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. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Ga 2:20). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
From early elementary we begin to learn the various tenses of verbs. From past, present, future, progressive, etc; these verb tenses allow us to understand what a person intends. When approaching Scripture, verb tense and grammar are vitally important. As we approach Galtatians 2:20, a general understanding of verb tenses in the Greek language will prove to be critical.
Paul begins with a declaration of his position. I have been crucified. It is beneficial to simply understand the position of our death to our old life. However, Paul is making a powerful statement here. The verb crucified is in the perfect tense. This helps us by painting a picture that the old flesh of man is still hanging on the cross with Christ, while the spirit of the man is resting in the resurrection of Christ. That is a rich and powerful statement.
We are called to die daily, which is reinforcing the present tense of our crucifuxion with Christ. In 1 Corinthians 15 and later in Galatians, Paul will reaffirm the need to die to ourslef. Additionally, this death of our old life reminds us of 2 Corinthains 5:17, and the reality that the old has gone and the new has come.
Our death to sin must be in the forefront of our daily life. Romans 6:11 calls us to “consider our self dead to sin and alive to Christ”. The hope of Christ is that he came to make dead men to be made alive. This death to our old self, gives life in Christ. We have been made alive! Our life in Christ’s atonement gives our life value, otherwise, As Calvin put it, “As long as Christ remains outside of us, and we are separated from him, all that he has suffered and done for the salvation of the human race remains useless and of no value for us.” George, T. (1994). Vol. 30: Galatians. The New American Commentary (199). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.
The life that we now life is a statement of position, rather than moral choices. Our life is positioned in Christ as free and justified. The daily choice of that positioned life is to live as dead men walking. Being reminded daily that we are old self is crucified, we can walk by faith and the guidance of the Spirit. To live by faith in the Christ, who died for us, requires a dependency on Him for direction. Thankfully the perfect life that he emulated, offers insight on the life that we should live.
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