Relinquishing Our Old Lives

Galatians 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.

When we accept our salvation, we join Jesus Christ in crucifixion.  Just as He accepted death on the Cross to wash away our sins, we accept the crucifixion of our own flesh in order to set aside our old nature and take on the nature of the One who dwells within us. 

Our new nature rises through the indwelling spirit of Our Savior, Jesus Christ, to bring us victory over our sin stained flesh.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we find ourselves mortified by the sin in our lives.  By the grace, that is not of ourselves, we are made fully aware of our iniquities.  We even can find comfort in knowing that what once ruled over us is now under control.

Unfortunately, our flesh does not go without a fight and the enemy will ramp up his efforts to turn us away from our new life in Christ.  But rest assured, Our Savior put sin to death on the Cross and ushered in His endless grace for those that accept His gift of unconditional love.  Even though our flesh will call us to go back to our old nature, we are equipped to overcome that call.  If we learn to live in dependence upon Our Savior, we are freed to lead holy lives.  By faith, not in ourselves, but by faith in Jesus Christ, we are able to relinquish our old lives in the flesh in exchange for our new lives in spiritual union with the One who loved us so much that He was willing to die for us.

Let us live by faith in the Son of God.  Let us learn to live in victory over the callings of our flesh.  Let us rejoice in knowing that sin in our lives was put to death on the Cross.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the new lives that You have given us through the sacrifice of Your Son on the Cross.  We exalt the name of Jesus who shed His blood for all men.  We rejoice in knowing that we are conquerors over our flesh through the endless flow of grace provided by Our Savior.  We pray, Lord, that You will hold us steadfast in Your grace.  We ask, Father, that You will give us the wisdom to toss aside any claim to our own merit and the strength to take hold of, and never let loose of, the faith in Christ that sustains us as heirs to Your kingdom.  We ask all these things in the name of Our Lord, Our King, Our Savior, Jesus Christ.