moses; to it he was completely and finally “dead” (this has been his argument in Gal 2 and 3). For him, it had served its purpose, and he was “no longer under” it (Gal 3:24-25). In a broader sense, as is shown in many other places (Rom 6; Col 2 and 3; Eph 4:17-24, etc.) he looked at ALL of his old “life” as one to which he was now “dead”. It had lost its appeal, and was now to be totally and finally abandoned, that he might “live” unto God. He was no longer attached to it, and had turned to a “new life” (Rom 6:4; 2 Cor 5:17). He now purposed to “set (his) affections on things above, and not on things of the earth” (Col 3:1-3). “NEVERTHELESS I LIVE.. This expression is added, as in Gal 2:19, to prevent the possibility of mistake. Paul, though he was crucified with Christ, did not wish to be understood that he felt himself to be dead. He was not inactive; not insensible, as the dead are, to the appeals which are made from God, or to the great objects which ought to interest an immortal mind. He was still actively employed, and the more so from the fact that he was crucified with Christ. The object of all such expressions as this is to show that it was no design of the gospel to make men inactive, or to annihilate their energies. It was not to cause men to do nothing. It was not to paralyze their powers, or stifle their own efforts. Paul therefore says, "I am not dead. I am truly alive; and I live a better life than I did before." Paul was as active after conversion as he was before. Before, he was engaged in persecution; now, he devoted his great talents with as much energy, and with as untiring zeal, to the cause of the great Redeemer. Indeed, the whole narrative would lead us to suppose that he was more active and zealous after his conversion than he was before. The effect of religion is not to make one dead in regard to the putting forth of the energies of the soul. True religion never made one lazy man; it has converted many a man of indolence, and effeminacy, and self-indulgence, to a man actively engaged in doing good. If a professor of religion is less active in the service of God than he was in the service of the world--less laborious, and zealous, and ardent than he was before his supposed conversion--he ought to set it down as full proof that he is an utter stranger to true religion.” (Albert Barnes, on Gal 2:20) I hope and pray that this “death” and “life” is not just a matter of words to us – but of deeds, and even more, of a mind set upon a new direction, an all – consuming interest in a life given over to the One to whom it belongs (Phil 3:10-11).     Other Articles by Edward O. Bragwell, Sr. Holding a Church Hostage What Can God do? Undercover Agents for Christ Reformation or Transformation? Be Careful With the Blame Game Is Unrestricted Loyalty a Virtue? A New Dogma How to Raise a Heartache The Right Baptism Standing Alone       For Past Auburn Beacons go to: www.aubeacon.com/Bulletins.htm   Anyone can join the mailing list for the Auburn Beacon! Send your request to: larryrouse@aubeacon.com