You Can’t Live the Christian Life — But Christ in You Can

Afternoon. Good evening.

I’ve had some things rumbling around in my spirit and in my heart that I’ve been wanting to share with you. I’ve been thinking about this all day, and I pray that I’ll be able to say something coherent.

I worked a little late today, got home, and was just so ready to make this video. I haven’t had supper yet—so hopefully I can get this out before diving into some deer chili. It’s definitely deer chili weather.

I pray this finds you blessed, and more than that—I pray you realize the blessing you already have and the blessing that you are to those around you.

For the One Who's Struggling

Maybe you're like I was—struggling. For a long time, I fought hard to wake up early. I thought I had to. Had to have my quiet time. Had to get up at 4 a.m. I fought it because, let’s be honest, I was tired. But one day, I just started waking up able to do it. Not every day, but that fight changed.

Whatever you're struggling with, maybe it’s not getting up early—maybe it’s something else. Maybe you're sitting in church and all you're hearing is: You ain't doing enough. You ain't measuring up. You need to do better. Pull yourself up by your bootstraps and get ‘er done.

Well, I’m here to tell you something that might shock you:

You can’t live the Christian life.

There. I said it. You can’t do it. You can’t please God—on your own.

But here's the good news: Christ in you can.

Crucified with Christ

Let’s look at Paul’s words in Galatians 2:20 (I believe this is from the New King James Version):

“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”

Paul said he was crucified with Christ. When was Christ crucified? Around 2,000 years ago. So somehow, Paul says he was part of that. Something happened in Christ’s death that counted for Paul—and for you, and for me.

Jesus was not just any man. He was—and is—the last Adam.

Paul goes on to say, “Nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me.” That’s the life you now live.

Revealed in You

Galatians 1:15 says:

“When it pleased God… to reveal His Son in me.”

Not to me, but in me.

We were crucified with Christ. Buried with Christ. Raised with Christ. That’s Scripture. But we miss the depth of what that really means.

You can’t live this life in your own strength. You’re trying to love your wife better. You’re trying to stop doing this or start doing that. But let me tell you—there’s a Resurrection Life already in you. The very life that raised Christ from the dead is alive inside you.

Everything You Need Is Already In You

Check out 2 Peter 1:1–3 (this is from The Passion Translation):

“Everything we could ever need for life and godliness has already been deposited in us by His divine power.”

What? Everything?

Yes. Everything. You already have it. Why? Because you have Him.

Jesus is your source. Your resource. He is the reason your heart is beating right now, even though you’re not consciously telling it to.

He goes on to say:

“All this was lavished upon us through the rich experience of knowing Him, who has called us by name and invited us to come to Him through a glorious manifestation of His goodness.”

That’s powerful. And it changes everything.

Change Your Thinking

You want to change your life? Change your thinking.

Ask the Father: “Show me who You are.”When you begin to think differently about Him, everything else changes. That’s what this is about. Grace and peace cascade over you as you grow in the rich knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

It’s not about trying harder. It’s about realizing what’s already been deposited in you.

Resurrection Life Is Real

Back to the bank analogy: If someone deposits a million dollars in your account and you don’t know about it, how are you going to access it?

That’s where so many of us are—we’ve been given this treasure, this power, this life. But we don’t realize it’s there.

You have a life inside you that enables you to love your neighbor, your spouse, your enemies. You can be who you are because of the life that's already in you. We’ve spent too much time focusing on the first Adam and what he messed up.

Let me tell you: Jesus—the last Adam—fixed what the first Adam broke.

He gathered up humanity in Himself. He took us to the cross. We were buried with Him. We were raised with Him. And we were born again—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:3).

Before Time Began

Let me wrap this up with 2 Timothy 1:8–10, again from The Passion Translation:

“He gave us resurrection life and drew us to Himself by His holy calling—not because of any good we have done, but by His divine pleasure and marvelous grace that confirmed our union with the Anointed Jesus, even before time began.”

Think about that. Before time began, God purposed this. Not just to save you, but to unite you with Christ. To place His very life in you.

That’s the revelation that overcomes evil. That’s the revelation that changes your world.

I’m going to stop here, but this is just the beginning. I’ll be back with more. This might end up being a three-part series (at least).

But I had to get this out of my heart and into yours.

God bless you. I love you.