Several books go by that simple title, “Nevertheless!”

The word reeks with determination!

And at times with inevitability! (“It IS going to happen,” in that sense!)

And Paul the Apostle uses it in today’s Bible Study Text, Galatians 2:20. Uses it with great effectiveness, too! (“Nevertheless” appears 97 times in the King James Version of Scripture.)

“I am crucified with Christ: NEVERTHELESS I LIVE; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: 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.”

Wow!

In the first clause here, Paul is dead!

“In/with Christ” dead!

In the second clause here Paul is “alive,” also “in/with Christ!”

“Nevertheless I live!”

Yes, Paul is saying this with determination, THE LAW (OF MOSES) HAS NOT CONTRIBUTED TO HIS SALVATION EXPERIENCE, NOT ONE IOTA! Only Christ Jesus has done this! 

And yes too, Paul is definitely saying this employing a sense of “inevitability!”

Anyone crucified with Christ, must (of necessity) come alive again! Be raised from the dead!

Why?

Because Jesus was so raised from the dead!

If one is truly IN Christ … what Jesus lived, we will live also! We have become ONE with him! Again, “in/with” our Saviour!

“Nevertheless I live!”

Jesus’ Resurrection from the grave was … really, inevitable!

In Psalm 16, Jesus is talking (praying) to His Father: “For thou (Father) wilt not leave my soul in hell (the grave); neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One (Jesus) to see corruption (rot, decay). Thou wilt shew me the path (the way out of the tomb, grave) of life.” Psalm 16:10-11, Jesus had that clear Promise from God the Father, He WOULD be raised from the grave!

And thus, if Paul can be positionally crucified with Christ … he, assuredly … will be positionally raised together with Christ!

“You can’t have one, without the other!”

Praise the Lord!

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live!”

In Jesus.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell