Being justified by Christ, we are able to fully live; we have been given new life in Christ; we have been born again by the very Spirit of God and made a child of the eternal Father. By the law, we are able to realize the depth of our sinfulness; by the law we can see our ineptness to gain any righteousness; by the law we are able to see the vast distinction between our sinfulness and the absolute holiness of God; by the law we are dead in sin without any hope for life. But, through Christ and in Christ we have been given life. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 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 (Galatians 2.19-20).
We have been crucified with Christ. He died in our place, having provided the full and perfect sacrifice for all our sin. Being in Christ, we have died to all sin; gone is the hold of sin, the penalty of sin, and the bondage of sin. As Jesus rose from the grave, so we have risen to a new life; as Jesus had victory over all sin, death, and Satan, so complete victory has been given to us. We live today, not in ourselves, our strength, or our goodness; rather, we live in Christ. We live by His power; we live cleansed by His blood; we live by the indwelling of His Spirit within us. We may have trials and face severe battles with sin; we may be tired, worn, and wounded; we may struggle and feel weary. However, in all this and at all times, might we remember that being in Christ, Satan has no power over us; temptation will never be strong enough to control or defeat us; sin will never be powerful enough to master us; evil will never prevail over us. Christ has loved us, died for us, purchased us, given us life, hope, and the expectation of the fulfilment of all His promises. In Him alone we are able to truly live, having absolute hope for today and eternity.
Alive in Christ – we have much to be thankful for –
Terry Burlingame
My Morning Desk 