One of my favorite verses is Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the 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." (NASB)
In this verse Paul is referring to two different "I's." The first "I" was the old man or old creature that was born into this physical world spiritually dead. That creature was the "walking dead!" The second "I" is that new creature or saint that is alive because of Christ's Life living in that new creature. However, that new spiritual creature who is fully alive has to operate in and interact with this physical world until he/she is released by physical death.
I am convinced we are dependent creatures needing Christ's Life for victorious living. Having said that, our faith is our spiritual hands to receive what God is giving us. Faith is not what we have to invoke God for blessings, but rather what He has given us to receive His blessings. I don't "practice" faith so that I can live "for" God, but rather my faith is what it takes to receive Christ's Life so that I can "practice" His Life in the here and now in this physical world.
Look at the phrase in Galatians 2:20, "...the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith..." This eternal life I live here in this temporal container or earthen vessel (2 Cor. 4: 7), in this temporary existence, cannot be generated by self-effort or self-will. I would have to be an independent creature who decides to "live for God" in order to generate life. God, by His grace, is giving me Life. By faith, my receptor, I'm receiving that Life and then Life is being expressed in me and is seen by myself and others in this physical world.
I like to illustrate this with a cup. If I pour water in a cup until it is full, then the cup is full. It will not hold any more water. However, if I keep pouring the water into the cup, it will overflow. Saints are like that cup. We are completely full of Christ's life at all times, but if we are walking according to the flesh, there will be no overflow. If we are living life by faith, there will be overflow. His Life will be visible in our life. I will see it and you will see it. Others will say, "they seem so joyful and peaceful!"
You may have thought, "I just don't think I have enough faith to live like that." Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith. That's great news! Christ not only gave us Life, He also gave us faith and He is perfecting it. So rest and enjoy the process. Don't try to generate righteous works for God, let Him generate them through you as you live this Life here in this physical world.
