"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." (Gal. 2:20)
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When we accept Christ, something fundamental happens within: our old, self-centered way of living—separated from God—is put to death. In its place, the conscious life of Christ now fills us. This is not just theory, but a spiritual reality that restores us to the union humankind originally experienced with God in Eden, before the fall into self-consciousness and striving.
From Separation to Union:
No longer do we live as isolated individuals trying to “be better” or “work harder” for God. Prayers asking for His help—without understanding our unity with Him—actually show we still see ourselves as separate. The true way is to invite Christ to live through us, trusting and depending on His presence within, not just beside us.
Christ in Us—The New Reality:
The Holy Spirit binds our spirit back to God. Christ now lives in and through us, healing hearts, restoring souls, even bringing wholeness to our bodies. Christ is our strength, wisdom, and love—not just one who gives these things from afar.
Progression of Understanding:
I move from:
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Living in my strength,
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Asking Jesus to help me.
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To the ultimate revelation: It is no longer “I” but “Christ living through me.”
Here, “I” is not the old self, but the “I” that is joined to Jesus. We become ever-conscious of this unity, abandoning thoughts of separation. Vocabulary and mindset shift—we no longer say, “I am weak, God is strong,” but instead, “Christs strength flows through me.”
We Focus on the Spirit, Not the Flesh:
The battle is not to improve the old nature, but to let it remain dead and live from the new nature given in Christ. While the flesh may show weakness, our focus is steadfastly on the spirit, which is strong because it is energized by the Holy Spirit. We fix our thoughts, words, and attention on Christ and all He has accomplished in and for us.
A New Kind of Living—Divine Flow:
True Christianity is not self-improvement but a total replacement of self-life by Christ-life. The old, self-driven, reasoning and striving have been replaced with divine union, guidance, and empowerment. We live “plugged-in” to the Vine, Jesus Christ, allowing His wisdom, love, and power to flow through us effortlessly—much like a branch drawing life from the tree.
Concerning Inner Healing:
Although the old self is crucified, the soul may bear wounds from past living apart from God. Christ’s healing is necessary so His Spirit can flow freely through us, unhindered by old injuries.
Identity & Confession:
Our new confession is rooted in the truth of our union with Christ. We speak life, power, and divine identity—not weakness, negativity, or self-condemnation. We are picturing Christ as our life, our new identity, our all-in-all:
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I am blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ.
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My mind and heart are filled with God’s wisdom through the Spirit.
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I walk free from sin and the flesh because I am alive in Christ, seated with Him spiritually and an overcomer.
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I have no shame, self-abasement, or legalism, because I am resting in the finished work of Jesus Who has made me perfect.
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We recognize that all victory, purpose, and fruit in my life comes from abiding in Christ.
Essential Distinctions and I speak only about the "Christ-in-me" reality
| Old Self ("Self I") | Christ-in-Me ("Christ I") |
|---|---|
| Self-initiative: weak | Divine initiative: mighty |
| Self-love: limited | Divine love: unconditional |
| Self-accomplishment: fleeting | Divine accomplishment: eternal |
| Self-reasoning: vain | Spirit wisdom: eternal value |
Conclusion
The true spiritual life is not about fixing the old, but about living entirely from the new “I”—the identity we have in Christ. Every day, we reject the lie of separation and embrace our union with our Savior. So, our confession and focus are always on Jesus within and His ongoing victory in us.
To sum up: The old self is gone. Christ’s life is now your life. Live, speak, and believe accordingly—Christ-conscious, not self-conscious. That’s your new and true “I.”
Journaling
Commune with God by: 1) becoming still, 2) beholding Jesus, 3) tuning to His River of flowing thoughts, pictures, and feelings, and 4) recording the flow. Then test it using Scripture and the hearts of my spiritual advisors. See this link.
- Lord, what would You say to me concerning my union with You.
- How am I to be picturing myself?
- What are the words You want me to speak about myself?
Dig deeper
- Scriptures to meditate on and journal about: Eph. 1:17,18; I Corinthians 6:17; Galatians 2:20; Philippians 4:13; Colossians 1:11, 27-29; 2:9,10; Galatians 3:27; 4:19; Ephesians 1:4; II Peter 1:4; II Corinthians 1:20; Ephesians 1:3, 10,11, 17-23; 2:1-7; 3:16-21; Colossians 2:3,6,7,9-23; 3:1-11; I John 4:7-16; I Corinthians 1:30 - 2:16
- Books Naturally Supernatural and The Great Mystery by Mark and Patti Virkler delve deeply into this revelation of Gal. 2:20, as does this training module.
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Related Resources:
How to Be Emotionally Free! How to Be Empowered by the Holy Spirit! Spiritual Transformations
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