David Platt Messages
David Platt Messages is a podcast that highlights sermons from teacher, author, and pastor David Platt.
David Platt Messages
The Secret to the Christian Life
In this sermon from Galatians 2:20, David Platt points to the amazing reality that Christ “exchanges” His life for ours.
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You're listening to David Platt Messages a weekly podcast of sermons and messages of pastor, author and teacher David Platt. Today's episode is a rerun of one of our most listened to messages of all time.
Speaker 2:I want us to look at one verse today, one verse Galatians, chapter two, verse 20. And in this one verse, I wanna show you what I've called, at the top of your notes, the secret to the Christian life. And I say it's a secret not because I've come up with something new that nobody's ever heard. The truth that we're about to look at is all over the Bible. In many ways it is the core of Christianity, but I believe many Christians, many true followers of Jesus, have missed this or are missing this on a daily basis. So I want to show it to you, and I want to do two things. First, like I mentioned, I want to call many people today in this room and other campuses, to start a Christian life, like to put your faith in Christ and, for some, to be baptized if you've never been baptized as a follower of Christ. And then I wanna lead us and other campus pastors at other campuses to pray based on this verse. So let's do this, let's read it out loud together. So I'm gonna put it up here on the screen, because this one verse summarizes, maybe more than any other verse in the entire Bible, the confession of any and every Christian. So let's say it together. Galatians, chapter two, verse 20. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. Live but Christ who 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 gave himself for me. All right. So here's the deal. Every Christian I know I'm talking true Christian, not just somebody who says they're a Christian, anybody can say that and mean all sorts of things I'm talking every true follower of Christ believes that Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of their sins, like every Christian believes that. But many Christians practically stop there. They believe they will go to heaven because they've been forgiven of their sins. But the problem is they're not really sure how to live the Christian life between here and there and, as a result, many Christians live frustrated, if not empty, feeling or maybe even defeated Christian lives. I'm going to list off some descriptions of what I mean by the frustrated or empty or defeated Christian life and just see if any of these things sound familiar to you.
Speaker 2:One you know you're supposed to want to go to church, but sometimes getting here on Sunday seems a lot more like a chore. You know you're supposed to read the Bible but you don't really feel like you understand it. And truth is you struggle to make time for it. You know you're supposed to pray but your mind wanders a lot. And truth is you struggle to make time for it. You know you're supposed to pray but your mind wanders a lot and, truth be told, it starts to feel like a pretty empty religious exercise when you do it.
Speaker 2:You know you're supposed to give. Maybe you can feel a little guilty. You're not giving enough. You could give more, but you're not a little guilty. You're not giving enough. You could give more, but you're not really compelled to.
Speaker 2:You know you're supposed to have victory over sin, but you still find yourself struggling with the same thing over and over and over again. You know you're not supposed to be worried or anxious about anything, but in actuality you worry a lot and you're anxious, even afraid, about a number of things. You know you're supposed to share the gospel but well, you just don't, in part because you really don't want to be that guy or a woman who's kind of crazy about religion, or you're just nervous that you're going to say something that doesn't make sense. They won't understand. Or maybe this last one you know that God loves you Like, you believe that, but you have this nagging sense that God wants more from you. Like you know you're saved by God's grace, but you constantly feel like there's some areas where you just need to work harder and do better. Maybe you're just tired and Christianity feels like more work feels like more work. Do you resonate with any of those descriptions? So I have a feeling that many, if not most, of us resonate with one or more, or maybe all of these, and if that's the case for you in any way, then I want you to hear this secret today, this truth that is crystal clear in Galatians 2.20 and all over the Bible. But so many Christians are missing out on the secret, or maybe, the way I would put it, the reason why so many Christians live frustrated, empty, even defeated Christian lives is because so few of us have grasped I mean really grasped the mammoth reality that Jesus died for you so that he might live in you. Jesus died for you so that he might live in you, so that you might have an entirely new life Now, not just in eternity, which we talked about last week with the rope, is important we're talking now, on earth a new life, now, today, tomorrow. New life, and God has been opening my eyes in a fresh way to this truth over the last few weeks.
Speaker 2:Two weeks ago, when we were studying Acts, chapter one together and the coming of the Holy Spirit, I shared a couple of quotes from Hudson Taylor and Ian Thomas, and I have had all kinds of people asking for those quotes. Hudson Taylor, missionary to China, whose biography is entitled Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret. He writes about the moment where he realized that he was missing this secret. He was trying to live the Christian life without realizing that Christ was in him. Likewise, ian Thomas he lived in England, was going out every night into the slums of London to do ministry, and he wrote what I think describes so many Christians, even myself. He wrote I had been reduced to a state of complete exhaustion spiritually until I felt there was no point in going on.
Speaker 2:One night at midnight I got down on my knees before God and I just wept in sheer despair. I said, oh God, I know that I am saved. I love Jesus. Christ, I am perfectly convinced that I am converted. With all my heart I have wanted to serve you, yet I have tried to my uttermost and I feel as a helpless failure. He said that night things happened. I can honestly say that I had never once heard from the lips of men the message that came to me then. But God that night simply focused on me the Bible message of Christ, who is my life. The Lord seemed to make plain to me that night through my tears of bitterness. You see, for seven years, with utmost sincerity, you have been trying to live for me, on my behalf, the life that I have been waiting for seven years to live through you, ian Thomas said.
Speaker 2:I got up the next morning to an entirely different Christian life. That's what I'm hoping and praying. Hundreds, if not thousands, of you today might wake up to tomorrow to a fresh understanding, or maybe a first time understanding, that Jesus died for you so that he might live in you. You might say in a fresh way I have been crucified with Christ. I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. Think about what that means. Follow this in your notes. The Christian life is a totally exchanged life.
Speaker 2:Galatians 2.20,. I have been crucified with Christ. Listen to the language there. I died, yet I live. So there's a total exchange that's happening here. There's an old me that has died. Now there's a new me that lives. So what's the old me?
Speaker 2:And if you're not a follower of Christ right now, let me invite you to listen closely here. So this is a summary of what the Bible teaches. If you are a follower of Christ, be reminded in the summary what it means to be a follower of Christ. Like the Bible teaches that we have all been created by God and we have all turned from God, from his ways, to our own ways, and we know this. It looks different in every single one of our lives, but we have all chosen our ways over God's ways, and the Bible calls this sin. And our sin separates us from God, and if we die in this state of separation from God, we will spend eternity separated from God. But God has made a way for us, you and me, to be brought back into relationship with him. God sent Jesus to live the life we could not live a life with no sin so that he could then pay the price for our sin. That's what Jesus was doing on the cross. He was taking the penalty that you deserve for your sin, that I deserve for my sin, upon himself. Jesus died for our sin and then, three days later, he rose from the dead so that anyone anywhere, including you today, like right now, can be forgiven of all your sin and brought back into relationship with God. Through faith in Jesus, you can experience new, eternal life in restored relationship with God, and that's what this verse is talking about.
Speaker 2:A Christian is someone who believes that Jesus died on the cross for them. A Christian believes the greatest news in the world God loves me. He gave himself for me on the cross and the old me, which wanted my ways over God's ways, has been crucified, and in exchange I've not gotten a refurbished. This is so significant. Jesus did not die to make you better. Jesus died to make you better. Jesus died to make you new, totally new. Old me gone. The new me is here and the new me is Christ in me.
Speaker 2:Like think about this For those who are followers of Christ, who have been crucified with Christ. Just think about what this means. You have given Jesus your sin and Jesus has given you in exchange his righteousness. Just let this soak in. Christian, you now have the very righteousness of Jesus living in you. Keep going here. You have given Jesus your slavery to sin. In exchange, jesus has given you his freedom over sin Galatians 5.1,. For freedom, christ has set us free. Galatians 4.7,. Christian, you are no longer a slave to sin. You are now a son or daughter of God. Keep going. You have given Jesus your defeat against sin and Jesus has given you his victory over sin.
Speaker 2:Romans 7,. Paul, who's writing Galatians 2, says what a wretched man I am in this war with sin. Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. So, christian, don't believe it. Do not believe that you cannot overcome that sin. Christ is in you, absolutely. You can overcome that sin and, christians, stop beating yourself up over your sin. Keep going here. You have given Jesus your judgment for sin. He has taken it from you and, in exchange, jesus has given you his salvation from sin.
Speaker 2:Romans 8.1,. There is now no condemnation for those who are what In Christ Jesus. Christ is in you. Christ has taken all your judgment upon himself. There is no more price to be paid, no more work to be done. You can rest in his love. It is finished and you don't have to worry about a thing. You don't even have to worry about death, because you have given Jesus your death and Jesus has given you his life.
Speaker 2:This is why people were being baptized last week, earlier today, why I pray people will be baptized as a result of this gathering right now, this word that we're looking at, that will step into the water to celebrate this reality Jesus is my life. As they go down in the water, it's a picture of our dying with him, just as Jesus died. We have died to the old us, but in the way baptism works, we don't keep you underwater for very long. Why not? Well, for multiple reasons, but the main reason is because Jesus didn't stay dead for very long. Three days later he rose to new life and that's the picture we have new life, a totally exchanged life. Jesus is our life and with this exchange to keep going comes supernatural power. The Christian life is a supernaturally empowered life. Just think about the wonder of these words. Christ lives in me. Who? Christ? Jesus, god in the flesh, like the one who spoke and the world came into being. He said world and world happened, light, dark plants, and I'll just say a word. And he is the one living in you. He'll knock you out of your seat if you think about it. I just let this soak in Christian Jesus, god in the flesh, is in you, you are in him. This is how the Bible talks about the Christian life over and over again. I could take you so many places right now. Show you that Jesus is in you, you are in him, and this changes everything. Let me give you a picture.
Speaker 2:When I was about to get engaged to Heather, so I've been saving up for this ring, and so anybody so high school teenage boys like start saving now. It'll cost you the farm. My junior hires just as young as possible, start saving. So as soon as I got, I'm prone to lose things and I did not want to lose this. So my plan was I'm going to get the ring in the morning and that night I'm going to ask Heather to marry me, and so I just got to not lose it during the day. I had one errand I needed to run during the day. I needed to go to the mall, to a music store, to pick up a CD that I was going to use that night, and the whole engagement thing. It's a whole nother story, but I just knew like this was the day some dude was going to come up to me and like mug me in the mall and take whatever I had with me, like. So I was pretty paranoid. So I got the biggest, heaviest jacket I could find. It was not a cold day outside, but I got a big, heavy jacket and had a little pocket right here that I could zip it under. So I unzipped the pocket, put the ring in, zip the pocket back up, put the heavy jacket on, had my hand on the ring at all times and I just walked into the mall like this, like head down, no eye contact, just focused get in there, get the CD, get out.
Speaker 2:So I go into the music store. So this was before. You could just like do this on your phone by a couple of clicks. So I'm in there looking for the CD. I can't find the CD. So I go over to this woman who works there and I'm like excuse me, miss, like can you help me find this CD? She's like sure.
Speaker 2:So I start walking and with her and she's like well, what do you want this CD for? I was like I'm getting engaged tonight and she was like oh really, do you have the ring with you? And I was like, do you ever think? Like okay, is it all right to lie like sometimes. I was like, okay, I don't think it is, but I definitely not now. So I was like, yeah, I've got the ring. And she said, well, can I see it? Well, can I see it? So I'm like sweating. Of course I've got this heavy jacket on and uh. So I just turn to everybody else in the store and like we're over in the corner and I like unzip it, pull out the ring, just kind of show it to her like yeah, here it is. She looks over, she's like that's beautiful. Then she raises up and says to all of her coworkers hey guys, this guy's getting married. Come look at this ring that he's about to propose to his wife with. And at this point I'm like, all right, that's it. Why don't I just throw it? Who wants it? Like don't even come attack me for it, I will just give it to you. And everybody comes over, they're talking, look at their. I'm like man, will you just please give me the CD? Like I just want the CD. Fine, I get the CD, put the ring back in the bag.
Speaker 2:I go running out of the mall like this, like everything changed, like the way I talked, the way I thought, the way I walked, every bit of me changed when I realized I had this like treasure in me, like see it, like far, far, far greater than a ring that's gonna fade and and, in the end, not gonna matter. Like you have christ in you, it changes the way you think, it changes the way you walk, the way you love, the way you interact with family or friends. It changes the way you interact, or it changes every facet of your life. When you you're alone, when you're with others, everything's different. When you realize Christ is in you, it changes everything. And when you know this, when you know Jesus is in you so don't miss this then you realize that the Christian life is not about what you do for Jesus, but what Jesus does in you. That is so significant, like my six-year-old would say like Dad, this is you massive. Because this is so different from the way we are prone to think.
Speaker 2:Like most Christians think I just look at all Jesus has done for me. The least I can do for him is this or that. Do you hear that language? Look at all Jesus has done for me, has done past tense what Jesus has done in the past for me. So now, in the present, what can I do for him? That is a totally wrong way to think, and the reason it's wrong is because Jesus hasn't stopped doing for you. Jesus is still doing for you Every moment of every day.
Speaker 2:Jesus is living in you, his power working in you, see it. See it, we are not living in debt to Jesus. Like don't use that language the least I can do for Jesus is this or that. I just want to pay Jesus back for all that he's done for me. Listen, jesus is not a businessman looking to do a business deal with you. There is no way you could ever pay him back, and that's the point. It's the beauty. Jesus has not asked us to pay him back. He has saved us by his grace, not in exchange for our best works. He saves us by his grace and then he comes to live within us, which means we are not living in debt to Jesus. We are living indwelled by Jesus. That's a very different way to live.
Speaker 2:The Bible teaches that Jesus is in you, you are in him. Jesus is with you, you are with him. All throughout the New Testament, we see these promises I will be with you, you'll be with me, which means so, follow this. Jesus died for meaningful relationship with you, not monotonous religious motion from you. Do you hear the language here in Galatians? The one who lives in me loves me and he gave himself for me. No, jesus has not saved you for a life of monotonous religious motion in his name. Don't do it. It's not Christianity and so many, so many are settling for it like it is. It's not. Jesus has saved you so that you might live in loving relationship with him. The Christian life is the overflow of the love of Christ for you and the life of Christ in you and in this relationship. Jesus works with you to accomplish his will in you and in the world. Oh, there's so much we can talk about here. But during my time away recently with you, to accomplish his will in you and in the world. Oh, there's so much we could talk about here.
Speaker 2:But during my time away recently, I was so struck by the phrase working with Jesus. We read it in our Bible reading. I was reading it one day Mark 16, 20. It says the disciples went out and preached everywhere while the Lord worked with them. That so stuck out to me. That was after Jesus had ascended into heaven. It says Jesus was working with them like co-laborers.
Speaker 2:2 Corinthians 6.1 says we work together with them. That's just totally transformed my perspective the last month. Like Jesus is working with me, with me, you Like every facet of my life, all day long, I just want to work with him. I want to work with him. I want Jesus to lead me, guide me, direct me every single moment of every single day, like right now, and preaching, like talking to people. I just want to work with Jesus, like this is the Christian life and in this. So keep going. Here.
Speaker 2:The Christian life is a wonderfully restful life, restful of rest. Paul's whole point in the context of Galatians 2 here is to emphasize how we're not working to try to earn status or favor with God. Instead, we're resting in Jesus and his life in us, and all that means. That's why Hudson Taylor said the sweetest part of realizing this truth is the rest which full identification with Christ brings. Taylor wrote I am no longer anxious about anything because I know Christ is in me and he will give me everything I need for everything I face. If Christ is in me, why should I be anxious? And this is it. This is exactly what Paul means when he says the life I now live, in the flesh. I live by faith in the Son of God. Think about what that means. The life of faith believes Jesus to be everything you need for every moment you live.
Speaker 2:The Christian life is not just putting your faith in Jesus, however many days or months or years ago, and then moving on and doing your best. The Christian life is putting your faith in Jesus today and tomorrow and the next day and the next, believing him to be for you. All that you need, when you feel weak, to believe in that moment that his strength in you is sufficient. When you feel lonely, to believe in that moment his love for you is enough. When you're tempted to return to sin, to believe in that moment that his way is better. When you're prone to despair, to believe in that moment that his way is better. When you're prone to despair, to believe in that moment that his hope is greater. The secret to the Christian life is drawing in every need you have on the immeasurable riches of Christ in you. And when you realize this, you realize the aim of the Christian life is not striving after more faith or better faith or greater faith. No, we don't strive after faith. We look to, we lean on, we trust in and we rest in the faithful one who is in us, and because he who is in us is faithful, in the end, the Christian life is a completely secure life Because Jesus does not come and go with and in those who are his. Jesus in you now is Jesus in you forever. All who have been crucified with Christ, who now live in Christ, christ in them, are secure forever, and not just in the future. You are secure now in Christ.
Speaker 2:We've talked about how fear, worry, anxiety are some of the most prominent struggles across both women and men, adults and children, not just in our society but in our church Fear, worry, anxiety. I want to give you a picture. This is preaching through Tupperware. All right, I want you to picture this first Tupperware container as you. I'm going to do a little drawing here of you. Okay, you ready. Here's you Be prepared, all right, well done, huh, all right. So this is you Now, based on what we just saw in what we just read.
Speaker 2:Who is in you? Jesus, christ is in you. So let's take this piece of tough wear and let's write on it Christ, all right. So Christ is in. Where's the top? There we go. Christ is in you.
Speaker 2:So now we're beginning to get a picture of your life, what we just talked about, how, not only is Christ in you, but and you look back up in Galatians, chapter two, verse four so many places in the Bible. It talks about how you are in, who you are in Christ. So let's do this, let's call this next on Christ as well and put a top on it. So now we're getting a clearer picture of who you are. You have Christ in you, you are in Christ. But then let me show you one other verse Colossians, chapter three, verse three very similar to Galatians, chapter two, verse 20, talks about how you died as a Christian and your life is now hidden with Christ. Anybody know what it says next In God. Is it on the screen? Oh, you just knew it. Well done, all right. So sorry, I didn't mean to doubt you, sorry, that was great, all right. So your life is hidden with Christ in God. So we got one more. Let's bring out the big tub for God, all right, and let's put Christ in you, you in Christ, christ in God. Okay, now we've got a little more complete picture of your life.
Speaker 2:Now I want you to think about what comes at you in this world. I want you to think about the adversary who wants to come at you in this world. In order for the adversary to get to you, let's just think about this for a moment. He first will encounter God the Father, which he does not have a good track record with, but let's just assume for a second. He makes it past God the Father, then he has to deal with Jesus Christ himself, which last time that happened he walked away shamed and defeated. Now he thought he won for a couple of days, but then he figured out that he was defeated. He had his head crushed by the snake crusher, and sin and death and Satan were defeated. So he's going to have to then deal with Christ and then, if he's able to get past Christ round one, then he gets to you. But who is still in you? Round two of Jesus Christ himself inside of you.
Speaker 2:So I'm thinking that you're pretty secure. In fact, I would take it a step further. Just to think practically Like no matter what level of cancer or what diagnosis comes your way, no matter what people in this world may do or try to do to you, no matter what happens in your job, no matter what happens in your job, no matter what happens in your circumstances, no matter what this world throws at you. I want you to see a picture and be reminded that you are in Christ. Christ is in you. In God, you are absolutely secure For those who are in. When you are in Jesus, nothing can stand against you, nothing, not even death itself. So with that, I want to invite you to bow your heads with me. Just ask you to bow your heads with me here at other campuses, and I ask you to do this just to bow your heads with me. Just ask you to bow your heads with me here at other campuses, and I ask you to do this just to bow your heads, close your eyes, because I want to put aside any, all distractions, and I just want to bring each of us right now, before God. We've just heard from His Word.
Speaker 2:So you, right now before God, right where you're sitting. The first thing I want to ask every single person in this room and other campuses, right there in that seat, I want to ask you before God is Christ in you? Is Christ in you? I'm not asking if you have called yourself a Christian if you go to church. Is Christ in you? I'm not asking if you have called yourself a Christian. If you go to church like, is Christ in you, thank you? Don't not ask if you believe in Jesus.
Speaker 2:Like we read this last week, even the demons believe in Jesus. The question is is Jesus your life? Have you trusted in Jesus as your life? And if your heart does not resound with a yes to that, then I want to give you an opportunity right now to say Jesus be my life. So, right where you're sitting, if that's you, you want to say that in your heart to God, let me just invite you right there just to pray in your heart for God. Dear God, I know that I have sinned against you, that I have chosen my ways over your ways, that I'm separated from you by my sin, but I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins. I believe he gave himself for me and today I am trusting him for new life. Just pray, god. Please make me a new person. Please forgive me of all my sin. Please fulfill me with your life Today and forever. I want Jesus to be my life.
Speaker 1:We hope you've enjoyed this week's episode of David Platt Messages. For more resources from David Platt, we invite you to visit radicalnet.
