Living the Crucified Life: Moving from the Old Self to the New

In our journey through Scripture, we’ve been exploring the tensions that exist in the Christian life. Today, we’ll examine what it means to live the “crucified life” as described by Paul in Galatians 2:20-21, and how this transforms us from our old self to our new identity in Christ.

What Does It Mean to Be “Crucified with Christ”?

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” – Galatians 2:20

This powerful verse contains three key elements that define the Christian experience:

The Old Self – “I have been crucified with Christ”
The Yielded Life – “I no longer live, but Christ lives in me”
The New Self – “The life I now live in the body, I live by faith”

To understand the context of Paul’s statement, we need to look at what prompted it. Paul was confronting Peter (Cephas) about his hypocrisy in Antioch. Peter had been eating with Gentile believers but when Jewish believers arrived from Jerusalem, he separated himself from the Gentiles, implying they were somehow lesser Christians. Paul called out this behavior because it contradicted the gospel message. Peter wasn’t living the crucified life in this situation – he was allowing his old self to dictate his actions rather than his new identity in Christ.

Why Do We Struggle with the Old Self?

This wasn’t Peter’s first struggle with avoiding the cross. In Matthew 16, after Peter correctly identified Jesus as the Messiah, Jesus began explaining that He must suffer and die. Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked Him, prompting Jesus’ famous response: “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” The old self wants to be at the center of the story. It’s all about “me, me, me” – how things impact me, what’s in it for me, and how I feel. This self-centered perspective is what we must crucify daily. Jesus taught: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. Whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” The paradox is clear – if you try to hang onto your old self, you lose true life. But when you surrender that old self at the cross, you discover the life you were created to live.

How Do We Live the Yielded Life?

The yielded life is about surrendering control to the Holy Spirit. When you accept Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live inside you, empowering your transition from the old self to the new. Romans 8:9 reminds us: “You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you.” This isn’t about following a set of rules. It’s about relationship – learning to yield to the Holy Spirit who leads, guides, teaches, and encourages us. Many Christians find it easier to just follow rules, but God calls us to something deeper – a relationship where we listen and respond to His Spirit within us. The yielded life requires:

Taking time to listen to the Spirit
Trusting God’s guidance
Allowing Him to change us over time
Looking to Jesus as our model

What Does the New Self Look Like?

The new self lives “by faith in the Son of God.” This faith-filled life is characterized by:

Christ-centeredness – Jesus becomes the center of our story, not us
Spirit-led decisions – We respond to situations by yielding to the Holy Spirit
Transformed responses – Our reactions to life’s challenges reflect Christ’s character

Every day presents moments where the old self wants to take charge. For many of us, our first reaction to situations often comes from that old self – “How does this impact me?” But we can learn to pause, take a breath, and ask, “What would Jesus do? How would He have me respond?”

How Do We Practice This Daily?

Living the crucified life isn’t automatic – it requires intentional practice. Here’s a practical challenge:

Choose one day this week (not your hardest day)
Begin by reading and meditating on Galatians 2:20
Throughout the day, consciously yield to the Holy Spirit in every situation
At day’s end, reflect on your experiences:
Celebrate the moments you responded well
Note where you could have done better
Consider how to improve tomorrow

As you practice this discipline, you’ll gradually find it easier to live from your new identity in Christ rather than your old self.

Life Application

The crucified life isn’t about following rules – it’s about relationship with the Holy Spirit who guides us through life’s complexities. This week, take the challenge to live one day fully yielded to the Spirit. Start your day by meditating on Galatians 2:20, then intentionally pause before reacting to situations throughout the day. Ask yourself these questions:

Am I responding from my old self or my new identity in Christ?
What would it look like to yield to the Holy Spirit in this moment?
How can I make Jesus the center of this situation rather than myself?

Remember, this journey begins with knowing Jesus as your Lord and Savior. If you haven’t yet made that decision, don’t wait any longer. Say yes to Jesus, and the Holy Spirit will begin transforming you from the inside out. The crucified life isn’t easy, but it’s where we find true freedom and purpose. As we daily surrender our old self and embrace our new identity in Christ, we discover the life we were created to live.

This series may be taken as a course offered by the Online Bible Institute. For more information check out the Keys Vineyard Ministries Courses page.

Steve Lawes is a Church Consultant and also provides coaching for pastors, churches, ministries and church planters.