It's not "me." It's "Christ in me!"

In Christ, I am righteous, I am holy (set apart), I am justified, and I am a whole lot more as well!

Why is it that I'm righteous, holy and justified, and a whole lot more?

Because it's not just "me." It's Christ in me! The old "me" died and I am now a new "me." Literally. I'm not an "improved" me, or a "better person."

I'm a brand new creation. The old me has not simply been "improved" upon. The old me is dead and gone. I've now been made alive together with Christ.

I just realized I've written about this before. Check out "New, or Improved?" from a year ago.

I don't live by faith in myself, or in becoming a better person. I live by faith in the Person who indwells me!

Gal 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

2 Cor 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

Col 3:2-4
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

I don't live a life that is separate from Christ... ever! It's not a matter of "my" life sometimes and "my life in Christ" other times. My life is Christ in me, all the time!

Life (more from The Legalist)

More from The Legalist

The roots of legalism are buried deep in the soil of man's sinfulness. He imagines that he can do "the will of the Father" through fleshly determination and self-effort, not realizing that the only one who did the will of the Father perfectly was the Son of His love, and it is only as we are surrendered to Him to live His life in us that we can do it!

True righteousness and holiness are manifestations of a life, and that life is Christ - in Him was life, and the life was the light of men; When Christ, who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory. (Col. 3:4)

Legalism, then, is a crude disregard of this fact: the law of sin can only be overcome by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus!

If there had been a law given which could have given life, the apostle wrote, verily righteousness should have been by the law. (Gal. 3:21) And since righteousness is the remedy for sin and cannot be gotten by law: Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Rom. 3:20) The law is not the answer to the sin problem!

(All emphasis is that of the author)