Living the Normal Christian Life: Christ in You, the Hope of Glory

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Living the Normal Christian Life: Christ in You, the Hope of Glory moralvaluestoday.blogspot.com

The normal Christian life is not self-effort but Christ living in you. Discover how surrender, faith, and the Cross unlock true spiritual power.

What Does “Normal” Really Mean for a Christian?

What does it mean to live the normal Christian life? Many think it’s about being morally good, attending church, or following religious rules. But Scripture defines it differently:

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”
— Galatians 2:20, NIV

God’s normal is not me trying harder for Him but Christ living His life through me. Anything less is living beneath the privileges of salvation.

1. Two Aspects of Salvation: Forgiveness and Deliverance

Many stop at forgiveness, but salvation has two inseparable parts:

  1. Forgiveness of sins – the blood of Jesus cleanses us from guilt.
  2. Deliverance from sin – the Cross deals with the old man and breaks sin’s power.

If a Christian experiences only forgiveness but not deliverance, he lives as a pardoned slave, not as a free son.

“The blood deals with sins, but the Cross deals with the sinner.”

2. The Futility of Self-Effort

When people get saved, their first instinct is often: I must do better for God. They try to stop bad habits, adopt stricter disciplines, and aim to become “good Christians.”

But soon, frustration sets in. Why? Because the problem isn’t bad behavior—it’s the old nature.

  • The natural man cannot please God (Romans 8:8, NIV).
  • Self-effort tries to fix the outside, but the Cross changes the inside.

Lesson: God is not asking you to try harder; He is asking you to die and let Christ live.

3. Faith: Making God’s Promises Real

Faith is not wishful thinking—it is substance.

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
— Hebrews 11:1, NIV

Faith takes what Christ accomplished and makes it real in our experience. For example:

  • When tempted, faith says: Christ in me is stronger than this desire.
  • When weak, faith says: His grace is sufficient for me.

Faith is the key that turns theology into reality.

4. The Cross and Resurrection: The Negative and the Positive

The Cross is God’s greatest negative—it wipes out everything in us that is not of Him.
The Resurrection is God’s greatest positive—it brings forth new life in Christ.

Without the Cross, there is no Resurrection life. That’s why Paul declares:

“I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”
— Philippians 3:10, NIV

Lesson: To live in resurrection power, we must first pass through the Cross.

5. Christ’s Lordship: The Secret to Spiritual Power

Many Christians have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them but lack the knowledge of His presence. Why? Because the Lordship of Christ is not settled in their hearts.

  • Until we surrender completely, the Spirit cannot operate effectively.
  • True holiness begins when we give up all rights to ourselves and submit to Christ’s authority.

Practical Example: Imagine a house. The Spirit is present in every room but locked out of certain areas—our finances, our emotions, our ambitions. When we hand Him the keys, His power fills the house completely.

6. Real-Life Lessons: Missionary Examples

  • David Livingstone – He didn’t rely on his own strength but daily surrendered to God, allowing Christ’s life to shine through his service in Africa.
  • Mary Slessor – She faced hostility in Calabar but lived out Christ so visibly that whole communities were transformed. She didn’t just preach Christ—she incarnated Him.

Lesson: The normal Christian life is not just words but Christ in action through us.

7. Interrogatory & Revelational Questions

  • Am I still trying to live the Christian life in my strength?
  • Do I know Christ as both my forgiver and my deliverer?
  • Is the Lordship of Christ settled in every area of my life?
  • Am I allowing the Cross to deal with my “old man” so resurrection life can flow?

Key Lessons for the Postmodern Church

  • Christianity is not self-improvement but Christ-indwelling.
  • Faith must translate into experience. The promises of God must become real in daily living.
  • Deliverance must be taught, not just forgiveness. Churches that only preach pardon produce shallow disciples.
  • Christ’s Lordship is non-negotiable. Without surrender, the Spirit’s power is blocked.

The Normal Christian Life is Christ Living Through You

The normal Christian life is not about trying harder, but about surrendering deeper. The blood forgives, the Cross delivers, and the Resurrection empowers.

“To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.”
— Colossians 1:27, NIV

This is God’s design for every believer—not survival, but victory. Not self-effort, but Christ-effort. Not trying, but trusting.


Have you truly entered into the normal Christian life? Share your thoughts below. What areas of your life still need to be surrendered to Christ’s Lordship?

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