“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Question: What does “to live is Christ” mean? How does it work?

When we believe in Christ we are baptized, not only with the outward water of repentance like that of John the Baptist, but by Jesus, Matthew 3:11 “with the Holy Spirit and fire”.

As Jesus advised Nicodemus, we are born again, transformed to a new life and given a new heart that desires to love and serve God, and not ourselves. 2 Corinthians 5:17 reads, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.”

Our old self who was a slave to sin, and the decay of this world has been put to death when we were baptised by Jesus.  Romans 6:4 “we were  buried with Him through baptism into death”.

And we are given new life as the Holy Spirit lives in us. Romans 8:11, “He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”

So, this new life is not just a life to be given in the future, it is here and now.  As the Holy Spirit lives in us and brings us to life, we become united with Jesus. 1 Cor 6:17, “he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.”

The life we live now is Christ.  As he lives in us, we are living for him and through him in this world.  Galations 2:20, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me”

Our Response

This changes us and what we do, however imperfect that may yet be.  Although I still stumble, now I recognise that I do stumble, but without Christ living in me I am sure I would believe I am perfect and the world should revolve around me.

Our old selves would react with horror at the prospect of physical death, and the loss of our attachment to this world of decay, and sin. But the new life given by Christ frees us from that, to now live in him and share that joy with others, and to look forward to being freed from the physical impediments of this world and to be perfectly united with Christ.