Articles
MY FAVORITE BIBLE VERSES
“I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and
the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave
Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20).
I suppose this verse held special meaning to me early in my life as a Christian, because it
was a song we sang while at camp. I like Scripture we can sing, because I have a better chance to
remember them. But as I have grown over the years, the verse has taken on a different meaning.
This may be one of the best verses to describe what happens to an individual when they are
baptized into Christ Jesus.
The apostle Paul describes our baptism in Romans 6 as a death, burial and resurrection (vss.
1-4). We are baptized into the death of Jesus Christ and raised in newness of life. Our lives are
changed through the simple act of baptism—we shed the old life of sin and put on the new life of
righteousness to God (Eph. 4: 22-24).
When we die to sin, we say we will no longer live that type of life. We can’t, because we
have died to sin! We are no longer slaves of this lifestyle. Paul describes that a little clearer in
Ephesians 2:1, when he states, “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins…” Before
baptism, we are dead in our lives of sin. But through baptism, we are washed and made clean and
begin to live the new life in Christ. This is what Paul explains as he continues in Romans 6. We
present ourselves as slaves to God, to be obedient to Him in all things, no longer slaves to the
ways of the world and of sin (Rom. 6:16-18).
When we are raised out of the waters of baptism, we are children of God, intent on living
our lives for Him. Everything we do is to be measured according to the life of Christ (1 Peter
2:21; Phil. 2:5-8). The words we speak, the thoughts we think, the things we do or don’t do —
all based on the life of Christ. The song “I Am Mine No More” echoes the sentiments Paul states
in Gal. 2:20. We really are to have no control of our lives. We have given them completely to the
Lord, “no longer I who live…”
No, we won’t live the life for Christ perfectly. But then we are reminded with the last few
words of this verse that God loves us and provided the way of salvation (and righteous living)
through Jesus Christ who died for me (Romans 5:6-11)! Thanks be to God for the indescribable
gift of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 9:15)! ~P. Mowrer
