Galatians 2:20 You Have Died to the Law, For Christ Lives in You

Galatians 2:20 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.

Christian, you are no longer alive to the Law for one reason: you “have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer [you] who live, but Christ lives in [you].” As a wife is not bound to her husband upon his death, so we are not bound to the Law (Romans 7:2-6), for we have died in Christ; we have been crucified to the world and to the condemnation and restraints of the Law. “Do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives?” (Romans 7:1) You are to now serve in the newness and liberty of the Holy Spirit, not the oldness of the letter of the Law (for the Law is written upon your heart) (Romans 7:6).

Do not again submit yourself to the Law. You have died with Christ and as such a one you now have liberty in the Spirit. Do not submit yourself to rules such as “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!” (Colossians 2:20-21) Outward restraints do nothing to change the heart—in fact, they usually serve only to provoke our sinful nature (in unbelievers, sinful flesh in Christians) to push the limits and restraints. Such outward rules appear pious, they have “the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body” (2:22-23). However, they have no benefit, because they merely affect our outer-person “but are of no value against fleshly indulgence” in the heart, which is what God judges (23). They only serve to make those who practice them “white-washed tombs.” The only way to fight sin is to set your mind constantly upon heavenly things; upon Christ, and to live out what you truly are: a called child of God (3:1-4).

Because you have died with Christ, you will be raised with Christ (Romans 6:8). Your body and your life is no longer your own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), but Christ’s, for you have laid it down (Matthew 16:25). Because your life belongs to Christ and it is Christ who lives in you, submit to His desires for your life. In fact, the Christian will ultimately live a life of submission to Christ, for he/she cannot live another way, for the Christian lives by faith in the Son of God, and Christ is living in and through the Christian. A lack of submission in a Christian is clear sign that something is not right—the lifestyle of self-lordship shows a person that he/she is not truly saved. There is no way around this clear Biblical truth.

Rest in this truth, dear child of God: Christ loved you and gave Himself up for you. He has atoned for your sins. In fact, He has atoned for the sins of all your fellow brothers and sisters throughout the whole world (1 John 2:2). Because He has loved you, so love Him and allow Him to live through you without grieving the Spirit. Submit yourself to the Word of God and your conscience as the Spirit leads you (which will never be contrary to the Word of God, if it is the Spirit that is speaking to you). Do not be restrained by what people think of you or of what you should do. Submit yourself fully to God; the love of Christ compels you.