Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That 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 is a powerful statement made by St.Paul in his letter to the Galatians. To fully understand the context of this verse, it is important to read the surrounding verses and understand the purpose of the letter.
In this letter, St.Paul is writing to the Galatians to address a serious problem that had arisen in the early Christian church. False teachers had come in and were telling the Galatians that they needed to follow the Jewish law in order to be saved. St.Paul vehemently opposes this teaching and emphasizes that salvation comes only through faith in Jesus Christ.
In Galatians 2:15-21, St.Paul is specifically addressing his confrontation with the Apostle Peter in Antioch, where Peter was separating himself from Gentile Christians out of fear of criticism from Jewish Christians who still held to the law. St.Paul uses this incident to emphasize that all people, Jews and Gentiles alike, are justified by faith in Jesus Christ, and not by works of the law.
In verse 20, St.Paul declares that he has been "crucified with Christ," meaning that he has died to his old self and his former way of life. He no longer lives for himself but lives for Christ, who lives in him. St.Paul is saying that his old self, with its selfish desires and sinful nature, has been put to death, and he has been given a new life in Christ.
The phrase "I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me" is a powerful reminder of the gospel message that St.Paul is proclaiming. Christ's sacrificial death on the cross is the basis of our salvation, and we are saved by grace through faith in him alone.
Galatians 2:20 is a statement of St.Paul's personal faith and a powerful reminder of the gospel message. It serves as a reminder to all believers that we have been crucified with Christ and are now alive in him, living by faith and relying on his grace for salvation.
