Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ; and 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 up for me.(NASB)
A few years ago during my quiet time I was reading this verse. I remember clearly God telling me to read this verse in the King James Version. There is what seems to be a small difference but it had a huge impact on me. The King James Version says: “…and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by THE faith of the Son of God…” I really wanted to live right. I was really trying yet really failing. God said to look hard at that difference. I believe both are true. I do live by faith in Christ but I also live by THE faith of Christ! How can this be that I live with the very faith of Christ? I am indwelt with Christ’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit. The faith of Christ is in me by His Spirit. My choice is whether or not I am filled (controlled) with the Holy Spirit. I pray this verse regularly to God and simply ask Him to make it happen…that I live each day by THE faith of Christ. Before I read this version I was trying to live my life through my strength and with some faith I could come up with. God simply said for me to stop trying and let THE faith of Christ do it through me. I don’t understand how this works at all but it does. Jim and I have a car that we can now start while sitting inside our house! We don’t even quite know the second it starts but when we walk outside the car is running. I sure don’t know how this works but I still push the button to remote start! I had been trying to live right and falling short. It was time to stop trying and let Christ Himself through His faith live! I wished I could say that I now live a sinless life and before all my family and friends comment to the contrary let me say I still fall short on many occasions but it’s because I am living by my flesh and not by THE faith of Christ. Live your life by faith in Christ and by THE faith of Christ. Simply ask Him to do it. He never falls short!