Christ Living In Me: What Does That Look Like?

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me,"
Galatians 2:20

In this verse the Apostle Paul speaks of a radical change, a transformation, at the heart of the Christian faith. This verse isn't just about changing our actions; it's about a fundamental shift in who we are. It's about dying to our self-centered desires and allowing Christ's life to take over. This is the essence of the "crucified life"—not a physical death, but the death of our self-will.  

The struggle many Christians face stems from a misunderstanding of this process. They often confuse adaptation with transformation. Adaptation is like putting on a new set of clothes. We adjust our outward behavior to fit a mold, perhaps a preconceived idea of what a "good Christian" should be. We might try to act more like Jesus, mimicking His actions and words. We might even succeed in changing some habits, but underneath, the core of who we are remains unchanged.  It's still us trying, in our own strength, to live the Christian life. This kind of change is superficial and ultimately unsustainable. It's like rearranging the furniture in a room without addressing the underlying structural problems.

True transformation, on the other hand, is a complete overhaul. It's not about outward adjustments; it's about inward renewal. It's the Holy Spirit working within us, changing us from the inside out.  It's not us trying to be like Christ; it's Christ living through us.  This is what Paul means when he says, "Christ lives in me."  It's a radical shift in our identity.  Instead of our self-will driving our actions, Christ's will becomes our will.  This transformation happens as we surrender control, as we willingly "place our self on the cross."  Wherever we give up control—our relationships, our ambitions, our struggles—Christ's resurrected life begins to fill that space.

The difference between adaptation and transformation is the difference between trying to act like Christ and actually being a new creation in Christ.  Adaptation is about our efforts; transformation is about God's power.  Adaptation is external; transformation is internal.  Adaptation is temporary; transformation is eternal.  God's goal isn't just to make us behave better; it's to make us more like Jesus.  This is a process of transformation, a continuous surrender and renewal, as the Holy Spirit works to conform us to Christ's image.  It's in this surrendered, transformed life that we truly understand Galatians 2:20, experiencing the truth of dying to self and living fully in Christ.