THE EXCHANGED LIFE

August 17

Bible Reading: Galatians 2

Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ.  It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.  And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Hudson Taylor, the founder of China Inland Mission, once referenced this verse with regards to that which he called “The Exchanged Life.”  In a challenging period of his ministry, he realized that it is impossible to live the Christian life in one’s own strength and that is necessary instead to depend entirely on Christ.  The Christian life is not about our own doing (trying harder to be better), but Christ living and doing, in and through us.

Paul was addressing those who were seeking—because of the false teaching they had received—to be justified through the works of the law.  Legalists had infiltrated the church in Galatia and were promoting a slavish observance of the Law to attain righteousness. 

Paul had himself been in the place of the false teachers.  He had lived the life of a fully invested legalist.  His was an impressive religious resume— “If anyone else thinks he has reason for confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, blameless” (Philippians 3:4-6).  Paul had possessed that which the false teachers were proclaiming, but everything changed for Paul when he met Jesus.  “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish” (Philippians 3:7-8).  For Paul, Christ’s indwelling presence was infinitely superior to that of his previous experience. 

Paul’s “Christ lives in me,” experience was not unique to him; it represents the condition which is true for every born-again believer. 

Kenneth Wuest commented on this matter, “It is no longer a self-centered life that he lives, but a Christ-centered one. His new life is a Person, the Lord Jesus living in Paul. And through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus is manifest in his life. The new life is no longer, like the former one, dependent upon the ineffectual efforts of a man attempting to draw near to God in his own righteousness. The new life is a person within a person, living out His life in that person. Instead of attempting to live his life in obedience to a set of rules in the form of the legal enactments of the Mosaic law, Paul now yields to the indwelling Holy Spirit and cooperates with Him in the production of a life pleasing to God, energized by the divine life resident in him through the regenerating work of the Spirit. Instead of a sinner with a totally depraved nature attempting to find acceptance with God by attempted obedience to a set of outward laws, it is now the saint living his life on a new principle, that of the indwelling Holy Spirit manifesting forth the Lord Jesus. That is what Paul means when he says: 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.”

Kenneith Wuest

The believer in Christ is indwelt by the Risen Savior!  This glorious truth differentiates Biblical Christianity from mere religion.  The One who has triumphed over sin and death works a radical transformation in the life of the believer.  The Risen Christ takes up residence in his heart.  Christ is not far from him—He indwells him (Colossians 1:27)!  The believer doesn’t merely look to Jesus for life, He is his life (Colossians 3:4).  Christ’s resurrection power is availed to him and courses through his being (Ephesians 1:19-21).  His immeasurable love fills his heart (Ephesians 3:18-19).  As a branch to a vine, he derives life and fruit-bearing from Jesus alone (John 15:5).  His is not a dead, dry, powerless religiosity (Colossians 2:23; Galatians 3:3), but a “river of living water” flowing from his heart experience (John 7:38).  In a moment-by-moment dependence on Christ, the believer is empowered to do that which he could never hope to do in his own strength (Philippians 4:13).  “Christ lives in me!”  The “Son of God” who “loved me and gave himself for me” now resides in me (Galatians 2:20) is the glorious and wondrous truth we find in this verse!

The Christian life is not about trying harder to be better, but Christ living and doing, in and through us.

Once far from God and dead in sin,
No light my heart could see;
But in God’s Word the light I found,
Now Christ liveth in me.
Christ liveth in me,
Christ liveth in me,
Oh! what a salvation this,
That Christ liveth in me.

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Author: looking2jesus13

Jerry L. Conklin was born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served for six years in the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program. He was assigned to the USS *Omaha* (SSN-692), a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, where he served as a reactor-plant electrical operator. His military service took him to ports and locations throughout the world and provided extensive technical training, leadership experience, and an enduring appreciation for those who serve in the Armed Forces. Following his Navy service, Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Technology from Thomas Edison State University. He worked at the Trojan Nuclear Plant near Rainier, Oregon, first as a reactor operator and later as a training specialist. After sensing God’s call to pastoral ministry, he left the nuclear-power industry and earned a master’s degree in theology from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Jerry served for twenty-seven and a half years as senior pastor of Lewis and Clark Bible Church in Astoria, Oregon. During those years, he preached and taught the Scriptures, provided pastoral counseling, performed weddings and memorial services, trained church leaders, and served individuals and families throughout the community. He also served as a fire department chaplain and participated in a variety of community ministries. After retiring from full-time pastoral ministry, Jerry and his wife, Laura, moved to Heppner, Oregon. There he served for approximately four years as a chaplain with Pioneer Memorial Home Health and Hospice, providing spiritual and emotional support to more than 150 patients and their families. In 2023, the Oregon Association for Home Care honored him as its Chaplain of the Year. Jerry also helped establish South Morrow County Seniors Matter, a nonprofit organization created to address the needs of older adults following the COVID-19 pandemic. As chairman, he worked with community leaders and volunteers to develop a weekly senior meal program, a monthly veterans’ lunch, and other activities and services. The organization served hundreds of seniors, mobilized more than 200 volunteers, and received statewide and national recognition. In 2025, Jerry was named Heppner’s Man of the Year, and his community service was later recognized by United States Senator Jeff Merkley. International missions have also been an important part of Jerry’s ministry. He has made ten trips to Uganda, where he has taught at pastors’ conferences, preached in churches, participated in Bible-school graduations, distributed Bibles and Christian materials, and encouraged local pastors and ministry leaders. He developed the discipleship booklet *First Steps with Jesus* to help new believers understand and grow in their faith. Jerry is the author of numerous books, Bible studies, devotionals, and teaching resources, including works centered on prayer, Christian hope, spiritual growth, and the person of Jesus Christ. His decades of preaching and teaching reflect his commitment to presenting biblical truth clearly, practically, and faithfully. Jerry and Laura were married for nearly forty-two years and raised four children. They were also blessed with three grandchildren. Laura passed away in August 2025 following an eight-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Jerry currently lives in Hillsboro, where he helps care for his elderly father. He continues to preach, teach, write, and serve others through pastoral and community ministry.

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