NOT I, BUT CHRIST

Joshua the Servant

4 days ago

5 min read

Beloved brethren, there comes a point in our Christian walk when we must move beyond merely saying, “I know the Lord,” and come to the place where our very lives declare:

“Christ liveth in me.”

Paul declared:

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.”

— Galatians 2:20 (KJV)

These are profound words:

Not I, but Christ.

Not my pride, but Christ.

Not my bitterness, but Christ.

Not my desire for revenge, but Christ.

Not my selfishness, but Christ.

Not my desire for praise, but Christ.

Not my temper, but Christ.

Not my stubbornness, but Christ.

Not my wounded feelings, but Christ.

Not my desire to prove that I am right, but Christ.

The Christian life is not merely Christ added to I. It is I yielding so that Christ may have the preeminence.

Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ.” There must be a death before there can be a manifestation. The old nature cannot simply be polished up and presented as Christianity. There must be a yielding of the vessel until the Life of Christ can be expressed through it.

For we are told:

“For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”

— Colossians 3:3 (KJV)

And again:

“That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

— Ephesians 4:22–24 (KJV)

Brethren, God sometimes allows situations to reveal what is truly within us.

It is easy to appear spiritual when everything is going well. It is easy to speak softly when nobody has offended us. It is easy to say that we have faith when there is no pressure upon us.

But when we are tested, pressured, rejected, misunderstood, contradicted, disappointed, or offended—what comes out of us?

Jesus said:

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

— Matthew 12:34 (KJV)

Trials do not always create what comes out of us; often, they reveal what has already been dwelling within us.

A pressure placed upon a vessel reveals what is inside the vessel.

If anger comes out, something was there.

If bitterness comes out, something was there.

If hatred comes out, something was there.

If revenge comes out, something was there.

But, brethren, when Christ truly possesses the vessel, then pressure can also bring forth something different.

When Christ is in us, persecution can reveal patience.

Offence can reveal forgiveness.

Rejection can reveal love.

Misunderstanding can reveal meekness.

Injustice can reveal mercy.

Suffering can reveal faith.

And when somebody does us wrong, the Life of Christ can say:

“Father, forgive them.”

That is why we need more than a Christian appearance.

We need Christ formed in us.

Paul said:

“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you.”

— Galatians 4:19 (KJV)

Brethren, people may never read our Bibles, but they read our lives.

Our children read our lives.

Our families read our lives.

Our colleagues read our lives.

Our neighbours read our lives.

Our brethren read our lives.

They watch how we respond when we are offended.

They watch how we treat people who cannot benefit us.

They watch how we speak about those who are absent.

They watch whether we forgive.

They watch whether we show mercy.

They watch whether our Christianity remains when circumstances become difficult.

Sometimes, the most powerful sermon we will ever preach is the life we live when nobody is holding a microphone.

Jesus said:

“Ye are the light of the world.”

— Matthew 5:14 (KJV)

Light does not need to announce that it is light.

It simply shines.

And Jesus said:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

— Matthew 5:16 (KJV)

Notice that He did not say, “Let your mouth so speak.” He said, “Let your light so shine.”

There is a Christianity that is heard, and there is a Christianity that is seen.

There is a Christianity we can talk about, and there is a Christianity we can live.

There is a Christianity of the lips, and there is a Christianity of the life.

Brethren, may God bring us beyond merely speaking about Christ until Christ Himself is seen in us.

Let us therefore search our hearts—not to condemn ourselves, but to invite God to work within us.

Let us ask ourselves:

Do people know my Jesus because they have encountered His love through me?

Can someone who is hurting find compassion in me?

Can someone who has offended me still experience forgiveness?

Can someone who disagrees with me still see respect?

Can someone who has nothing to offer me still receive kindness?

Can someone who has fallen find mercy in me?

Can someone who watches my life say:

“There is something of Christ in that person”?

Brethren, this is the challenge.

Let Christ be more than our message; let Him become our life.

Let Him be more than the doctrine we defend.

Let Him be the Life we demonstrate.

Let Him be more than the Name we mention.

Let Him be the Character we manifest.

Let Him be more than the One we sing about on Sunday.

Let Him be the One who lives through us on Monday morning, in our homes, at our workplaces, in our conversations, in our difficulties, and even when we are alone.

For Christianity is not merely what we do in His presence; it is what His presence produces in us.

Paul said:

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

— Philippians 1:21 (KJV)

That is the secret.

Not I, but Christ.

When I must have the last word—not I, but Christ.

When I want revenge—not I, but Christ.

When I want recognition—not I, but Christ.

When I want to be praised—not I, but Christ.

When I have been wounded—not I, but Christ.

When I have been misunderstood—not I, but Christ.

When I am tempted to answer evil with evil—not I, but Christ.

When I want to exalt myself—not I, but Christ.

Until finally, the cry of the heart becomes the testimony of the life:

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.”

Brethren, the greatest evidence that we have encountered Christ is not merely how much we can say about Him, but how clearly His Life is being revealed through us.

John said:

“He must increase, but I must decrease.”

— John 3:30 (KJV)

That is the pathway.

He must increase.

I must decrease.

More of Christ.

Nothing of me.

More love.

No bitterness.

But more mercy.

No revenge.

But more meekness.

No pride.

But forgiveness.

No resentment.

But more welcoming.

No selfishness.

But more embracing.

Yes, no more I, but Christ.

And the purpose of it all is not that men should look at us and say, “What a wonderful Christian!”

Rather, may they look at us and see Jesus Christ identified in his characteristics according to this day.