Your faith life is more than believing in Jesus; it is about how you live. A life with Christ is far superior to a life without Him. So, live your best life, secured by having Jesus in your life!
Your Faith Life: The Best Life Is In Christ
STM Bible Lesson
Lesson focus: Galatians 2:20. Bible lesson background Galatians 2:15-21: Everyone is saved by faith, not by keeping the Law.
- It is not by following the letter of the law that makes us right with God, but rather by faith in Christ [15-17].
- We cancel Christ’s work and commit sin if we keep the Law in any way [18-19; that includes paying tithes, keeping the sabbath, etc.].
- For we live by faith in the work of Christ, who died and set us free from the Law. Christ suffered and died in vain if the Law could restore us to God’s favor [20-21].
- Galatians 2:20 [read Galatians 2:15-21 (20)]
- I do not live anymore—it is Christ living in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God. He loved me and gave himself to save me. (ICB)
- KJV: I am crucified with Christ: neverthless 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.
- KJV Dictionary Definition: crucified
- To reject and despise. To be crucified with Christ is to become dead to the law and to sin, and to have indwelling corruption subdued (restrained).
Your new life in Christ is a result of faith (a faith life). The central message of Galatians 2:20 is “I live by faith in Jesus.” Do you live by faith in Jesus?
Test your faith life
- 2 Corinthians 13:5 [read 2 Corinthians 13:1-6 (5)]
- Examine yourselves, to see whether you are holding to your faith. Test yourselves. Do you not realize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test! (RSV)
- KJV: Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
The best life is your life in Christ
- Romans 6:23 [read Romans 6: (23)]
- For the payoff of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NET)
- KJV: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- 2 Corinthians 5:6-7 [read 2 Corinthians 5: (6-7)]
- Therefore, we are always confident, and we know that as long as we are at home in this body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. (ISV)
- KJV: Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
Crucified with Christ
Of course, Jesus took care of your sins on the cross when He died for you. So, if you are born again, you are freed from sin’s control over you. Therefore, you are no longer a slave to sin.
- Romans 6:6 [read Romans 6:1-12 (6)]
- We know that our old self [our human nature without the Holy Spirit] was nailed to the cross with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin. (AMP)
- KJV: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
Jesus is our hope and our great God
- Titus 2:13-14 [read Titus 2:11-15 (13-14)]
- Looking for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself up for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people of his own, zealous for good works. (RKJNT)
- KJV: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Live by faith
Now live by faith in the Son of God, who loves you and gave himself to save you. To say it another way, rely on the faithfulness of Jesus. Why? Because He died to save you! So while you are alive, do not live for yourself, but for Jesus. He died and rose again for you.
- Hebrews 10:37-38 [read Hebrews 10:26-39 (37-38)]
- For in a very short time [Isaiah 26:20],
“The One who is coming will come and will not delay. 38 Those who are right with me [My righteous ones] will live by faith. But if they turn back with fear [shrink back], I [My soul] will not be pleased with them [Habakkuk 2:3–4].” (EXB) - KJV: For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
In Habakkuk 2:4, the prophet says the person who lives right (the just/righteous) lives by their faith. He spoke of true believers—the born-again.
The power of the good news (the gospel)
- Romans 1:17 [read Romans 1:16-17 (17)]
- For the gospel reveals how God puts people right with himself: it is through faith from beginning to end. As the scripture says, “The person who is put right with God through faith shall live” [Habakkuk 2:4]. (GNT)
- KJV: For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Faith life
Many talk about faith but fail to show that they have it. The tests and challenges of life cause most to fail faith tests. Does your faith show during life tests?
- James 1:2-4 [read James 1:2-8 (2-4)]
- Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (NLT)
- KJV: My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
Those who had faith…
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16 [read 1 Thessalonians 4:16 (16)]
- With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God’s trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life. (CEV)
- KJV: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
Make sure your faith is firm. Believe in the saving grace of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. Trust in God’s word and the sacrifice of Jesus for salvation. Your faith in Him makes it possible to please God.
In conclusion, your faith life is more than just believing; it is about how you live. Thank you for taking the time to read this Bible lesson. I urge you to make full use of it. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺
Related studies, lessons, and snacks for further spiritual growth:
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I look forward to your feedback via comment at the bottom of the page or by emailing [email protected]. Have a wonderful day!
Updated: Thursday, July 21, 2022; FYI, comments are working again!
Be encouraged to fight the good fight of faith. Trust in the Lord to get you through… #faithlife.
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Message in the picture:
Live by faith in Jesus – Faith Life – from Galatians 2:20
Verse for the day:
Galatians 2:20
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