Dying to Self
Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.
World English Bible
Paul’s words are startling in their totality. He does not say, "I have improved myself." He says, "I have been crucified." The old self — with its selfish ambitions, its pride, its insistence on control — has been put to death with Christ.
This is not a metaphor for gradual self-improvement. It is a declaration of radical identity change. In baptism, we are united with Christ’s death and raised to walk in a new life. The person we once were no longer defines us. Christ does.
Living by faith in the Son of God means daily choosing His will over our instincts. It means trusting His love, following His example, and drawing on His strength. We no longer live for ourselves but for the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.
Dying to self is not a loss. It is a trade — our broken, limited life for Christ’s abundant, eternal one.
Reflect
- What parts of my old self still compete for control?
- Do I live as though I have truly been crucified with Christ?
- How does knowing Christ lives in me change the way I approach this day?
Pray
Ask God to help you live as one who has died to self. Pray that Christ’s life would be visible in your choices, your attitudes, and your relationships today.