Is Galatians 2:20 a promise or experience?

Gal 2:20 - NASB - I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and [t]the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

If this is the promise then by default we can all proclaim this promise unconditionally. For example all we need to do is to believe that I am crucified and Jesus is living inside me already. Our ability to sin is already crucified, hence now we cannot sin as Jesus is living in our body.

But if we see this verse as an experience, then it means Apostle Paul reached this stage in his life. We too have a hope that we can reach that standard where the 'I' is crucified. How did Paul get here? By everyday crucifying his flesh along with its desires. Gal 5:24 - Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

So is it a promise or experience? I always thought it as an experience never as a promise. But having read lot of views on death in this forum, it appears that some have taken it as a literal promise. Which one is true?

I believe Romans 6 is the commentary. When I was baptized into Christ, I was baptized into His death. This is why we have the picture of this baptism contained in water baptism. Death, burial, and resurrection to new life. Except a seed die, it cannot bring forth new life. We can try to break it down and analyze it, but I think It is simply what happens when a man is born again.

Now the trick is to bring this reality of the spirit to bear upon the unregenerate flesh. This is why I die daily. This is why I fast. This is why I buffet my body and bring it into subjection.

We can try to break it down and analyze it, but I think It is simply what happens when a man is born again.

Yes the death explained in Romans 6 is the born again experience, where the Old man is dead. The old man was sinning freely. He is now dead.

Now the trick is to bring this reality of the spirit to bear upon the unregenerate flesh. This is why I die daily. This is why I fast. This is why I buffet my body and bring it into subjection.

Yes I agree with this. We cannot experience the resurrected life of Jesus without daily death to self. Paul is talking in Gal 2:20 about his experience of resurrected life based on daily death.

I agree with Travis that Romans 6 tells us of our true identification with Christ. These are facts that we must know:
We have been crucified with Christ, that is the old man, so that the body of sin might be destroyed. We were raised with Him into newness of life, and now our heavenly position is that we are seated together with Him in the heavenly places.

But what Christ has done in His death, burial, and resurrection has to become a living reality in our lives, and the Holy Spirit has been sent to make it so. I have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live." The old me died, but the new me, the new man in Christ is alive, and now the life that we live is by the faith of the Son of God. It is through our faith in what Christ has done that the Holy Spirit applies the death of the cross to our members, when we reckon ourselves to be dead to sin. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead gives us His life, so that "the law of the Spirit of life that is in Christ Jesus, has made us free from the law of sin and death. It is death to the old man, but life to the new creation in Christ.

A good book to read about our identification with Christ is "The Normal Christian Life" by Watchman Nee.

Abraham was given a promise, He believed that promise but he felt that he should assist God in making that promise an experience instead of simply resting and trusting that God would fulfill that promise through him.

what was produced was Ishmael.

add clarity

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Being "led" implies taking action or doing... so what is it we should do?

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Seems pretty straightforward ~

"If this is the promise then by default we can all proclaim this promise unconditionally."

The question is phrased wrong. One should ask oneself "has God promised me?" Throughout the Scriptures we see example after example of God speaking promises to those who cry out to Him.

So what Paul states is true for those whom God has established His promise with. In the beginning of Galatians chapter 2 we hear abundant testimony of how God revealed Himself through Christ to him. Peter and the others recognized the work of God through Christ in Paul.

It is not a promise but a fact. A fact and truth for every born again believer , whether we walk in the full experience of it or not.

When we believe we are united with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.

The natural man is flesh dominated, the born again man is Spirit ruled and led.

A dearly beloved pastor and friend of mine died. I attended his funeral. Parkinson's Disease finally got the best of him.
I do not say this in jest. It is true. And all of us that knew him greatly grieved.

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. James 1:13-15

Can a dead man be tempted?

Can my pastor friend be tempted any longer?

Can you?

Go figure!

It may be a fact but facts can be ignored. The truth Paul mentions is not an automatic. Thats where the Christian disciplines come in handy.

It may be a fact but facts can be ignored. The truth Paul mentions is not an automatic. Thats where the Christian disciplines come in handy.

I agree with this completely. The question is, is it automatic or not.

The truth is revealed by the Holy Spirit.

Christ died for all is a fact. Are all saved? No

All born again Christians are dead to sin and alive unto God. Do all live in the reality of it? No.

This is why we have teachers etc in the body of Christ, to help us become mature in Christ and bring us into new levels of spiritual understanding.

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He RESTORES MY SOUL...

What makes me believe that this is not a promise is, Paul here is talking about his testimony in Jesus. He is not saying 'all of you are crucified in Jesus'. He is only saying that he has crucified his selfish 'I' and Christ completely lives inside him. For example Romans 6:14 is a promise - "Sin shall not be master over you". No matter how many times I fall, I can still stand up and say that Sin will not be my master. But I cannot proclaim Gal 2:20 as a promise and say that "it is no longer I who live", when my reality is not Christlike. So the point is, Gal 2:20 is an experience to which we have to grow to become. It comes by continuously putting the flesh to death on the cross.

All born again Christians are dead to sin and alive unto God. Do all live in the reality of it? No

I can understand your view and respect it. The reason what makes me disagree with you is, "Dead to sin and alive to God" is a promise, it is applicable for all. Hence no matter how much I am defeated by sin, I can start to live a life dead to sin immediately. The promise is still valid.

But I cannot live a defeated life and say that it is no longer I who live but Christ. It is an experience that only those who can live it out can testify.

I believe I can always testify that one day Galatian 2:20 will become my testimony also, but is it true today?

Anyone who is serious about wanting to live an experiential (not just theological) Romans 6 life, should read Watchman Nee's book "The Normal Christian Life" - free online - http://www.thewichitafoundry.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/watchman-normal-christian-life2.pdf

Brother,

I believe that sometimes we can stretch the teaching of the bible too far and also place ourselves in a position of condemnation by believing a scripture to say more than it actually does.
The danger of all "deeper life" teachings, for example, is that we begin differentiating between so-called sub standard believers and those who somehow have a deeper experience and intimacy with God.
Who am I to judge another believer's level of intimacy with Father God?
We would do better to preach and teach the Word as true for every Christian, as in "all the promises of God are Yes and Amen in Christ Jesus"

To come back to the scripture we are discussing: In context, Paul is saying the same thing as in many of his writings, which basically is, that since discovering the righteousness and grace which is in Christ he counts all things as dung or rubbish in comparison. Having discovered the grace of life in Christ he no longer looks to himself for any righteousness or virtue whatsoever. He has discovered a new life principle. Not I but Christ!
What he is saying of himself here, he is also saying as representative of every Christian.

I am not comfortable at all to impute that verse to myself,it is but just my wild imagination. I think the key still is humility, honesty, and a repentant spirit. For me, it has been the only way I can approach God, find His grace and advance to a separated life for Him.

I guess, I do not care now if I find myself still struggling against sin, or in a survival mode as a christian. My spirit is at rest that by His grace I will indeed finish my race in the end.

RE : /// To come back to the scripture we are discussing: In context, Paul is saying the same thing as in many of his writings, which basically is, that since discovering the righteousness and grace which is in Christ he counts all things as dung or rubbish in comparison. Having discovered the grace of life in Christ he no longer looks to himself for any righteousness or virtue whatsoever. He has discovered a new life principle. Not I but Christ!///

That is articulated very well and consistent with the overall theme of Galatians.

Thanks PP :)

Passerby, I see your heart and acknowledge the good in what you wrote, however...Quote "I guess, I do not care now if I find myself still struggling against sin, or in a survival mode as a christian"

Did the Son of God humble Himself, take the form of a servant, die on a cruel cross like a criminal for the sins of the world, get buried and raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit, ascend into Heaven and pour out His Spirit on all who believe in His Name.......just so we can survive (morally speaking)? I think not
Or did He do it that we may have the victory over sin through Him?

Absolutely! Paul says: "shall sin have dominion over us?"
Of course, the answer is NO!

I am not advocating sinless perfection (if only...)
We will not be completely perfect until we receive the end of our salvation, the perfection of our souls and the glorifying of our bodies, of which the Holy Spirit is a surety.

I am saying that the battle regarding the power of sin is the Lord's and that he who died to sin can no longer be under its power....therefore, "reckon yourself dead to sin and alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Our Lord has saved us to the uttermost, from sin to serve the Living God! He has given us the Divine Helper, the Holy Spirit...let is not shrink back from the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, but let us press on that we may be sons and daughters of God in truth, walking with dignity, with heads held high, reigning in life as kings, through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Humility is not walking with heads bowed down under a burden of guilt and shame and condemnation.
Humility is knowing your self and knowing that your self is crucified with Christ and that Christ now lives in you!
Kenneth Hagin said:"Humility is the ability to receive what you do not deserve"

I may not agree with all the Word of Faith teaching but here he is spot on, I think.

Remember, Christ is not only our righteousness (justification). He is also our sanctification and our redemption.

Blessings,

If we still find ourselves below par of sinless perfection, then what Paul have said, that sin shall not have dominion over us, may mean that in our end we still will have this heavy struggles and battles against sin in diverse forms.

As I realize it, since I began the new life, that my soul will not rest until I attain sinless perfection. Guess, this is a seed that is implanted in my very being.

It causes sleepless distress time and again especially during my early years in faith but as the time goes, I am also beginning to see what Paul told us about how God really cares for us, that in every situation His grace is sufficient for us.

There were many who have stretched Gal 2:20 beyond its meaning, they claimed big time and they fell big time and many souls were shaken. Still God's grace is sufficient, whether we were so confused or fell big time at points in our lives is a non-issue, after He has finished fixing all this mess in human history, all who have humbled themselves before the Lord will be saved.

Good morning. As I read the latest posts of this thread, I thought about something that God has taught me over the years. It has to do with walking in the spirit rather than walking in the flesh. I thought about something you said, passerby, "As I realize it, since I began the new life, that my soul will not rest until I attain sinless perfection. Guess, this is a seed that is implanted in my very being. "

We all know that we are to walk in the Spirit. In doing so, we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. But too many of us look at this as something we must attain, and we begin to try to walk in the Spirit...in the flesh. I know it sounds a little funny, but it is the reality for too many believers. It is as if we are born again, given a clean slate, but now see it as our own responsibility to figure out how to keep the slate clean. It is interesting to me that we are talking about the book of Galatians, because the entire book is written to teach on just this topic.

Paul says in Galatians 5 that we are to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. I have asked countless believers what they think the yoke of bondage is. In almost every single case their answer is that we are not to become entangled again in our former sins. There is only one problem with that answer, it is not even remotely close to what Paul is talking about here. Remember scripture without context is pretext. The yoke of bondage is the bondage of trying to live under the law, of trying to please God by our own efforts. In Galatians, Paul is dealing with a people who started in grace, but then thought they would be perfected by their own works.

What Paul speaks of in Gal. 2:20 is a reality. When we learn what is means to walk in the Spirit, we will come to the revelation that we really are dead, crucified with Him, and that He now lives through us. It is not at all a platform of "sinless perfection" that we reach. It is a reality of our life no longer being our own, but His through us. Through passionate pursuit of Him, through intimacy through prayer, worship and His word, through humble recognition of our identity in Him we lose ourselves in Him and He begins to live in and through us.

We grow in holiness, but that growth comes out of the root that is planted firmly in righteousness. What we are produces what we do, not the other way around. I have been saved by His grace. I continue to maintain my walk with him through His grace. As I have received Christ, so I continue to walk in Him. And I am amazed as I see my externals conform day by day, more and more into His image. I am excited as I see that which last year tripped me up, this year fall off as I lay aside the weights and sin and run the race. But it all originates from my revelation of my relationship with Him and what He has done for me.

I agree with most of the things you have posted. Especially with growth in Holiness.

Paul says in Galatians 5 that we are to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. I have asked countless believers what they think the yoke of bondage is. In almost every single case their answer is that we are not to become entangled again in our former sins. There is only one problem with that answer, it is not even remotely close to what Paul is talking about here.

The problem here is, if a believer who is truly born again is defeated by sin, then he is not walking by Spirit. Then he should be walking by law. If there is a desire to obey God's law but lack of power, then it is life of Romans 7 which is life by law. Sin taking opportunity through law and expressing itself. Hence a born again believer who is entangled again in former sin is actually short sighted and is living by law. He/she is under the yoke of slavery. One sign of being under the yoke of slavery is being defeated by past sins.

What Paul speaks of in Gal. 2:20 is a reality.

It is a reality only when a person is growing in holiness. How can a born again believer defeated by Pornography, tell that Jesus is living inside him and he is no longer living? It is not a reality. If it is a reality then every time he is defeated by pornography, it is actually not him because he is crucified on the cross.

The difference between what we both are saying is, you believe that Gal 2:20 is a reality and when we believe in it then we grow in holiness. I believe that Gal 2:20 becomes a reality when we grow in holiness, otherwise it is a blasphemy to say that it is a reality.

I agree, brother Sree, that faith without works is dead and that, if practical holiness was the context of the verse, your argument would be correct. Some questions, though: Was Paul, or any other apostle, completely yielded to Christ every moment of every day, living in perfect holiness?
James said we all stumble. Paul said he had not yet reached perfection, etc.
No, in context, the subject matter is the righteousness of law compared to the far superior righteousness of grace in Christ. Paul has received a new way of living. Christ lives in Him, just as in all believers. See verse 21, he again mentions the grace of God and righteousness.
Compare Romans 8:"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don`t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus made me free from the law of sin and of death. For what the law couldn`t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For those who are after the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For the mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace; because the mind of the flesh is hostile towards God; for it is not subject to God`s law, neither indeed can it be. Those who are in the flesh can`t please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if it is so that the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if any man doesn`t have the Spirit of Christ, he is not his."

Was Paul, or any other apostle, completely yielded to Christ every moment of every day, living in perfect holiness?
James said we all stumble. Paul said he had not yet reached perfection, etc

That is a good point. I do not believe as well that Paul was perfect because the 'I' was crucified and Jesus was dwelling in him. Paul still had sins to cleanse himself from.

I believe it is each areas of our life that requires Christ to live in. For example if we compare our life to be a house, then there are various rooms in it. We may invite Christ inside one room but unwilling to yield other rooms to him. So the more the 'I' dies in daily walk, the more rooms Christ starts to occupy in our life. So what Paul is confessing in Gal 2:20 is; in the areas that he is aware of, 'I' has been crucified and Christ has been living there, leading to Christ likeness. But there might be areas that he is unaware of in which 'I' is still not crucified.

I agree, brother Sree, that faith without works is dead and that, if practical holiness was the context of the verse, your argument would be correct. Some questions, though: Was Paul, or any other apostle, completely yielded to Christ every moment of every day, living in perfect holiness?

We could say, "walking in the Spirit vs walking in the law", or we could say, "walking in the Spirit vs walking in the flesh". That was the weakness of the law according to Rom. 7, that we had to try to keep it in the flesh. The reality now is that I can fulfill the righteousness of the law through the Spirit, rather than the vain attempt to fulfill it through the flesh.

I have noticed that a lie, or a false doctrine, is usually most convincing because it contains much that sounds like the truth. Otherwise it would not be a deception. I am not saying that practical holiness is not necessary (that would be a lie), but we must make sure we do not get the cart before the horse, or turn the tree upside down. The root of my holy life is found in the righteousness that is imputed to me. Just as I committed actions of sin because of the sin inherited from my earthly father Adam, I now commit actions of holiness because of the righteousness imputed by God to me when I surrendered to Him and was born again. I now have a new identity. I am dead to sin and alive unto God.

I think if we look very carefully at Romans 6 we will find that the actions of sin are separated from sin itself. We are not to obey sin by yielding (in our actions) to its lust. I am a new man, dead to sin and alive unto God. But I still have unregenerate flesh that needs to be brought into subjection to the Spirit of God. The identity and the reality is that I have been crucified with Christ. As a result of this reality, I now seek to purify myself, even as I am pure (the temporal result of a spiritual reality).

I think this is a very important point, because to get it upside down is to think that I can produce roots by hanging fruit on branches. If the tree is dead and the roots dead, the fruit is a plastic imitation that will not stand the test. But if the root be good, then the fruit is good. A man truly born again will seek to be more like His master, and he will do it through a continual walk of intimacy. When he falls to a sin, he will have both a Godly sorrow that works repentance, and a settled confidence in his right standing with God through God's grace.

But a man who is seeking to be righteous through the flesh will feel condemnation and a sense of hopeless failure. This is all the flesh can produce when it falls short. But a righteous man will know that he is righteous, that God has forgiven Him, and will, as a result of that true revelation, repent of that thing and become more like Christ.

A man hoping to take advantage of grace for license to live in the flesh will have his conscience seared and will harden himself to the dealings of the Holy Spirit. This man does not understand grace or the love of God, but only understands surrender to His own flesh.

Hope that makes sense.

I myself still deserve hell, there is only one way I will make it into heaven, in sinless perfection which God requires to allow us into His house. That one way is by the perfection of Christ in me, they at His appearing will be changed in the twinkling of an eye and that which would have kept me out of God' House, will be as Christ is in body, soul and spirit. As He is I will be just like Him and will be let into Gods House in all that I am now, which I recon to be by Grace through faith, as He Is in this world so are we in Him by His life that lives in us Now. This now is by faith, at His appearing it will by reality and truth by His marriage to us as The Bride of Christ, and sons' of God by the Son of God who NOW lives in us. Present; The flesh living by the Spirit, at His appearing The Spirit of spirit being perfection in me, no old body of sinful flesh and blood but a sinless perfect body of flesh and bone just like His. But Now I live by the faith of the Son of God, it is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me. What glory is this? Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Perfect In Christ not in self: Phillip

Phillip: Well said brother. In ourselves, we have never and can never deserve anything but hell, wrath, destruction. It is an important thing to remember, for it removes from us any pride in our own performance. Praise God I have my righteousness in Him and not in myself.

Travis wrote: """ Praise God I have my righteousness in Him and not in myself."""

Amen Travis. "Faith without works is dead." That depends on whose works the faith is of and whose works they are.

"The life that I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave His life for me."

Whose works now works mightily in me? Colossians 1:29 Whereunto I also labour, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily.

Works of self righteousness, been there done that. My family hated me because I was always on them for how they should work out their own salvation by what they did and they had to believe a certain way. Then Christ in me became the focus of all that I am, not by my self-righteousness and works of a Pharisee, but of the works of Christ in me the hope of glory. Then my family saw Christ in me and not self-righteous me. It is still a thing to be on guard for, I, "I" keep popping up at times and must put down my works and look to His working in me mightily.

May the God of our salvation reveal Himself in us and we totally depend on His working in us, "which worketh in us mightily.

In Christ: Phillip

No "I" or "me" can fulfill the righteousness of the law, or plainly speaking, the righteous requirements of the law. The law cannot declare anybody righteous because the flesh is weak. Walking in the flesh means yielding to lust, pride, and other forms of evil (Gal 5:19-21). To walk in the spirit does not mean lawlessness and it does not nullify the Law of God. and There are many examples in the bible that describes walking in the spirit:

Romans 12:1”“2

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."

Gal 5:25-26

"If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another."

John 14:21

"Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

John 14: 23-24

"If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me."

To walk obediently to God and following hard after Him by spirit led christians are not works of the flesh, that is a deception.

What is through the flesh?

A. Samuel 15

17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel?

18 And the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.

19 Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the Lord, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the Lord?

20 And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the Lord, and have gone the way which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites.

21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice unto the Lord thy God in Gilgal.

22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

B. 2 Chronicles 26:15-16

"15 And he (King Uzziah) made devices in Jerusalem, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and large stones. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong.

16 But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction"

C. Psalm 147:10

He does not delight in the strength of the horse; He takes no pleasure in the legs of a man.

D: Jeremiah 17:5

Thus says the LORD: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the LORD.”

E. Hosea 10:12-13

"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men."

F. Matthew 7:22”“23

"Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’”

G. 1 Corinthians 10:12

Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.

H. Matt 23:37-39

"37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! 38Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. 39For I say unto you, Ye shall not see me henceforth, till ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

That is having it our way, in our disobedience, our pride, our folly, our rebelliousness, our lawlessness, our unbelief, having no fear in God.

Real faith requires our obedience, action, and effort.

James 2:26: For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Deut 6:4-5: "Hear, O Israel, The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."

Hey Passerby,

So often we seem to be disagreeing when we are simply describing different sides of the same coin.

You say: "Real faith requires our obedience, action, and effort."

Does the gospel not call us to the obedience of faith? I.O.W. To obey God is to believe in His Son Jesus Christ.
This then, is the foundation of all subsequent "good works"

Our faith in Jesus leads to the truth of the Original Post scripture: No longer I but Christ.
Christ in me is the spring from which flows forth every good work.

"This is the work of God, that you believe in the One Whom He sent"

Paul puts it this way: Faith working through love. So God loved us first, we believed and received His love in the Lord Jesus Christ and now His love in us is enabling us to do good to all men.

Blessings,

I see 2 extremes in the understanding of Gal 2:20.

The first extreme is - "You are already dead and Christ is living inside you".

The only person dead is the old man. But the flesh along with its passions are still alive. It has to be crucified everyday (Galatians 5:24). One has to die everyday (Luke 9:23), taking up his cross to deny his will and do the will of God. Now without this death there is no resurrection. Those who claim about the resurrected Jesus living inside us, safely ignore all the verses related to everyday death. Hence I find this is not complete truth. Posters like "ChristInYou", fall into this extreme.

The other extreme which is not found in this forum, but I have seen is, people who talk only about death and not resurrection. They believe in death to self and everyday carrying the cross, but they miss the Christ living inside us part. Hence their Christianity becomes self effort. Death alone cannot produce life. 1 John 5:12 is very clear, "He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.". We will have life only when we have Jesus living inside us. Just dying to self does not produce life by itself.

Many times, people like me who proclaim the full Gospel, which is a balance of both the extremes, people think that I belong to the self effort extreme. But it is not so. I believe, we need to die everyday, carry the cross and also have the resurrected Jesus living inside us. It is everyday death of Paul's self that lead to Gal 2:20.

Hi sree;

The extreme of being in Christ and Christ being in us is what Paul preached His whole ministry, from the three years in Sinai being taught about this new Gospel, which Paul claims as "My Gospel", taught not by man or anyone else, but by Jesus Christ; the epitome of Gal 2:20.

By the Christ in me I can now die daily in the crucifixion of Christ, because I was hanging on the Cross with Him, that is by Faith I believe The Lord Jesus Christ' death was my death, in that being born again by the birth of Jesus Christ in me by the Father sealed by the Holy Spirit who now lives in me by the power of the prayer of Jesus Christ to send the Comforter to teach this mystery claimed by Paul, now the life I live I live by the faith of the Son of God. By this glorious hope that is in us, NOW I can deal with and not as you wrote; ""ignore all the verses related to everyday death. Hence I find this is not complete truth. Posters like "ChristInYou, fall into this extreme."" I know labor and striving every day to die now to self and live unto God by the Spirit of Jesus Christ that is now my spirit, the spirit of satan out and the Spirit of Christ in me. You sree wrote: "like "ChristInYou", fall into this extreme."

The extreme I lobor and strive for is by Paul spoken of as the mystery. Colossians 1:25-29 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

This is my labour and striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily. This may be extreme, but I follow Paul as he follows Christ. Christ in you the hope of glory is my extreme and striving to die daily to self and live in the only life that is life eternal, which is Christ Life.

"The life I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God."

In Christ my eternal life by He that is birthed in me:
"The fulfillment of the Word of God."

Phillip

I know labor and striving every day to die now to self and live unto God by the Spirit of Jesus Christ that is now my spirit, the spirit of satan out and the Spirit of Christ in me.

If this is your belief then I do not believe it is an extreme as indicated by me. I am not against order, I believe death to self leads to 'Christ in me' and you the other way. Whether we agree with one another or not, scripture talks about both death and life. Hence one needs to talk about both, not just one. A one winged bird cannot fly, so if we hold on to just one part of truth, we will not be able to live a Christian life.

The problem with making the death to self an implicit thing that happens automatically is, we start to ignore it in our teachings. Man's part is very simple, to die everyday. It is God's part to produce Christ inside us. It is like a grain of wheat, that has to die, but it is God who causes it to grow. I have hardly read any of your posts, talking about this everyday death. God never fails anyone, it is we who fail God because of our stubborn heart.

Both Jesus and Paul spoke more about death to self than Christ in us. It is the death to self that is lacking in most Christians today.

Being in Christ and Christ being in us, count how many time it refers to the in Christ or Christ in us just in these few verses. There are 160 times it is referenced in the New Testament. Over 90% are in Paul' writings. Here are just a few.

Ro 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Ro 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Ro 8:9
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Ro 8:10
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Ro 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Ro 8:17
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Ro 8:34
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Ro 8:35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Ro 8:39
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ro 9:1
I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost.

This settles it for me; You probably won't read all these scriptures and that is ok by me. I am just blessed to know you and your position of Christ in you the hope of glory.

Ro 5:17
For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)
Ro 5:21
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ro 6:3
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Ro 6:4
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Ro 6:8
Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Ro 6:9
Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
Ro 6:11
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ro 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Ro 7:4
Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.
Ro 7:25
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Ro 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Ro 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Ro 8:9
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Ro 8:10
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Ro 8:11
But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Ro 8:17
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Ro 8:34
Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
Ro 8:35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
Ro 8:39
Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ro 9:1
I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost.

By Paul of whom I agree most hole heartily and by the Holy Spirit teaching of the Christ in us.

In Him: Phillip

Dear brothers,
Please bear with me and read this post slowly and patiently, if possible:

To go back to the OP, we can all agree that the overriding theme of Galatians is the Righteousness of faith as opposed to the righteousness that comes through the works of the Law. I.O.W. Paul is demonstrating the inability of our old man (self) to achieve the obedience required by the Law to make us righteous, compared to the perfect obedience of Christ Jesus and the righteousness given to us as a gift through faith in Him (dependence upon Him and His righteousness)

He goes on to ask whether they received the Holy Spirit, Who is the power of God within us enabling us to live according to God’s will, by the works of the Law or the hearing of faith. (Obviously, by the hearing of faith: Hearing and believing the good news of Jesus Christ)
He then moves on to say: In Christ, circumcision or uncircumcision (requirements of the Law) matters not BUT rather: Faith working through love.

Then he calls on them to practice LOVE…for LOVE is the fulfillment of the LAW. The whole Law can be summed up in one commandment: Love your neighbor as yourself.

I believe Paul’s next statement sums up the self denying, cross carrying (terms used by Jesus BEFORE the cross and resurrection) life.
Galatians 5 verse 16:” But I say, live by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desires of the flesh”

He then contrasts the works of the flesh (human nature without Christ) and the fruit of the spirit (the human nature indwelt by God’s spirit, born again person)

Galatians 5 verse 24, notice the tense: " now those who belong to Christ, HAVE crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Verse 25: "if we live by the Spirit let us walk by the Spirit” or stated differently, "if we are born again, Spirit indwelt people, let our behavior reflect the same”

Summary: Faith in Jesus Christ puts us right with God. His love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit coming to indwell us. We now live in dependence upon this Spirit and live our lives in LOVE.

Blessings

I like your summary William ---this phrase at the end caught my eye: "We now ****live in dependence*** upon this Spirit." I agree with this statement.

In your view, HOW do we "live in dependence?"

Thanks bro Todd,

Dependence always reminds me of childlikeness.
Looking to the Lord,Who is the Spirit, in and for everything. Expecting nothing good from your self
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding "
First of all it is a yielding,a surrender of the will,handing over the reigns to Him.
"Set apart Christ as Lord in your hearts "
It is a lifestyle that includes confession, humility, prayer and thanksgiving.

The problem is being contented with too much abstraction of meanings which is easily being repeated and stereotyped resulting to lingering confusion over the matter such as originally laid in the first post of this thread.

As Peter had pointed out, Paul which Peter do not the doubt the authenticity of being a true apostle, nevertheless, propounded things that some people perverted to their own and others' destruction. We see, that Paul in his letters, had been falsely and violently accused of evil because of this.

Crucial points are within the theme of Paul's letter to the Galatians _ whether the gentiles were to be circumcised, convert to Judaism, or subscribed to Jewish ordinances and traditions first before they became really fully accepted to God. We already know the answer but many then, were offended.

Another abstracted point is the meaning of walking in the Spirit, what is then palpable intent of this verse (or statement)? We know that there is only one Master and one Teacher, the Lord Jesus Christ. Whether we heard it from Paul, Peter, James, or John __ whether we read it in Romans, Galatians, or other books of the bible, they will be speaking of the same thoughts and intents.

Herein, as we remember, is confirmed again, that during our earthly days there is a struggle between our sinful propensities(flesh) and the Spirit (Holy Ghost). To which Paul (plainly)said walk in the Spirit, as he described later the works of the flesh and fruit of the Spirit.

In the same intent, the Lord said "walk in the light" and "abide in me", "keep (obey) my commandments. To walk in he Spirit is to be led by the Spirit(Gal 5:18) and to walk after the spirit(Rom 8:4-5).

The abstraction is we are but just an inactive participant with no willful efforts and self-sacrifice to make, nor cross to carry, which may led to the perversion that the gospel of Christ which the apostle Paul preached promotes sin, and that any of our willful efforts to follow Christ is a false gospel.

The Lord has this to say, "So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do" (Luke 17:10). I believe, the apostle Paul got it right indeed.

The posters who believe that Gal 2:20 is a reality to them or a fact to them should care to answer this question.
If you consider yourself already dead and Christ is living the life for you, then when you fall to lust with eyes, is it you who lusted with eyes or is it Christ? When you yell at someone, then is it you or is it Christ?

I do not believe Christ living inside us, is same as Holy Spirit living inside us. In Galatians it self there are differences. For example in Gal 4:6 Paul is saying, "Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!”

So Galatians are people who received the Holy SPirit or the Spirit of Jesus.

But he also tells them 4:19- "My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you"

So this means they do not have Christ living inside them. They might have received the Holy Spirit, but Christ is still not formed inside them.

This proves that Gal 2:20 is not fulfilled in them. Becuase if Christ is not formed in them then how can Christ live in them?

We all receive Holy Spirit of God when we are born again. Holy Spirit gives us desire to live a Godly life. But if we choose not to die to self and live to God then Christ will not live inside us like how Paul had in Gal 2:20.

The experience that Paul has in Gal 2:20, is available to all of us. But unless we desire to have the experience we will not have it. Just imagining that I already have it, is not going to help either. Hence it is very important for us to understand the reality of our spiritual condition and long for the real experience, rather than a fake belief.

Paul appears to be using the Holy Spirit and Christ interchangeably in the above passages. So to say that one has the Holy Spirit and does not have Christ living in them does not appear to be taught in the New Testament.

Based on the verses that I quoted from Gal 4. Christ is clearly not formed in them. Or in other words CHristlikeness is not found in them. None of the verse you posted, in any way disagrees with what I have written.

I too believe that Spirit of Jesus and Holy Spirit are same, as I posted earlier.
Christlikeness is not same as having the Holy Spirit. Just because a person has received the holy spirit, does not make him Chirst like. In other words, that does not mean Christ is living inside him and not he. That is what I am trying to differentiate.

Respectfully, if you want to disagree with me, then post your logical answer for the entire post of mine. I am especially interested in how you will answer my question in the first few lines of my post. Just taking a particular line, totally removing the context in which I have mentioned that is not a logical answer at all.

Concur with "William's" thoughts.

Though I believe there are depths to scripture we will always have further kindled and brought to life and illumination by the Holy Spirit I believe this verse is primarily one denoting both Paul's positional and relational experience to the Lord. Paul was identifying himself with both the atoning purpose as well as the overcoming outcome of His Master's obedient work on the cross.

Upon the foundation of that atoning ripped veil, Jesus via the Holy Spirit was spiritually manifesting Himself in and through Paul, through the spiritual vehicle of Paul's expectant trust or faith.

I believe this is a similar exclamation to that which Paul made in Colossians 1:27 "Christ in you, the hope of glory!".

I do believe it is a promise for us as "God is no respecter of persons" but that we should be careful not to merely pretend we have attained it either. We should proclaim until we see Him formed in us... but not stop till we do.

Preaching to myself as well!

John 13:20 Verily , verily , I say unto you , He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me ; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me .

Who did Jesus send? John 14:16-17 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

What was the purpose of the Comforter? John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

Even the Comforter, Teacher, Parakletos is sent in the Name of Jesus Christ by the Father that the believer might be indwelt by the Holy Spirit, sent by the Father, in Jesus' name.

To bring all things to remembrance, that Jesus Said while He was hear on this earth.

Then Jesus will not leave us alone, He will also come unto us and indwell us by His Spirit that is born again in us, by the birthing of the Fathers incorruptible Seed, which is the Word, Jesus Christ Himself. John 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. This comfortless is not the same as the Holy Ghost, but the same as being fatherless.

So we have the Holy Spirit Teacher of all the things that Jesus said, that we might know Him in truth. Then Jesus will also come to indwell us and also bring even the Father with Him to be with us.

John 14:19-20 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

Where is Jesus Christ? In you, and me. If the Father is in Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ is in the Father, How can we be not in Jesus Christ by the birthing of The Spirit of Christ in us by the Father, being born again of incorruptible Seed of the Father, Jesus Christ in you the Hope of Glory.

1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. This word should be Word. The same as John 1:1-4.

Back to the Holy Spirit and what He is to do; John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13-14 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Christ is born again in us, this is eternal life. The Holy Spirit is in us and will be in us forever, to teach every born again Christian exactly what the Christ in each of us needs to hear of what Jesus Christ tells the Holy Spirit to teach me, just for me, and teach you, just for you. All will be for each individual needs to hear, by the Holy Spirit revealing what Jesus Christ wants us to Hear and be.

The new life of Christ born again in us with the Father and the Holy Spirit is what Pauls' mystery of Christ in you the Hope of Glory is all about.

Study John 14,15,16 to see exactly what the Holy Spirit is in us for and the Life of Christ in us giving eternal life, by all that the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit have done for a our salvation in Christ Jesus my eternal life. The study all of what Paul, the apostle to the gentiles and what he calls my gospel.

Colossians 1:23-28 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:

Whose gospel? Mr 8:35
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
Mr 10:29
And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
Ac 20:24
But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Ro 1:9
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
Ro 2:16
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to (((my gospel.)))
Ro 16:25
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to (((my gospel,))) and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

Why to the gentiles?

Acts 28:28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it.

In Christ: Phillip

No one is dennying the infilling of Holy Spirit here. As a person who has personally experienced the baptism of Holy Spirit, how can I denny what I have experienced?

All I am expecting is simple answer to the following question. If every born again believer is automatically experiencing Gal 2:20, then how ill one answer this question when the believer sins?

If you consider yourself already dead and Christ is living the life for you, then when you fall to lust with eyes, is it you who lusted with eyes or is it Christ? When you yell at someone, then is it you or is it Christ?

Christ did not sin and cannot sin. So it is me in the flesh and blood that is doing the sinning, not the Spirit of Christ birthed in me. I have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ, and if I agree with God what sin is and confess my transgression God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse from unrightousness. This forgiveness is based upon what Jesus Christ did on the Cross. This does not give me license to sin. All sin is against God.

In Christ: Phillip

Question: What does the Holy Spirit do for you?

Question: Where is Jesus Christ now, what does He do for you?

Dear brother Sree,

We are blurring the lines in this discussion. Let us interpret the scriptures in context and not from our personal point of view regarding holiness and Christlike behavior.

You say:"If you consider yourself already dead and Christ is living the life for you, then when you fall to lust with eyes, is it you who lusted with eyes or is it Christ? When you yell at someone, then is it you or is it Christ?"

Answer: The letter to Galatians is not primarily dealing with the matter of sins but of being put right with God by grace in Christ Jesus, contrasted to by the works of the Law. When Paul says he is in birth pains again to see Christ formed in them he is referring to the gospel preached to them,of righteousness which comes by grace through our Lord Jesus Christ and the fact that they were allowing themselves to be drawn away from that truth and starting to mix grace and Law.
He wants Christ formed in them in clear understanding that the righteousness of God comes as a gift through faith in Jesus Christ alone and not through any works of the Law or anything else.

If Galatians 2 verse 20 was referring to Paul having reached some stage of perfection in his faith then we would be saying that indeed a sinless perfection is possible for a Christian in this life and that Paul therefore never sinned in word or deed thereafter.
I think he would be the first to emphatically deny such a thing.

Beware that by not understanding this scripture in its true context it does not lead to becoming too focused on self and our efforts to become Christlike by some works of our own and we bring ourselves under condemnation.

The great cry of Galatians is: " It is for freedom that Christ has set us free!"

Stand fast in that freedom in Christ, brethren, and from that basis live your lives in love and in the power of the Holy Spirit!

Blessings,

If Galatians 2 verse 20 was referring to Paul having reached some stage of perfection in his faith then we would be saying that indeed a sinless perfection is possible for a Christian in this life and that Paul therefore never sinned in word or deed thereafter.

No I do not believe in Sinless perfection. Nor does Apostle Paul. What Paul is talking here is, in the areas that Paul is aware of, it is no longer he that lives but Christ who lives in him. Every time we put the flesh to death, the Christlikeness keeps increasing in us. Brother Zac Poonen uses this illustration of a house. Our life is like a house with many rooms. There are rooms like our finances, entertainment etc.

Now when we are born again we invite Jesus into our house or life. But Jesus is not fully living inside our house. There are areas where we restrict Jesus from entering because in those areas we still want to do our will. We might be doing it unknowingly. For example David Wilkerson was spending time in watching TV, until God asked him to get rid of it, then he used that time to pray and get the burden for lost! We all know the result of that burden. So the same way Jesus increases to occupy more rooms into our life. It comes by putting our self to death in each of those rooms and allowing Jesus to take control.

As far as Paul knew, Christ was living in all the rooms that he is aware of in his life. If God shows more rooms then he will by virtue of putting the flesh to death, invite Christ in those rooms as well.

That is why Paul was able to say - 1 Cor 4:4:- "For I am conscious of nothing against myself, yet I am not by this acquitted; but the one who examines me is the Lord."

So it is me in the flesh and blood that is doing the sinning, not the Spirit of Christ birthed in me.

The moment you agree that someone else other than Christ is also living and doing those Sin, you can no longer say Gal 2:20 is true in your life. Because as per Gal 2:20, there is only Christ who lives, no one else. The 'I' has been crucified.

if I agree with God what sin is and confess my transgression God is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse from unrightousness

This is called Repentance. Now you are writing about Repentance, but I have never read anything about repentance from you. All I hear is, Jesus is already living inside each believer so just start living. But the Apostles preached the opposite, Repent and then believe.

Question: What does the Holy Spirit do for you?

I believe that I have received Holy Spirit from the time I was born again. The Holy Spirit has produced a desire in me to obey God. To live a God pleasing life. But I was an unbroken man. I always thought that if I knew what it is to obey God then I can obey him. So I choose to trust in my strength to obey God. I failed miserably for many years.

One day I came to the point where I gave up and acknowledged that I can no longer live a God pleasing life. It is at this lowest point of my Christian life that I received the Baptism of Holy Spirit. From that time, I also received strength to obey. Like Jesus said in Acts 1:8- "You will receive Power to be my witness". That exactly happened to me. I received Power to be a witness of Jesus on this earth. Now does it mean that I was no longer tempted or got an easy victory? No, it is not so. I still had the battle between flesh and spirit, but now I have power to obey the Spirit and put the flesh to death.

This is the new living way. Even Jesus learnt obedience by suffering. By putting his flesh to death. How can we be an exception?

Where is Jesus Christ now, what does He do for you?

Jesus Christ is interceding for me. He is also living in side me in the areas of my life where I can proclaim Gal 2:20. For example it is very difficult to make me get offended. I believe in that area of my life, it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. It came by continuous death to self when there were temptations to get offended. Since I came from Hindu Faith, I suffered persecution from the hands of my parents, siblings and relatives. It was continuous denial of any self during all those ill treatment that I received for Jesus sake, that now resulted in Christ living inside me.
But there are other areas in my life where self is still living and pops out during temptations.

Quote: """The moment you agree that someone else other than Christ is also living and doing those Sin, you can no longer say Gal 2:20 is true in your life. Because as per Gal 2:20, there is only Christ who lives, no one else. The 'I' has been crucified."""

How does that work? Gal 2:20 is not a law or commandment, it is a statement of fact what God has done in Christ for the believer. The I that is crucified is the old man, the first Adam, just like salvation, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, The rest is Gods work in me by Jesus Christ. I believe that Christ is crucified and the resurrected crucified Spirit Christ now lives in me and I by faith was crucified and resurrected with Him unto new life in Christ who is now my all in all. Because of Him I am dead to the Law. This is my crucifiction Colosians 1:27-29 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

How are we made perfect? It is certainly not what I do, it is most certainly what He did. Gal 2:20 in scripture stands by its self, "I" believe it. Yes I was crucified on the Cross with Christ,(yet I live) Where He died taking all my sin, I died to sin that I might live unto God, """Through Faith""", """by Grace""" not by my works of the law of which I am crucified, or sins, but by His works in me and by my sins forgiven, by faith and confession.

Galatians 2:16-21 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 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. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. "The life I now live"

Are we dead?

In Christ: Phillip