Have you ever asked yourself, how can I experience lasting victory from bad habits? Listen as John Van Gelderen shares truth that changed him. The absolute necessity of the Spirit-filled life is the Spirit of the glorious, triumphant Christ living through your body of clay. Let this message change your life into one that wins and know your inheritance as God’s child through His perfect provision.
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless, I life; 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.”
Galatians 2:20
This grand verse teaches us that the reality of the Spirit-filled life is the Spirit of Christ living the life of Christ through the believer in Christ. True Spiritual victory over sin and power in service is the Spirit of the glorious Christ living the divine, victorious, triumphant life in Christ through your vessel of clay.
How can the Spirit of Christ live the life of Christ through the believer in Christ? Galatians 2:20 teaches us three truths, which reveal this marvelous reality.
The authority of the Spirit-filled life is the cross.
We often picture Christ on the cross, but have you ever pictured yourself there with Him? Co-crucifixion means we are dead to sin’s claim. Sin may assert its power, but it no longer has any authority. What an amazing identification! Ephesians 2:5 proclaims that we are alive with Christ.
The agent of the Spirit-filled life is the Spirit.
You may try to live the Spirit-filled life in your own power, but you cannot; you are not the agent, the Spirit is. Notice two truths which are intrinsically connected. Christ lives through me; through my spirit, soul, and body. Philippians 1:21 says, “For me to live is Christ.” This is simply the manifestation of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). There is also the law of the Spirit, which made us free from the law of sin and death, which plainly teaches that in Christ, we are made free from the law of sin and death.
The access to the Spirit-filled life is our faith.
The issue of our faith is the Son of God (Galatians 2:16, 20). The object of our faith is the Son of God. What is Jesus called in John 1? He is called: “The Word.” As salvation is a gift received by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), so likewise, the Spirit-filled life is a gift received by grace through faith (Romans 5:2). In the Spirit-filled life, you walk in Christ. In other words, in salvation you depend on Christ for what you receive; in the Spirit-filled life, you depend on Christ for what you do. The former is grace to you; the latter is grace through you. The former is for a new standing; the latter is for a new walking. The former is for a new position; the latter is for a new practice. Walking in the Spirit is simply trust to obey.
When this revelation of Christ in and through us becomes reality, what is the ultimate result? Galatians 1:24 explains, “And they glorify God in me.” This is the reality of the Spirit-filled life.
Dr. John Van Gelderen (@JRVanGelderen) is president of Revival Focus Ministries, evangelist out of Ann Arbor, and author of The Revived Life (2012) and The Faith Response (2011). He and his family conduct revival meetings across the country.