“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.”

who loved me

The Lord’s love and sacrifice motivate us to live for Him. They are why we place our faith in Him.

and gave Himself

Jesus’ giving Himself on the cross is the greatest evidence of His love for us. Jesus’ love and sacrifice are a unit. His person and His work unite as one. Who He was prompted what He did. His willingness to die on the cross came from His love for us.

for me

The word “for” means in my place. Jesus substituted Himself for me. He took my hell so that I might have His heaven. He died in my place instead of me. I should have gone to hell, and I should have gone to the cross.

The Christian life is intensely personal. Jesus loved me and gave Himself for me. Notice the double “loved me…gave Himself for me.”

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35).

Principle:

Our relationship with Christ is very personal.

Application:

Before we embraced Christ as our Savior, we lived for ourselves. Now that we own Him as Savior, we have Someone for whom we can live. Life takes on new meaning. We now have purpose and dignity in our lives. Otherwise, this life is a rat race. We work all day, play in the evening, and sleep all night. That is all there is to live without Christ. However, our relationship with Christ is very personal. We owe our eternal future to Him. 

If we do not accept His substitute for our sins, then we will pay for our sins for all eternity.