He Gave Himself for Me

In Galatians 2, the Apostle Paul writes, “I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me” (2:20). 

"…who loved me and gave Himself for me.” 

Typically in Scripture, when we read about the sacrificial love of Christ, it is spoken of as a general benefit for the whole church or the world (Jn. 3:16, Rom. 8:32). And so we would expect the Apostle Paul here to say “…the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us.” But that is not what Paul says. He takes Christ’s love for His people and strikingly applies that love directly to himself. 

Yes, the Bridegroom offered His life for His Bride. The Good Shepherd laid down His life for His flock. And because what is true for the whole, as a corporate body, is true for the individual, this means that all of Christ’s work for the church is yours to claim as your very own. 

When you hear that Christ loves the church, do you picture yourself in that image? Or just everybody else? Do you imagine some nameless, faceless group of people? That should not be so. He loves you – specifically. He knows your name. He knows your family. And He is present now here with His chosen people at King’s Cross Church. 

In a homily on this passage, the early church father John Chrysostom said you could think of it this way: each of you owes a debt of gratitude to Christ as if He had come for you alone. His love for the world is His love for you.

So come, and welcome, to Jesus Christ.