Thursday 27/7/13

Galatians 2:17-20 NET

But if while seeking to be justified in Christ we ourselves have also been found to be sinners, is Christ then one who encourages sin? Absolutely not!  But if I build up again those things I once destroyed, I demonstrate that I am one who breaks God’s law. For through the law I died to the law so that I may live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

If we are justified by Christ's work at the cross, not by our good deeds or keeping the laws, then can we go on sinning? No, that will make Christ encouraging sin, which is wrong. When in Christ, our flesh is supposed to be crucified with Christ. We are died to our flesh, no longer response to its desires. Instead, Christ lives in us, thus we response to the commandments and the spirit of Christ. So being justified by Christ, we die to sin and to the laws, but we live with the mind and the spirit of Christ.

We may not be fully conform to the image of Christ in our flesh, but we need to learn and apply God's Word to grow in Christ as much as we can.