Question
In light of Galatians 2:20 and other similar verses, what is
our responsibility towards living the Christian life today?
Answer
Galatians 2:20 says, "I have been crucified
with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in
me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself up for me."
(NASB)
Living the Christian life is a part of one's
ongoing relationship with Christ. But it is incredibly simple.
Christ has only ONE LAW, comprised of two parts. His law is "love
one another, even as I have loved you...By this all men will
know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another,"
(John 13:34, 35). This is the sole law of His Kingdom.
This law contains everything that was written in
all the laws in all the Bible, (Romans 13:8-10). By loving God
and our neighbor, we do everything God and Christ require of us.
We will be known as "disciples," that is, ones who live
the Christian life, if we love others.
The Christian life is simply a matter of living
by the law of love for God and man. This involves two things:
-
Acknowledging God and Christ as our Creator
and Ruler, and worshipping them.
-
Doing nothing that harms other people, and
helping those in need when we have opportunity and means.
Everything else is optional. "The Christian
Life" is not a matter of meeting regularly in a building,
listening to a Pastor, giving tithes, singing, helping with
church programs, and so forth. All those things are fine if one
desires to participate in them, but they are not mandatory for
salvation or spiritual growth. One's solitary communion with God
is acceptable worship, and using one's money to minister to
others is better than putting it into a tithe plate for spending
on property and salaries for religious professionals.
Religious works are no part of one's walk with
God. They are certainly vital to maintaining church
organizations and programs.
But walking with God and Christ in simple
fellowship of love is the essence of the Christian life. Learn
to live in love, and you need be concerned with nothing else.