I Live, Yet Not I

The Surrendered Life

“For I through the Law am dead to the Law, that I might live unto God” (Galatians 2:19).

In our introductory verse, the Apostle Paul is showing us the way to be justified before God. The Law was never the way. Christ lived the perfect life obeying the Law of God perfectly. His sacrificial death on the Cross opened the way for us to come by faith in Christ and Him crucified into “Newness of life” by the way of faith totally. The Law is not dead, but we are dead to the Law. Our faith must be in what Christ accomplished. This is how we live for God.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives 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” (Galatians 2:20).

Romans chapter 6 tells us what happened to us when we came by faith to Christ.  We were baptized (spiritually) into His death. We were buried with Him by Baptism into death, and we were raised up with Him that we should walk in “Newness of Life.” This new life is the Life of God in us by our faith being placed in Christ. Paul is telling us that Law has no hold on Him due to being spiritually buried with Christ Who paid the penalty for sin. The life He now lives (and the life we now live) is one of faith. We must place our faith in Christ and Him crucified, and keep it there. He loved us and gave His life for us and it is the only way that we can be forgiven and walk in this new life. It is “Christ in me, the hope of Glory.”

The Galatians were considering adding Law to their faith. They had gloriously come to faith in Christ through Paul’s ministry and were now being tempted by the Judaizers that had come from Jerusalem to add circumcision. Paul told them that if the did this they would fall from Grace, meaning that they would have moved their faith from Christ which was their position in Grace. They were considering trusting in something other than what the Lord had provided forour Salvation which was a total faith in what Christ accomplished at Calvary. Paul makes the way clear in the very next verse.

“I do not frustrate the Grace of God: for if Righteousness come by the Law, then Christ died in vain” (Galatians 2:21).

We have come into the Kingdom of God by Grace and we are to keep ourselves in the Grace of God throughout our Christian lives. Law has no part in our walk with the Lord. In fact, if we allow Law to be added to our faith we have apostatized. It is an insult to Christ to think that we can add anything to His perfect work. The Holy Spirit will help to give us the victory we seek as we keep our faith in Christ. We have a wonderful Lord and a wonderful Salvation. In the followIng Verse, The Apostle Paul warned the Galatians, and it’s a warning to us as well, about adding ANYTHING to their faith in Christ. Salvation and Sanctification are all by Grace.

“Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh? (Galatians 3:3)

The surrendered life is one of giving up control of our lives with total dependence on the Lord. This surrendered life is walked out by anchoring our faith in Christ and Him crucified, daily. The power to live this surrendered life comes by way of the Holy Spirit. This is what the Bible means by “walking in the Spirit.” Christ is the source of this new life. His death on the Cross opened the way for the forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Father – The Holy Spirit. Our faith in the proper object, Christ and Him crucified, allows the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. The Holy Spirit works within the boundaries of the finished work of Christ. This is a Law of God (Romans 8:2). Again, the Surrendered Life is one of total dependence on the Lord. It’s making Jesus both Lord and Savior each and every day. The way to victory in our Christian life is to let the Lord direct our steps – the surrendered life.

“O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).

Prayer Changes Things

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the Righteous, and His ears are open unto their prayers…” (1 Peter 3:12).

The Lord hears our prayers and is faithful to answer.

Always Remember,

God Loves You!

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Here I Am, Lord – Tom Quinn Ministries – tqministries.com 2026