We read in Galatians 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” (NKJV). In Galatians 2, Paul dealt with individuals who were trying to convince Christians to live by part of the Old Law – the Law of Moses. He said that anyone who did that would take away the liberty they have in Christ and put themselves into bondage to the Old Law. He told them that he even had to confront Peter when he gave preference to Jewish Christians over Gentile Christians. Paul wrote that Christians are not justified by the Old Law but through the New Law. All the justification that comes through the New Law is based on faith in Jesus Christ (v. 16). No man could be justified by the Old Law. All Christians must be justified by Christ (v.17). This , then, is explained further in verse 20 above. The life a person lives as a Christian is only possible because Christ, the Son of God, was willing to die by crucifixion according to the will of the Father. If He had not done that, we could not be Christians or have justification in the sight of the Father.
Paul said Christ gave Himself for us. Many would interpret that to mean he died in our place. It is correct that he died in our place, but this phrase in the Greek language used the word huper. That word means above or over. He died to cover us and be over us. This connects us to the atonement of the Old Testament. Atonement only came by the shedding of blood. Atonement means a covering. Jesus Christ died to cover us and make us pure in the eyes of God. Thus, we are in Christ because He covers us. He protects us and cleanses us from the fiery darts of Satan.
Study your Bible. Learn how to get into Christ. Learn what is necessary to obtain the atonement of Christ. If any of this is hard to understand, ask an adult to help you.
