Crucified with Christ
8/14/25 Bible Thought (Galatians 2)
“Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
Not only is this an incredibly familiar song, but it is also usually associated with little children and bedtime—yet it is chock-full of theological grandeur that we will never fully exhaust.
In Galatians 2, the apostle Paul continues his defense of salvation by grace in opposition to those who would add the keeping of the Mosaic law, specifically circumcision, as a requirement for salvation.
Paul concluded that regardless of one’s heritage, whether Jew or Gentile, we are justified through faith in Christ, not by works of the law (Gal. 2:16). At the end of the day, “if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose” (Gal. 2:21).
If we could have made it on our own, then Christ’s death was totally unnecessary! Yet, when our best efforts of righteousness were as a polluted garment (Is. 64:6) Christ made a way for us by grace.
Now, Paul, rather than rebuilding the law and instituting its requirement, concluded,
“For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God” (Gal. 2:19).
How did he die to the law? He was crucified with Christ:
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).
In essence, Christ’s death became Paul’s. Christ bore the penalty for all of His people upon Calvary. He became sin for us, enduring its punishment and consequences so that we could become the righteousness of God (2 Cor. 5:21).
As Scholar, F.F. Bruce, so powerfully asserts,
“Christ bore the curse of the law and exhausted its penalty on his people’s behalf.”[1]
If you have ever read through Exodus, Leviticus, or Deuteronomy and seen all the laws and their corresponding consequences it can be pretty scary. While the wages of sin are always death (Rom. 6:23) sometimes that penalty would be immediately applied.
Yet, for the believer in Jesus Christ, He has already borne that penalty. He took the punishment we deserved, and He took all of it.
As such, His death becomes my death. When the divine gavel fell with the cry “Guilty!” He stepped up and took my place.
With this, my penalty has been paid. My sentence has been executed. I no longer have to fear when standing in the courtroom of heaven.
Christ exhausted the penalty.
As a result, now I not only experience deliverance from fear of death and judgment (see 1 Jn. 4:18; Heb. 2:14-15) but I likewise no longer have to strive to earn God’s favor or acceptance.
My life as a Christian is lived from a place of acceptance, no longer for it. I am already accepted in Christ.
Paul concluded that the believer has died with Christ and likewise has been raised with Him.
It is not that the Christian now lives lawlessly since we are no longer under the law. No, the believer walks in newness of life because Christ Jesus now lives within.
His Spirit inhabits us, transforming our desires to do what is pleasing to God and giving us the power to do so (Phil. 2:13).
This life no longer has to consist of striving. We instead live by faith, or by a personal trust in the Son of God—the One who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Yes, it is abundantly true that “God so loved the world” but let us not lose sight of the fact that God not only loved the entity but its constituents. Jesus Christ loves me He likewise loves you individually. Ever doubt it? Look again at Golgotha’s hill.
As the famous hymn so powerfully declares, “While He was on the cross, I was on His mind.”
As such, my life is lived for Him as a song of worship, as a prayer of “Thank you!” I am already accepted in Christ and more loved than I could ever imagine.
Now, if this is true, then why would I add law-keeping or works as a prerequisite to salvation?
Why would I throw out such wonderful news of grace?
Truly, grace is my only hope.
[1] F. F. Bruce, The Epistle to the Galatians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Pub. Co., 1982), 143.
“Live from a place of acceptance.” - So good!