Transforming Lives: living for God

“For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 2:19-20

So, why was Paul so astonished (1:6) as to call his friends in Galatia foolish (3:1)? Not wasting words he jumped right in: you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—which is really no gospel at all (1:6-7). He was adamant they understand the monumental personal transformation each had undergone, not by the law but by faith. 

If ever there was a verse to tuck into your memory bank about transformation, Galatians 2:20 may be the one. I am dead, crucified; I no longer live. It is Christ who lives in me. The new I does not live by the whims of inner self nor by the traditions of the law. The old I has gotten out of the way and Christ lives my life in my stead. The new I seeks His will and His ways, so that by my faith in Jesus I can live for God. 

It’s the story of the butterfly, each of its four stages (egg, larva, pupa, adult) obviously and remarkably different from the others. To transform in Greek is metamorphoo—metamorphosis. It’s a mystery to scientists. No one knows the exact process, but the cell structure is totally altered. You too have been spiritually altered. Inside you died to self and were born anew, of the Spirit (John 3:3). Think fuzzy caterpillar in the world to silky butterfly in Christ.

The Galatians were being thrown into confusion by some who would pervert the gospel (1:7); but not just the common folk. Peter, the pillar of the church, was placating the false teachers. Even Barnabas was led astrayby their hypocrisy (2:13). If ever it was the perfect time for Peter and Barnabas to act like Jesus, it would have been then and there. They knew better—to live for God, neither adding to nor subtracting from the truth of the gospel was to be condoned.    

If ever there is the perfect time for us to get out of the way and look like Jesus, it is in this postmodern world we live in where truth has become relative in the eye of the unbeliever. I don’t know about you ladies, but I want to live for God! The world watches—will my friends see the truth of Jesus in me? in you? 

Nancy P