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 2:20 (ESV)

Do you consider yourself a good person? Even if we don’t actively think we are, we generally go through life like we are good people. Some people even think our good works will get us into heaven one day. The thought process is that if our good deeds outweigh our bad, God will let us in. This was the thinking of many people in the Church of Galatia. They thought that they must obey the Law in the Old Testament in order to be saved. However, the book of Galatians states in the verses leading up to this that we are justified by faith and not the law. In fact, the law tells us that we are sinners and condemned. This is why we need Christ. Jesus lived a perfect life and obeyed every part of the Law of God (something we could never do).

This is what Paul means when he says we must be crucified with Christ. Being crucified with Christ means that, as Christians, our sin and our “good” deeds were placed upon Christ. His pure righteousness was placed upon us. 2 Corinthians tells us Christ became sin so that we may become his righteousness. So now, it is no longer our life that God sees, but Christ’s perfect and sinless life. This is the miracle of salvation. We are counted as righteous because Christ was counted as sinful. We are treated as perfect because Christ was treated as imperfect. God no longer sees us as sinful, but sees us through the lens of his Son’s sacrifice. We no long-er have to live a perfect life and rely on our own good deeds. We only have to rely on the finished work of Christ, who took upon himself all of our sin.

This week, rely on Christ for your salvation. If you have placed your faith in God, thank him for everything he has given you. If you do not have a relationship with Christ, give your life to him and God will give you the righteousness of Christ.