________ WHY NOT ________
Living The Christian Life – Difficult? No, Impossible!
Rick Moffett
If you have been a Christian for very long, you have likely discovered that trying to live the Christian life is not easy. It seems there is always one more thing you should be doing or something you must stop doing. Trying to adhere to all the activities on your imaginary “list of things to do to be a good Christian” eventually becomes more like a job and less like the abundant life of grace Jesus came to give us (John 10:10).
And to make matters worse, you may have compared yourself with other Christians who seem to have it all together (2 Cor. 10:12). This may have motivated you to try harder while in the meantime, you put on your “I’m doing fine” mask when you go out in public (especially church meetings) and hope that nobody knows the struggles you are going through. And if you have tried long enough, you may have decided that living the Christian life is not just difficult, it is impossible!
Your conclusion may be: the Christian life just doesn't work for me!
Know this, God never intended for us to try to live the Christian life by our own efforts any more than He expects us to save ourselves by our own efforts. Consider –
So, what exactly is the “Christian life”?
The Christian life is often described as a system of living, a set of religious rules to follow, or participation in a religious organization. But do these accurately describe the Christian life? Ask yourself, “Could an unbeliever (non-Christian) perform these things?” Hint - see Pharisees in the New Testament.
The Christian life is not a system, a set of rules, or an organization. And it is certainly not us trying to imitate Jesus, as some have taught. In fact, it’s not something we do at all. It is simply the life of Jesus Christ. When we receive Jesus as our Savior, He becomes our life (Col. 3:4). Moreover, He desires to live His life in and through us (Gal. 2:20). And after all, is anyone better equipped to live the Christian life than Christ Himself?
The Christian life is not about what we do but what Christ does in and through us.
But beware! Getting us to ‘do something’ is one of the oldest lies in the Bible. Consider Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Even though they lived in the most perfect environment possible, Satan convinced them that they were missing something that they needed to be OK. The solution was to do something, in this case, eat from the forbidden tree. Satan loves to convince us that we must earn and or keep our salvation by our good works (Eph. 2:8-9). Satan also used this same tactic with Jesus in the wilderness (Matt. 4:1-11).
Our Union with Christ
“Christ in us” is a significant theme in the Bible. It is often referred to as our union with Christ. If you have read the New Testament, you have undoubtedly encountered the phrase, “in Christ” (which occurs in one form or another over 160 times). In most instances, reading this phrase as “in union with Christ” would be appropriate. When you realize and understand your union with Christ, it will transform your perspective about who you are and what you have in Christ. Know this, Jesus not only died to pay our sin debt; He also came to give us new life, His life, which is available to every person who has received Him by faith. Consider -
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:10
11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. Romans 8:11
“The utmost need in every ministry group, every missionary outreach, every denomination, is to rediscover the Lord Jesus Christ and the indispensability of His indwelling presence within the believer.” Major W. Ian Thomas; The Indwelling Life of Christ
“The Spirit of the living Christ is present in the Christian, existing as the identity of the Christian, and functioning to express Himself through the Christian.” Dr. James Fowler
The Apostle Paul sums up the life he lived in union with Christ in one verse in his letter to the Galatian church. It’s worth taking a closer look at his experience, which should also be ours. Context
Consider –
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and 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.” Galatians 2:20
Let’s take a look at what Paul is saying in this verse –
“I have been crucified with Christ;” – (Literally means I have been and am now crucified with Christ.)
Many have asked, “Since Paul was still alive when writing this, how was he crucified?” Paul is speaking about a spiritual transaction. It was his old “dead to God” spirit (aka, old man or old self) that was crucified with Christ. His old spirit had to die so he could receive a new human spirit that is alive to God (thus, he was born again). To better understand the constitution of man, please see God’s Design for Man on this website.
While there are many commentaries on this phrase, none is better than Paul's comments in his letter to the church at Rome. Consider –
3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism, so we too may walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, Romans 6:3-6
Note - The words “baptized” and “baptism” in these verses mean to be “placed into” or “united with.” For more on this, see Romans Commentary chapter six on this website.
“and it is no longer I who live,” –
His old human spirit in Adam no longer exists. It has been exchanged for a new one that is united with Christ. Recall that our true identity is determined by our spirit (in Christ or in Adam). Consider –
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 2 Corinthians 5:17
Because his old spirit was crucified along with its sinful nature, Paul no longer lived enslaved to sin. He was a new creation indwelt by the Spirit of Christ with a new nature. He was called out of the kingdom of darkness into God’s kingdom of light. Consider -
seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust. 2 Pet. 1:3-4
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 1 Pet. 2:9
“but Christ lives in me;” –
The spirit of Christ and His unlimited power have taken up residence within Paul and thus have become his new source of life. Consider –
When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Col. 3:4
“the life which I now live in the flesh” –
“flesh” here refers to his physical body.
“I live by faith in the Son of God,” –
Faith is the key to allowing Christ to live His life in and through us. We receive Christ by faith, and we live by faith, trusting that Christ will live His life through us. Consider –
Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, Colossians 2:6
Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH." Galatians 3:11
“who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” –
Jesus gave His life for us because of His great love. This kind of love is hard for us to understand. Consider –
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8
While most Christians have been taught that we should live for Jesus, the idea of allowing Jesus to live through us probably seems a little backward. Fortunately, Jesus gave us the perfect example as He lived His life on earth, allowing His Father to live through Him.
Jesus stated that He did nothing of His own initiative. Consider –
So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me. John 8:28
Jesus went on to say He only did what He first saw His Father doing. Consider –
Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. John 5:19
Jesus also stated that His Father told Him what to say and more; that His Father abided in Him, and did all His work through Him (Jesus).
For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. John 12:49
Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works. “Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe because of the works themselves. John 14:10-11
Jesus lived on earth entirely dependent on His Father. And now we can live on earth dependent on, not just Jesus, but the fullness of the Godhead. Amen! Consider -
I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me. The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me, and loved them, even as You have loved Me. John 17:20-23
Are you living your life, every aspect of it, in complete dependence on Christ? If not, why?
Do you trust Christ to do what He says He will do? Consider –
24 Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. 1 Thessalonians 5:24
Do you trust that God has a good plan for your life? Consider –
for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Philippians 2:13
6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
Your actions will answer these questions far more accurately than your words! Ask the Lord to reveal areas of your life where you are NOT depending on Christ alone.
Why do you think you have chosen not to let Christ live His life through you?
Remember, we were created to be inhabited by Divine life and to ultimately bring glory to God and His Son, Jesus. Consider -
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves; 2 Corinthians 4:7
to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Col. 1:27
Man was created to be the visible expression of the invisible God. For this to happen, God must be the origin of our every activity. Man’s self-effort (flesh) can never produce spiritual life, no matter how spiritual it may appear (Romans 7:18-19). To allow Christ to live His life through us requires complete surrender on man’s part. So, how do we do that? Good question! We will discuss this in Part 2 of this article.
Part 2 Coming Soon
