“My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20
Galatians 2:20 reminds us that the posture of the Christian life is always one of faith in Jesus Christ. Faith is not a single prayer we prayed long ago, nor is it something we outgrow once we reach maturity. At the time Paul wrote these words, he was already a seasoned follower of Christ, yet he still declared that the life he lived was by faith in the Son of God.
What does this mean in practice? It means Paul never shifted the foundation of his relationship with God from Christ to his own works. He did not begin with faith in Christ and then maintain his standing before God through his consistent church attendance, extended prayers, or sacrificial service. His righteousness was, from start to finish, in Christ alone. This is the same truth Paul emphasized in Romans 1:17, that “the righteous will live by faith.”
To live by faith in Jesus Christ is to continually depend on Christ for forgiveness, guidance, and wholeness. As John Stott once noted, “The Christian life is not lived in our own strength, but by faith in the Son of God who indwells us.” This faith produced a peace that was not dependent on circumstances or performance but rooted in the unchanging reality of Christ’s love and sacrifice.
To live by faith is to recognize that faith in Jesus is not just for our salvation in the past, but for our life and peace in the present. To live this out practically means starting each day by remembering that your worth and identity do not rest on how well you perform, how much you accomplish, or how spiritual you feel, but on Christ who loves you and gave Himself for you. It looks like turning to Him in prayer when you feel anxious instead of trying to manage everything on your own, seeking His wisdom before making decisions rather than relying only on your own reasoning, and resting in His grace when you fail instead of slipping into shame or striving harder to earn God’s favor. Living by faith is choosing in real moments of life to trust that Jesus is enough—for your forgiveness, your direction, your peace, your joy, and your total salvation.