another

THE BELIEVER AS ANOTHER -- Gal 2:20

I. NORMAL HUMANITY IS MEANT TO BE - GOD INDWELT

A. Humanity That Is Not Indwelt By God Is Sub Human

1. Can you offer proof of that you ask? Yes I can

2. I can give you proof from the only perfect human who has ever lived - the Lord Jesus.

B. Jesus Was A Real Human Being - All Confessions Of Faith Acknowledge This.

1. This means that He was the represenative man - truly one of us.

2. Notice what Jesus said on the occasions when he was challenged as to the source of His miracles and authority

3. He would say the Son can do nothing of Himself. (John 5:19) (John 8:28)

4. In other words His basic self consciousness as a human was an awareness of His nothingness in Himself

C. His Statements About The Father Puzzled His Disciples

1. He would say something like this - I do what I see the father do.

2. My doctrine is not mine but His that sent me. (John 7:16)

3. He made clear what he meant at that last supper with his disciples (John 14: 1-11)

D. Phillip Not Understanding What he Meant Asks To See The Father.

1. In other words open up heaven and let us see the one of whom you are speaking

2. Look at Jesus answer in John 14:9

3. Some say - well that's Deity. He meant their names were interchangeable. They call Him Father Or Jesus

4. But that isn't what he meant for the next verse says - Believest thou not I am in the father and the father in me

5. The words I speak are not mine but the Father that dwelleth in me, He does the works.

E. The Lord Jesus Recognized That The Function Of Humanity Was To Be A Channel for His Words And Works.

1. He fulfilled the true vocation of Man, for He came in sinless humanity to be what man through sin had ceased to be.

2. The willing vehicle of the father - allow ing the Father To express Himself through His humanity

3. How much could the Father do through the Son - Everything

4. How much can Jesus do through us everything. (Gal. 3:5)

5. He is limited only by the measure of our availability to Him

II. THAT'S WHY ITS SO IMPORTANT TO UNDER STAND GAL. 2:20

A. I Have Been Crucified - That's The Old Paul Out

1. The self seeking, self centered self Is now out

2. Then He says - nevertheless (on the other hand) or none the less I live.

3. That's the new Paul a living, thinking, feeling human

B. Listen Carefully - He Corrects Himself And Adds - Yet Not I But Christ Living In Me.

1. If the new Paul is Christ in Him.

2. Who was the old Paul - Satan in Him using Him and his body for sinful purposes.

3. The same body but a new Person inside is a life lived for the glory of God.

4. That's the reason for the phrase - the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God.

C. When Paul Says - Christ Lives In Me, He Is Replacing The Old Self With Christ.

1. In other words - your self is Christ. it is not you its Christ.

2. There are two selves joined in one and that other self is Christ.

3. I Cor. 6:17 - He that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit

4. That's why it is indivisible. That's why you don't look around or up to find Christ.

5. You don't look around to find yourself do you?

6. However you feel about it - you can't escape yourself

7. Since your other self is Christ - you can't escape him either.

8. I'm sorry but Christ has to go where you go. In the grace of God, Jesus tied Himself to us.

D. You Contain Him And He Motivates You - You Are The Means By Which He Expresses Him self.

1. Major Ian Thomas put this truth in a brief paragraph.

To be in Christ - that is redemption; but for Christ to be in you - that is satisfaction! To be in Christ - that makes you fit for heaven; but for Christ to be you - that makes you fit for earth! To be in Christ - that changes your destination; but for Christ to be in you that changes your destiny! The one makes heaven your home - the other makes this world His work ship.

2. How is It with you this morning? do you know Jesus as a doctrine or do you know Him as a person?

3. Have you ever placed your trust in Him to be your Savior.