Crucified With Christ
Month 7: Who Am I? · Bible Story
Today's Scripture
Read together: Galatians 2:19-20
19 For through the law I died to the law so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
Memory Verse
“I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”— Galatians 2:20 (BSB)memorize this week
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: 2 Chronicles 13-15
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (King Asa tears down the idols and leads Judah to seek the Lord with all their heart.)The Heart of It
Paul writes one of the most surprising sentences in the whole Bible. He says, "I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." That sounds strange. Paul is clearly still alive. He's still writing letters. He's still walking around. So what does he mean? He means that when he trusted Jesus, his old self was nailed to the cross with Jesus and put to death. That old self was the proud, self-running, sin-loving "me." The old boss is gone. Now Someone better lives at the center. Jesus Himself lives there, by His Spirit. Paul didn't disappear. He was set free to become who God always meant him to be.
This is huge for the question "Who am I?" Lots of people try to build an identity out of their talents, or their looks, or their friends, or their feelings. Then they spend their whole lives afraid someone will knock it down. But a Christian's deepest identity isn't built. It's given. The old life dies, and a brand-new life begins, with Christ living in us. Notice how Paul ends the verse. Jesus "loved me and gave Himself for me." Your truest name is not "loser" or "winner" or even "good kid." Your truest name is "loved by Jesus, owned by Jesus, alive in Jesus." Nobody can take that away.
Around the Table
When we love Jesus, He comes to live inside our hearts. He helps us all day long. The old grumpy "me" gets a fresh start, with Jesus in charge!
Let's do it: Make two fists. One fist is "old me," and one fist is "Jesus living in me." Open the "old me" fist and let it drop. Then hug the "Jesus" hand to your heart.
Paul says his old self was crucified. It was put to death. And now Jesus lives in him. That means our real identity is a gift Jesus gives. It's not something we have to invent.
Let's talk: What's one thing you've tried to feel good about yourself with that can let you down? How is "Jesus loves me and lives in me" steadier than that?
"I no longer live, but Christ lives in me" describes a swapped center of life. The old self-ruled "me" dies, and Christ's life flows in by the Spirit. This is the opposite of "find yourself by looking inside." We find ourselves by being found in Christ.
Let's go deeper: Culture says, "Be true to yourself." The gospel says, "Die to your old self and let Christ live in you." Why is the second one actually freeing instead of crushing?
💬 Conversation Starter
Imagine you could put a name tag on your heart that says who you really are. What would you want it to say?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
Sometimes someone says, "Christianity just makes you give up who you are." We can gently reply that it's the opposite. Jesus puts to death the broken old self. Then the real you can finally live. That real you is the one He designed and loves (). We say it kindly, "with gentleness and respect" (), because we're describing a rescue, not a put-down.
For Dad · Go Deeper
is the antidote to the two great identity traps your kids will face. The first is performance: "I am what I achieve." The second is feelings: "I am whatever I feel inside." Both make the self the foundation, and both eventually collapse. Paul points instead to a self that has died and a Christ who now lives. This is an identity received by faith, not manufactured by effort. Note the order in the verse. The cross comes before the new life. There is no resurrection life without the death of the old self-rule. That is why repentance and surrender aren't grim duties but the doorway to freedom. Model this for your children by letting them see you yield. Apologize quickly. Refuse to defend your ego. Live as a man who no longer has to prove himself, because Christ already loved him and gave Himself for him.
Draws on: Tony Evans, Kingdom Man.
Let's Pray Together
"Father, thank You that when we trust Jesus, our old self dies. Thank You that Christ comes to live in us. Help us stop trying to prove who we are. Help us rest in who Jesus says we are. We are loved by Him, and we are alive in Him. In Jesus' name, amen."
The old me is gone. Christ lives in me, and that is who I really am.