The Lord Jesus revealed to the Apostle Paul that those who put their trust in Jesus Christ and believe that Christ died for their sins are given the gift of eternal life. Today we will look at Paul’s revelation concerning the intimate spiritual experience of those who believe in Jesus Christ.

Paul wrote to the believers in Galatia, and He confirmed the fact that the Old Testament law was unable to make anyone righteous in the sight of God.

Gal 2:16
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (KJV)

He emphatically stated that no one can be saved by doing good works. Regardless of how many good deeds a person does or how many bad deeds a person avoids, good works will not count at the day of judgment. On that day, God will be looking for one thing in those who stand before Him. Only faith in Jesus Christ will bring justification for those who seek eternal life.

Then Paul says something mysterious in verse 20.

Gal 2:20
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. (KJV)

Paul clearly taught that he had experienced a spiritual unity with Christ to the extent that his spirit died with Christ on the cross of Calvary and that this resulted in the Spirit of Christ living within him to guide him and direct him in all things. In Romans 6, Paul said that this spiritual unity exists between Christ and every believer.

Rom 6:3-4
3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. (KJV)

The word, baptize, means to immerse. Therefore, Paul said that those who are spiritually immersed into Jesus Christ are spiritually immersed into His death, and not only His death, but also His resurrection. The physical body of every believer, therefore, becomes an instrument of the Spirit of Christ. This results in a tremendous change in the believer’s life.

2 Cor 5:17 says:
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (KJV)

May we yield to His Spirit that His glory may be made manifest.

Write me at: jimjoan77@juno.com

Other church links:
http://www.peacechurch-ok.org/
http://www.eleventhavenuechurch.com/
http://gracebiblechurch-fw.com/

James III’s link: http://www.jeditime.blogspot.com