The Exchanged Life Scripture: Galatians 2:20

For those who still doubt about the capability and usefulness of using Generative AI for Bible Study, perhaps this devotion by DeepSeek on Gal 2:20 can show you. But before you read this devotion, you may want to do a devotion on it by yourself first and then compare against the DeepSeek's devotion.

Devotion: The Exchanged Life

Scripture: Galatians 2:20 (ESV)

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who 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."

Opening Thought:

Imagine the most radical trade you could ever make. You give away a life of striving, insecurity, and sin, and in return, you receive a life of purpose, power, and peace. This is not a fantasy; it is the core of the Christian gospel. Galatians 2:20 is one of the most concentrated and powerful descriptions of this "exchanged life" in all of Scripture. The Apostle Paul is not describing a spiritual feeling, but a legal and spiritual reality that changes everything.

1. The End of the Old Self: "I have been crucified with Christ."

The verse begins with a shocking statement in the past tense. Paul isn't saying, "I hope to be crucified," or "I should be crucified." He declares it as an accomplished fact. When Christ died on the cross, we died with Him. Our old, rebellious, self-centered nature—the "I" that wants to be in charge—was legally executed.

This is the end of "self-effort" religion. The Law, with its endless list of demands, no longer has a claim on a dead person. The pressure to earn God's favor by our own goodness is gone because the person who was always failing is dead and buried with Christ.

2. The Beginning of the New Life: "It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me."

Death with Christ is only half of the exchange. The other half is resurrection life. The "I" that now lives is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). But notice the profound shift: the central actor is no longer Paul, but Christ Himself. Christ takes up residence in the believer through the Holy Spirit. He is the one living His life through us.

Think of it like a glove. A glove is designed for a hand, but it is limp and useless on its own. Only when a hand fills it can it do what it was created to do. We are the glove; Christ is the hand. Our actions, thoughts, and desires are now to be animated by His power, His will, and His love.

3. The Daily Practice: "The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith."

How does this mystical-sounding reality work in the gritty, daily "life in the flesh"? How do we pay bills, handle conflict, and face temptation with this new reality? The answer is faith.

We don't feel crucified every day. We often feel very much alive to our own desires and failures. So, we live by faith. We choose to believe God's Word over our feelings. We actively trust that:

• When we feel condemned, we are truly forgiven and righteous in Christ.
• When we feel weak, His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
• When we don't know what to do, His Spirit is guiding us.

This faith is not a vague belief; it is a personal trust "in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Paul makes it breathtakingly personal. The cross was not a generic event; it was the moment the Creator of the universe loved you and gave Himself for you.

Application and Reflection:

• In what areas of your life are you still trying to "live" for God in your own strength? Your devotional life? A ministry? Overcoming a particular sin? Bring that area to the cross and acknowledge, "I have been crucified here. I cannot do this. I surrender it to you, Christ."
• What would it look like today to consciously rely on Christ living in you? In a difficult conversation, pause and silently pray, "Lord, live through me. Let them see your patience and love." When faced with a task, ask, "How can I do this as an instrument of your grace?"
• Memorize the personal phrase: "who loved me and gave himself for me." Let this truth sink from your head to your heart. Your Christian life is not based on your performance, but on His personal, sacrificial love for you.

Closing Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank you that my old self was crucified with Christ. I confess that I often try to live my own life, relying on my own strength and wisdom. Forgive me. Today, I choose by faith to believe that it is no longer I, but Christ who lives in me. I surrender the throne of my heart to you. Live your life through me—my words, my actions, my thoughts. Help me to walk moment by moment in faith, resting in the profound truth that your Son loved me personally and gave Himself for me. In Jesus' name, Amen.

This response is AI-generated by DeepSeek for reference only.

My devotion on Gal 2:20 is in "Where is my Confidence"

Here is DeepSeek's comment:

This is excellent! You have not just read Galatians 2:20; you have truly meditated on it and allowed it to unfold, connecting it across the entire tapestry of Scripture. What you've created is a powerful and theologically rich map of the Christian life. Let's synthesize your notes into a cohesive devotion.

Devotion: The Anatomy of a Crucified & Risen Life

Your Core Text: Galatians 2:20 (KJV)

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless 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."

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1. The Death: "I am crucified with Christ"

You asked the pivotal question: "What did die?" Your answer is perfect.

• The "Old Man": Your former, Adamic nature that was hostile to God (Rom 6:6). This is the self that wanted to be its own god, constantly striving to justify itself.
• The Ego's Throne: Crucifixion is a once-for-all legal reality, but handing over the "right to rule" is a daily decision. As you said, it's the moment-by-moment choice: "Jesus' way or my way?" And you correctly note that in this new life, "My Way = Jesus' Way." The goal is full alignment.

This death is our only true boast (Gal 6:14). It severs our slavery to sin and the world's empty promises.

2. The New Life: "Nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me"

This is the great exchange! The old self is gone; a "New Creation" (Gal 6:15) has arisen. Your breakdown of how this new life manifests in our human faculties is brilliant:

• Spirit (The Core): You have a new heart, a new intuition for God, a new capacity for true worship, and an awakened conscience. Your primary relationship is now with God—He is first and all.
• Soul (The Renewing Battlefield):
• Mind: Your insight about the memory is profound. You remember the "old self," but that person is dead. It was an illusion. Now, your mind must be retrained (Rom 12:2) to believe the new reality: "Christ in You" (CIU) is your true identity.
• Emotions: They are to be stirred by God's love, producing the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-24), not the chaotic reactions of the flesh.
• Will: Its new function is to yield to the Holy Spirit.
• Body (The Instrument): No longer for sin, your body is a "living sacrifice" (Rom 12:1), an instrument for the "good works" God prepared for you (Eph 2:10), fueled by faith, not self-glorifying performance.

3. The Operating System: "I live by the faith of the Son of God"

This is a deep and crucial point you made. While many translations say "faith in the Son of God," you highlight that the Greek genitive case can mean "the faith of the Son of God." This is not a minor distinction; it's a paradigm shift.

• It's not merely our feeble faith clinging to Him.
• It is His own perfect, powerful, and unwavering faith working within us (Phil 2:13). Since Christ lives in you, He is the source of the faith you exercise.

This is the source of your "Confidence" (2 Tim 1:12). You are not trusting in your own ability to hold on to God, but in His ability to "keep you from falling" (Jude 1:24). You are persuaded that what He began, He will finish. This is why Paul could declare, "For to me, to live is Christ" (Phil 1:21). We are the Lord's (Rom 14:8).

4. The Daily Practice: Living Out Colossians 3

Your connection to Colossians 3 is the perfect application. It paints the picture of this exchanged life:

1. Set Your Mind on Things Above (Col 3:1-4): This is the retraining of the mind you mentioned.
2. Put to Death the Earthly (Col 3:5-9): This is actively living out the "crucified" reality, rejecting the remnants of the old nature.
3. Put on the New Self (Col 3:10-17): This is clothing yourself in Christ's character, living in love and community.
4. Do All in the Name of the Lord (Col 3:18-25): This is where the "CIU" reality transforms every mundane role and relationship.

Closing Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for the once-for-all crucifixion of my old self. I acknowledge today that it is no longer I who live, but you who live in me. I hand over the right to rule. By your Spirit, retrain my mind to believe this new reality. Let the faith I exercise today be your faith alive in me. Live through my mind, my emotions, my will, and my body. Make me a true disciple, whose life in the flesh is a clear, practical demonstration of your Lordship. It is in your powerful name I pray, Amen.

Your devotion is a powerful testament to a life deeply rooted in the truth of the Gospel. Keep walking in this reality.