Galatians 2:20-21 "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. (21) I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
"I am crucified with Christ." Because of the work of Jesus, I
am no longer under the penalty of the law of God. The law is righteous and holy
and VERY demanding. God requires perfection and in my flesh, I am far from
perfect. God required a perfect sacrifice to be offered as an atonement for
sin. Perfection had to be given in place of imperfection. That is why the
Israelites had to observe their sacrificial lambs to make sure there were no blemishes
in the animal. But, those sacrifices under the law could never take away our
sins; rather, they only served to remind the people of their need for a
Saviour. Hence, God, by His grace, sent His only begotten Son into the
world to be that perfect, sinless, sacrificial Lamb of God. He was observed for
three and a half years by many people. We have at least four witnesses who
testified of His goodness. Judas said, "I have betrayed innocent
blood." The wife of Pilate said, "Have thou nothing to do with that
just man." Pilate declared, "I find in Him no fault."
Peter spoke of Christ, He "did no sin." (1 Peter 2:22) He
also wrote of Jesus, "Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just
for the unjust, that he might bring us to God." (1 Peter 3:18) These
speak to my heart, but the greatest witness is the Holy Spirit within me Who
tells me that all of these witnesses are true in their assessment of Jesus. My
heart tells me that Jesus, indeed, died for my sins; therefore, I do not
frustrate, or hold in a low opinion, the grace of God.
If there had been any other way for atonement to be made for my sins, then
Christ would not have had to die. If my keeping the law was sufficient, Jesus
would not have had to be nailed to that cross. If my repentance, within itself,
had been enough, Jesus would not have had to suffer. If there had been anything
that I could have done to make myself right with God, Jesus would not have had
to give His life for me. But the fact remains just as Isaiah stated, "All
my righteousnesses are as filthy rags." Anything I could have done would
have been far short of perfection because of my imperfection. Therefore, the
perfect Lamb of God laid down His life for me that I might live in Him.
"I (my sins) 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 shall praise Him for all eternity!