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The Christian life is full of paradoxes. The crucified lives; and yet the life is peculiar. "Not I, but Christ liveth in me."

I. THE BELIEVER'S LIFE IS UNLIKE WHAT IT USED TO BE.

1. Once it was a weary captivity under sin.

(1)  Then it was a wretched struggle against Satan.

(2)  Then it was a wild complaint against self.

2. But the changed life grew out of the altered ideas.

(1)  Christ loved me. That was the dawn of hope.

(2)  Christ for me! That became the plea of faith.

(3)  Christ gave Himself! That was found to be the secret and the stimulant of love.

II. THE BELIEVER'S LIFE IS STILL HUMAN LIFE.

1. It has the sorrows to which flesh is heir.

2. It has the temptations to which flesh exposes.

3. It has the duties which flesh entails.

III. THE BELIEVER'S LIFE IS BY FAITH OF THE SON OF GOD.

1. Faith in His prevailing advocacy at the Throne.

2. Faith in His abiding sympathy in the world.

3. Faith in His directing wisdom on the soul.

4. Faith in His sustaining help under the soul.

5. Faith in His certain return for soul and body.But if such things are, then —

(1) Christian life must be conspicuous among other modes of living.

(a)  It will be a devoted life.

(b)  It will be an imitative life.

(c)  It will be an appreciative life.

(d)  It will be an expectant life.

(2) If this be Christian life, is it mine?

(i)  There ought to be the memory of a break, with the world, into light and liberty,

(ii)  There ought to be the consciousness of a union.

(a)  The heart cleaving to Christ.

(b)  The conscience grasping the pardon.

(c)  The will choosing the service.

(d)  The soul filled with the peace.

(iii)  There will be acceptance of the conditions of the life.

(a)  Willing to wait.

(b)  Determined to testify.

(c)  Prepared to follow.

(d)  Meaning to triumph.

(e)  Bound to love.

(The Clergyman's Magazine.)

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KJV: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

WEB: I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That 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.