Galatians 2:20

📖 Galatians 2:20

“I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me.”

Galatians 2:20 is a profound declaration of Christian identity and union with Christ.

1. Context within Galatians 2

Paul’s statement comes after a confrontation with Peter (Galatians 2:11–14), where Paul defends the gospel of grace against legalism. The broader chapter[i] emphasises justification by faith, not by works of the law (Galatians 2:16). Verse 20 is Paul’s personal testimony, summarising the believer’s transformation through union with Christ.

2. “I have been crucified with Christ”

This phrase speaks of spiritual death to the old self. Paul uses the perfect tense, indicating a completed action with ongoing results. The believer’s sinful nature and reliance on law for righteousness are put to death (cf. Romans 6:6). This is not self-improvement—it is death and resurrection with Christ.

3. “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”

Here, Paul describes the indwelling presence of Christ. The Christian life is not merely imitation but participation in Christ’s life. Through the Holy Spirit, Christ becomes the source of our thoughts, desires, and actions (cf. Colossians 1:27). This is the essence of sanctification.

4. “The life which I now live in the flesh”

Paul acknowledges that believers still live in physical bodies, with all the limitations and temptations of earthly life. Yet this life is now reoriented—no longer driven by self or law, but by faith.

5. “I live by faith in the Son of God”

Faith is not a one-time event but a daily dependence on Jesus. It is trust in His sufficiency, not ours. The phrase “Son of God” highlights both His divinity and His authority to save.

6. “Who loved me and gave Himself for me”

This is deeply personal. Paul does not speak abstractly—he knows Christ’s love intimately. The cross is not just a historical event; it is a personal sacrifice for each believer. This love motivates obedience, humility, and worship.

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🧠 Theological Teaching

• Justification by faith: Galatians 2:16–21 teaches that righteousness comes through faith in Christ, not law-keeping.
• Union with Christ: Believers are spiritually united with Christ in His death and resurrection.
• Sanctification: The Christian life is empowered by Christ’s indwelling presence, not human effort.
• Grace over law: The gospel frees us from performance-based religion and invites us into relational trust.

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🛠 Application to Modern Christian Living

• Identity: Christians are not defined by past failures or achievements, but by their union with Christ.
• Freedom: We are free from the pressure to earn God’s favour. This liberates us to serve joyfully.
• Faithfulness: Daily life is lived by trusting Christ, especially in trials, decisions, and relationships.
• Witness: A life shaped by Christ’s love becomes a compelling testimony to others.

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[i] Galatians 2

New King James Version

Defending the Gospel

2 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. 4 And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage), 5 to whom we did not yield submission even for an hour, that the truth of the gospel might continue with you.

6 But from those who seemed to be something—whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no man—for those who seemed to be something added nothing to me. 7 But on the contrary, when they saw that the gospel for the uncircumcised had been committed to me, as the gospel for the circumcised was to Peter 8 (for He who worked effectively in Peter for the apostleship to the circumcised also worked effectively in me toward the Gentiles), 9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised. 10 They desired only that we should remember the poor, the very thing which I also was eager to do.

No Return to the Law

11 Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; 12 for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision. 13 And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter before them all, “If you, being a Jew, live in the manner of Gentiles and not as the Jews, why do you compel Gentiles to live as Jews? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”