Who’s Really Living Your Life?
Who’s Really Living Your Life?
Text: Galatians 2:20 – “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
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The Mystery of “I Live, Yet Not I”
Imagine standing in front of a mirror and saying: “That’s me… but it’s not me anymore.”
That’s what Paul is wrestling with here. He says, “I live… yet not I.”
It almost sounds like he’s confused about who’s in control of his life. But he’s not confused—he’s testifying. Paul is telling us that his old life, with all its sin, ego, self-reliance, and failures, was crucified with Christ. And the new life he’s living isn’t powered by Paul at all—it’s powered by Jesus Christ living inside of him.
Paul knows exactly who he was—and he doesn’t sugarcoat it. He was a persecutor of the church, proud, self-righteous, and spiritually blind. But he also knows exactly who Jesus is—and He is everything Paul is not.
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1. Paul’s Confession: “I Am Crucified With Christ”
This isn’t poetic exaggeration—it’s spiritual reality.
When Paul says he’s “crucified with Christ,” he means that his old identity, his old will, and his old self died at the cross.
The Cross was not just for Christ—it was for you.
Romans 6:6 says, “Our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with.”
Crucifixion is final. You don’t come back from it. You don’t crucify the flesh on Sunday and resurrect it Monday morning.
Paul had every reason to cling to his old life—he had status, education, and religious power. But he realized none of that could save him. So when Jesus claimed him, Paul let the old Saul die.
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2. Paul’s Paradox: “Nevertheless I Live; Yet Not I”
Here’s the beautiful tension—Paul died, but he’s still breathing. He’s still traveling, preaching, working, and eating. But it’s not the old “I” anymore.
The ‘I’ that is proud—gone.
The ‘I’ that demands control—gone.
The ‘I’ that earns righteousness—gone.
The ‘I’ that says “I’ve got this”—gone.
Instead, Christ is living through him. Paul is the vessel, Christ is the life. Paul is the branch, Christ is the vine (John 15:5).
The Christian life is not about you trying harder—it’s about you dying deeper so Christ can live fuller.
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3. Paul’s Power Source: “Christ Liveth in Me”
Paul is saying, “I’m not the one making this happen anymore—Jesus is.”
Christ in you means you’re never alone.
You don’t face temptation in your own strength.
Christ in you means the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is inside you. (Romans 8:11)
Christ in you means the life you live is supernatural.
You forgive when you couldn’t. You love when it’s undeserved. You stand when the world says you should fall.
Paul isn’t claiming to be a better man—he’s claiming to be a dead man who’s been given the life of Another.
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4. Paul’s Practice: “The Life I Now Live in the Flesh”
Notice Paul admits—he’s still in the flesh. He’s still human, still has limitations, still feels weakness. But now, his life is lived “by faith in the Son of God.”
Faith shifts the source of your strength.
It’s not “try harder” faith—it’s “trust deeper” faith.
Faith is not Paul holding onto Christ—it’s Christ holding onto Paul.
Faith is not a feeling—it’s a decision to live depending on Him.
Paul’s life is a continual surrender—every choice, every step, every breath is a “yes” to Jesus.
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5. Paul’s Motivation: “Who Loved Me and Gave Himself for Me”
Paul’s entire life is anchored in two facts:
Jesus loved him.
Jesus gave Himself for him.
Paul knew the old Paul didn’t deserve grace—but grace came anyway. That’s why he could say, “It’s no longer I who live.” Once you’ve been loved like that, you can’t keep living for yourself.
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Closing Challenge – Who’s Really Living Your Life?
Here’s the piercing question Paul leaves for us:
If you call yourself a Christian… who’s actually living your life?
Is it still you—your plans, your strength, your control?
Or is it Christ—His will, His Spirit, His power in you?
If it’s still you, then you’re exhausted, frustrated, and often defeated.
If it’s Christ, then even in weakness, you find strength… even in loss, you find peace… even in trials, you find joy.
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Altar Call
Today, maybe your “I” is still too alive. Maybe you’ve been trying to live the Christian life for Jesus instead of letting Jesus live it through you.
Come to the cross and let the old “I” be crucified. Lay down your pride, your plans, your sins, your self-effort. Receive the life of Christ in full.
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Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus,
I confess that I cannot live this life in my own strength. I’ve tried, and I’ve failed. Today, I choose to be crucified with You—my old self, my old ways, my old control. Live in me, Jesus. Let Your thoughts be my thoughts, Your will be my will, Your love be my love. From this day forward, may it no longer be I who live, but Christ who lives in me. Amen.
-Joe