Never the less

Galatians 2:20 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.
In these few words, we are given profound insight concerning the grace of God at work through our intimate relationship with Christ. This verse begins with our spiritual death, that another might live in and through our lives. Finally, we are told how we are to respond, so this divine arrangement can proceed as intended.
First, our spiritual death is in view. I have been crucified with Christ. If we are believers in the Lord Jesus, we died with Him upon that cross. The cross of Christ is now our testimony of rejoicing, for by that cross we escaped the dead world of unredeemed humanity. But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Although the cross is the end of our old life in Adam, that is not the end of our story. Even when we were dead in trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ, by grace you have been saved. By His grace, we were raised with Christ. We died with Him, that we now might live with Him. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him.
The astounding consequence of these truths is that we are not the ones producing our Christian life. It is no longer I who live. This reality is radically contrary to man’s natural thinking. If we are not to manufacture our life with God, what other option could possibly be available? The wonderful answer is: Christ lives in me. True Christian living is to be Christ living in and through our lives. How can this be accomplished? We still have an ongoing human experience in flesh and bones bodies: the life which I now live in the flesh. Yes, but this life is to be lived by faith: I live by faith in the Son of God. As we put our trust in Jesus day by day, He lives in and through our thoughts, our words, our choices, our priorities, our relationships.
Once again, this is God’s grace at work through humility and faith. Humility is expressed by embracing this confession: it is no longer I who live. I am glad to say that faith is expressed by counting upon this truth: Christ lives in me.