Page 32 - January 2023 - Truth & Tidings

“ o, if you go to church, you’re pro-life, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory

and you’re not for gay marriage, then of God” (Rom 3:23), and, “The soul who sins
Syou’re a Christian?” This question was shall die” (Eze 18:20). But here, Paul states
launched at me at 2 a.m. one night at the that the legal sentence which condemned
Chelsea Hospital in Michigan. The questioner him was not somehow dodged but was in
was being sincere. In response, I explained actuality carried out. Paul was crucified with
that being a Christian was vastly different Christ. In glorious simplicity, we are learning
than what he had described. However, I that the Lord Jesus died not only for what I
learned from this interaction that the term had done but for who I was as a sinner. And
“Christian” has become covered in political I have died under that legal penalty with
debris and confused by the many voices of Him on the cross.
society. What is it to be a Christian? The Bible, The verse continues to show that a Chris-
with final authority, answers the question. If tian is not only united with Christ in His
I were limited to one verse – only one out of death but also united in His resurrection.
the 31,102 in the Bible – it would be Gala- The Christian has been raised in “newness
tians 2:20. It illuminates the darkness of our of life” (Rom 6:4). A new person is living; in
society, and in beautiful clarity, one can learn fact, it is Christ Himself living through this
what it means to be a Christian. new man or woman. That is what our verse
Eight times in this verse we read “I” or “me”; says: “It is no longer I who lives, but Christ
while many Christians bond with a com- who lives in me.” This is what it is to be a
munity of other believers, the identity of a Christian – someone who has died under
Christian is deeply personal. From Galatians the law’s sentence with Christ and is now
2:20, we learn that a Christian is personally raised in new life with Christ. The Christian
connected with the cross of Christ, channel- now lives as a channel where Christ lives
ing the life of Christ, and devoted through through them.
the love of Christ. As Paul closes this verse, he states that this
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“I have been crucified with Christ.” One new life is not lived by works to try to earn
may expect, “I vote conservative” or “I go God’s acceptance, but is rather lived in faith by
to church,” but “I have been crucified”? Why one who has received God’s acceptance. I have
this? In the context of Galatians 2, Paul is been freely given acceptance, for I have been
outlining that the law of God condemned united with Christ. The “old person” I once was
him. He was sentenced to death because he is dead and gone and a new person is here
had failed to live according to God’s standard. now, and it’s all because the very “Son of God
And the same is true for us. The Bible says, … loved me and gave himself for me.” “What is
¹ Bible quotations in this article are from the ESV. a Christian?” Consider Galatians 2:20!