Section 7
life and through death. By magnifying Christ in this way, Paul could overcome any situation.
LIVING CHRIST
In verse 21 Paul goes on to say, "For to me to live is Christ." The little word "for" at the begin ning of this verse is important. It indicates that what is to follow is an explanation of the preced ing verse. Christ could be magnified in Paul's body because Paul lived Christ. In order to mag nify Christ, we must live Him. Although the matter of living Christ is of such tremendous importance, not many Christians have paid ade quate attention to it. The word "for" in verse 21 helps us to see that Paul could magnify Christ because to him to live was Christ. In Paul's chained body Christ was exalted, extolled, praised, and appreciated because Paul lived Christ.
If we would live Christ, we must take Him as our person and be one person with Him. He and we must be one in a practical way. In Galatians 2:20 Paul declared, "Christ lives in me." For Paul, this was not a mere doctrine; it was a fact. It should also be real to us that Christ lives in us. It is said that some Christians do not believe that Christ actually lives in them. Neither do they believe that we can abide in Christ and have Him