TO LIVE IS CHRIST

“For me to live is Christ…” (Philippians 1:21)
This simple statement expresses most powerfully the reality of the Christian’s relationship with Christ. This thought cannot be fuzzy in the mind of the one who believes. Without equivocation, every true believer knows the meaning of and holds dear to his heart this elegant expression of devotion, “For me to live is Christ…”

Christianity is not a mere religious creed, but a life-transforming relationship with Christ Jesus. It is a radically transformed life and manner of life which acknowledges Christ’s death on the cross for the remission of mankind’s sin. And recognises also His subsequent resurrection in complete display of His pre-eminence and His power over sin and death. These signify the believer’s personal death to sin and resurrection to life in Christ.

In another place Paul expressed the thought in our text in a less cryptic fashion, saying –
“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20, NLT) 
 Such transformation is accomplished by the grace of God which enables us to consciously “Put to death therefore what is earthly..." namely, "sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry”, putting away “anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth” (Col 3:5, 8). 

On the other hand, "to live is Christ" means that we learn to actively “seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God…Setting our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” (Col 3:1-2).

What it boils down to is that the believer must put away certain ways and put on others if they are to truly live a Christlike life. The exhortation to "live is Chirst" challenges the genuinely save person to “put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator” (Colossians 3:9-10).

So how closely would you say that your life mirrors the image of Christ? “Likeness” gets increasingly better the more one insists on living the transformed life by permitting one's mind to be renewed in the knowledge of God.

To be a Christian is hardly about what you say you are, for “what good is faith without works?” If Christ is your life, then let the life of Christ grow in you and be displayed through your conduct and behaviour.

God bless you faithful doer of the Word who understands that "to live is Christ!"

~ Pastor Victor Ubani

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