Is Galatians 2:20 a promise or experience?

Gal 2:20 - NASB - I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and [t]the 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.

If this is the promise then by default we can all proclaim this promise unconditionally. For example all we need to do is to believe that I am crucified and Jesus is living inside me already. Our ability to sin is already crucified, hence now we cannot sin as Jesus is living in our body.

But if we see this verse as an experience, then it means Apostle Paul reached this stage in his life. We too have a hope that we can reach that standard where the 'I' is crucified. How did Paul get here? By everyday crucifying his flesh along with its desires. Gal 5:24 - Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

So is it a promise or experience? I always thought it as an experience never as a promise. But having read lot of views on death in this forum, it appears that some have taken it as a literal promise. Which one is true?

I believe Romans 6 is the commentary. When I was baptized into Christ, I was baptized into His death. This is why we have the picture of this baptism contained in water baptism. Death, burial, and resurrection to new life. Except a seed die, it cannot bring forth new life. We can try to break it down and analyze it, but I think It is simply what happens when a man is born again.

Now the trick is to bring this reality of the spirit to bear upon the unregenerate flesh. This is why I die daily. This is why I fast. This is why I buffet my body and bring it into subjection.

We can try to break it down and analyze it, but I think It is simply what happens when a man is born again.

Yes the death explained in Romans 6 is the born again experience, where the Old man is dead. The old man was sinning freely. He is now dead.

Now the trick is to bring this reality of the spirit to bear upon the unregenerate flesh. This is why I die daily. This is why I fast. This is why I buffet my body and bring it into subjection.

Yes I agree with this. We cannot experience the resurrected life of Jesus without daily death to self. Paul is talking in Gal 2:20 about his experience of resurrected life based on daily death.

I agree with Travis that Romans 6 tells us of our true identification with Christ. These are facts that we must know:
We have been crucified with Christ, that is the old man, so that the body of sin might be destroyed. We were raised with Him into newness of life, and now our heavenly position is that we are seated together with Him in the heavenly places.

But what Christ has done in His death, burial, and resurrection has to become a living reality in our lives, and the Holy Spirit has been sent to make it so. I have been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live." The old me died, but the new me, the new man in Christ is alive, and now the life that we live is by the faith of the Son of God. It is through our faith in what Christ has done that the Holy Spirit applies the death of the cross to our members, when we reckon ourselves to be dead to sin. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead gives us His life, so that "the law of the Spirit of life that is in Christ Jesus, has made us free from the law of sin and death. It is death to the old man, but life to the new creation in Christ.

A good book to read about our identification with Christ is "The Normal Christian Life" by Watchman Nee.

Abraham was given a promise, He believed that promise but he felt that he should assist God in making that promise an experience instead of simply resting and trusting that God would fulfill that promise through him.

what was produced was Ishmael.

add clarity

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Being "led" implies taking action or doing... so what is it we should do?

For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Seems pretty straightforward ~

"If this is the promise then by default we can all proclaim this promise unconditionally."

The question is phrased wrong. One should ask oneself "has God promised me?" Throughout the Scriptures we see example after example of God speaking promises to those who cry out to Him.

So what Paul states is true for those whom God has established His promise with. In the beginning of Galatians chapter 2 we hear abundant testimony of how God revealed Himself through Christ to him. Peter and the others recognized the work of God through Christ in Paul.

It is not a promise but a fact. A fact and truth for every born again believer , whether we walk in the full experience of it or not.

When we believe we are united with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.

The natural man is flesh dominated, the born again man is Spirit ruled and led.

A dearly beloved pastor and friend of mine died. I attended his funeral. Parkinson's Disease finally got the best of him.
I do not say this in jest. It is true. And all of us that knew him greatly grieved.

Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. James 1:13-15

Can a dead man be tempted?

Can my pastor friend be tempted any longer?

Can you?

Go figure!

It may be a fact but facts can be ignored. The truth Paul mentions is not an automatic. Thats where the Christian disciplines come in handy.

It may be a fact but facts can be ignored. The truth Paul mentions is not an automatic. Thats where the Christian disciplines come in handy.

I agree with this completely. The question is, is it automatic or not.

The truth is revealed by the Holy Spirit.

Christ died for all is a fact. Are all saved? No

All born again Christians are dead to sin and alive unto God. Do all live in the reality of it? No.

This is why we have teachers etc in the body of Christ, to help us become mature in Christ and bring us into new levels of spiritual understanding.

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. He RESTORES MY SOUL...

What makes me believe that this is not a promise is, Paul here is talking about his testimony in Jesus. He is not saying 'all of you are crucified in Jesus'. He is only saying that he has crucified his selfish 'I' and Christ completely lives inside him. For example Romans 6:14 is a promise - "Sin shall not be master over you". No matter how many times I fall, I can still stand up and say that Sin will not be my master. But I cannot proclaim Gal 2:20 as a promise and say that "it is no longer I who live", when my reality is not Christlike. So the point is, Gal 2:20 is an experience to which we have to grow to become. It comes by continuously putting the flesh to death on the cross.

All born again Christians are dead to sin and alive unto God. Do all live in the reality of it? No

I can understand your view and respect it. The reason what makes me disagree with you is, "Dead to sin and alive to God" is a promise, it is applicable for all. Hence no matter how much I am defeated by sin, I can start to live a life dead to sin immediately. The promise is still valid.

But I cannot live a defeated life and say that it is no longer I who live but Christ. It is an experience that only those who can live it out can testify.

I believe I can always testify that one day Galatian 2:20 will become my testimony also, but is it true today?

Anyone who is serious about wanting to live an experiential (not just theological) Romans 6 life, should read Watchman Nee's book "The Normal Christian Life" - free online - http://www.thewichitafoundry.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/08/watchman-normal-christian-life2.pdf

Brother,

I believe that sometimes we can stretch the teaching of the bible too far and also place ourselves in a position of condemnation by believing a scripture to say more than it actually does.
The danger of all "deeper life" teachings, for example, is that we begin differentiating between so-called sub standard believers and those who somehow have a deeper experience and intimacy with God.
Who am I to judge another believer's level of intimacy with Father God?
We would do better to preach and teach the Word as true for every Christian, as in "all the promises of God are Yes and Amen in Christ Jesus"

To come back to the scripture we are discussing: In context, Paul is saying the same thing as in many of his writings, which basically is, that since discovering the righteousness and grace which is in Christ he counts all things as dung or rubbish in comparison. Having discovered the grace of life in Christ he no longer looks to himself for any righteousness or virtue whatsoever. He has discovered a new life principle. Not I but Christ!
What he is saying of himself here, he is also saying as representative of every Christian.

I am not comfortable at all to impute that verse to myself,it is but just my wild imagination. I think the key still is humility, honesty, and a repentant spirit. For me, it has been the only way I can approach God, find His grace and advance to a separated life for Him.

I guess, I do not care now if I find myself still struggling against sin, or in a survival mode as a christian. My spirit is at rest that by His grace I will indeed finish my race in the end.

RE : /// To come back to the scripture we are discussing: In context, Paul is saying the same thing as in many of his writings, which basically is, that since discovering the righteousness and grace which is in Christ he counts all things as dung or rubbish in comparison. Having discovered the grace of life in Christ he no longer looks to himself for any righteousness or virtue whatsoever. He has discovered a new life principle. Not I but Christ!///

That is articulated very well and consistent with the overall theme of Galatians.

Thanks PP :)

Passerby, I see your heart and acknowledge the good in what you wrote, however...Quote "I guess, I do not care now if I find myself still struggling against sin, or in a survival mode as a christian"

Did the Son of God humble Himself, take the form of a servant, die on a cruel cross like a criminal for the sins of the world, get buried and raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit, ascend into Heaven and pour out His Spirit on all who believe in His Name.......just so we can survive (morally speaking)? I think not
Or did He do it that we may have the victory over sin through Him?

Absolutely! Paul says: "shall sin have dominion over us?"
Of course, the answer is NO!

I am not advocating sinless perfection (if only...)
We will not be completely perfect until we receive the end of our salvation, the perfection of our souls and the glorifying of our bodies, of which the Holy Spirit is a surety.

I am saying that the battle regarding the power of sin is the Lord's and that he who died to sin can no longer be under its power....therefore, "reckon yourself dead to sin and alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

Our Lord has saved us to the uttermost, from sin to serve the Living God! He has given us the Divine Helper, the Holy Spirit...let is not shrink back from the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, but let us press on that we may be sons and daughters of God in truth, walking with dignity, with heads held high, reigning in life as kings, through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Humility is not walking with heads bowed down under a burden of guilt and shame and condemnation.
Humility is knowing your self and knowing that your self is crucified with Christ and that Christ now lives in you!
Kenneth Hagin said:"Humility is the ability to receive what you do not deserve"

I may not agree with all the Word of Faith teaching but here he is spot on, I think.

Remember, Christ is not only our righteousness (justification). He is also our sanctification and our redemption.

Blessings,