\u201cI 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.\u201d<\/strong> One of the most commonly used phrases in Christian circles is \u201cgive your life to Christ.\u201d Yet, when we examine the Scriptures carefully, we find that salvation is not about us giving our life to Christ\u2014it\u2019s about Christ giving His life to us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before salvation, we didn\u2019t even possess \u201clife\u201d to give\u2014we were dead in sin (Ephesians 2:1). At the point of salvation, we are raised from spiritual death and receive eternal life\u2014the very life of Christ. Jesus said, \u201cVery truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.\u201d (John 5:24 NIV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n So, when we believe in Christ, we receive life, not offer it. But does that mean the phrase \u201cgiving your life to Christ\u201d is unbiblical? Not quite. The Bible uses that expression\u2014but in a different context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the biblical sense, \u201cgiving your life to Christ\u201d refers not to salvation, but to dedication\u2014a deliberate act of consecration to God\u2019s service. After receiving the life of Christ, we are called to surrender ourselves fully to Him in love and obedience. God never forces anyone to serve Him\u2014not even those who are saved. He invites us to deny ourselves and willingly yield our lives\u2014our time, resources, energy, and ambitions\u2014for His glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.\u201d<\/strong> One vivid biblical example of this comes from Paul\u2019s praise of the Macedonian church:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFor I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability… they gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.\u201d<\/strong> These Macedonian believers were already saved. So when Paul said they \u201cgave themselves to the Lord,\u201d he wasn\u2019t talking about their salvation\u2014he was referring to their selfless dedication to God\u2019s work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This means it\u2019s entirely possible to have received eternal life, yet still be withholding your life in terms of service, sacrifice, and obedience. So the real question is: Have you truly given your life to Christ?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Our Lord Jesus makes the invitation clear: We are called not just to receive Christ\u2019s life, but to respond with full surrender\u2014to live by faith, for His purpose, and to His glory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prayer:<\/strong> Discipleship Devotional, June 14th, 2025 \u201cI 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.\u201d\u2014 Galatians 2:20 (NIV) One of the most commonly used […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":673,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"saved_in_kubio":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1032","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
\u2014 Galatians 2:20 (NIV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 2 Corinthians 5:15 (NIV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2014 2 Corinthians 8:3\u20135 (NIV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.\u201d<\/strong>
\u2014 Matthew 16:24 (KJV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me eternal life. Help me not only to receive this life but to fully give mine back to You. Teach me to deny myself, take up my cross, and follow You daily. I choose to live for Your glory. Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"