Dying to Live in Christ
Dying to Live in Christ
There’s a strange kind of clarity that comes when you finally stop running. A moment where the noise quiets down - the pressure to perform, to prove, to fix everything - and instead, you start to hear something deeper calling you back to center. That’s the heartbeat of “Drama Drama” by Kaio Jay Gausso. At first listen, the lyrics might seem personal or even abstract, but the more you sit with them, the more you begin to recognize something undeniably spiritual: the invitation to die to self so we can truly live in Christ.
Paul’s words in Galatians 2:20 echo this very same call.
“I have been crucified with Christ, and 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 up for me.”
The Apostle Paul is not talking about physical death. He’s talking about surrender and the laying down of our ego, our broken history, our need to control the narrative. And when we do that, we find something unexpected: peace. Not the peace the world gives, but the peace that comes from being hidden in Christ.
When Kaio sings, “Now that I'm free, free to be,” he touches a profound gospel reality. We don’t become free by resisting death. We become free by embracing the one death that leads to resurrection: the death of self in the arms of Jesus.
In that death, we stop striving. We stop performing. We stop replaying our past mistakes like endless drama in our minds. And we begin to walk in the quiet, powerful freedom that only Christ can give.
This is the paradox of the gospel: through dying, we truly live.
The Death of Self in Christ
The truth is, the death we’re called to isn’t a physical death—it’s the death of our old self. The self that was once ruled by sin, by fear, by pride, and by pain. That self no longer has dominion over us. As Colossians 3:3 teaches us, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” That is, we have been hidden in Christ, wrapped in His righteousness and covered by His grace. And because we’ve died with Him, we now live in Him. It’s a death that leads to new life, one that begins with surrender and continues with freedom.
For many of us, the hardest part of following Jesus is not the sacrifice of our possessions or even our time, but the sacrifice of ourselves. In his song, Kaio reminds us that “Death has a way of bringing peace back into your soul.” The death spoken of is the death of our ego, of our old patterns, of our deeply rooted fears. Yet, when we die to these things, we find the peace that only comes from knowing we’re safely hidden in Christ. We don’t have to keep fighting to survive, we just need to let go and trust that in Christ, we are already made whole.
The Incomparable Gift of Life in Christ
What is it that we truly “gain” in this life? Perhaps fame, wealth, recognition, or a sense of control. But Paul, speaking from a place of deep reflection, tells us in Philippians 3:7 “But whatever things were gain to me, these things I have counted as loss because of Christ.” What Paul is saying is that all of these things, when compared to Christ, pale in comparison. He willingly let go of his status, his ambitions, even his past identity to embrace the incomparable gift of life that Christ offers.
When we surrender ourselves to Christ, we receive something no amount of earthly success could ever replace. Like Kaio sings “I could never replace what I found with you.” The peace, the joy, the intimacy with God that comes from being in right relationship with Him. The love that fills the gaps where worldly achievements fall short. This is the life we have found in Christ, an eternal and unshakable gift.
Freedom through Surrender
True freedom doesn't come from striving, it comes from surrender. We are no longer running, no longer fighting death, because we have embraced it. In Christ, we’ve been reborn.
Kaio’s song so beautifully puts it this way: “It always keeps on calling back to me. Anytime I'm down, it makes me feel so free. Calms my nerves and puts my heart at ease. Exactly what I need.”
Freedom, as the world defines it, often means the ability to do whatever we want, whenever we want. But the freedom Christ offers is radically different. The Apostle John puts it this way in John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you really will be free.” It’s not freedom to follow our whims, but rather a freedom from the slavery of sin, from the burden of striving, from the chains that once kept us bound to our old selves.
True freedom doesn’t come through fighting death, as the world would have us believe. It doesn’t come from avoiding surrender or from trying to control every situation. It comes when we fully embrace the death of our self-centered desires, and in that surrender, we are reborn in Christ. As we let go, we are made free. Free to love. Free to serve. Free to become who God has always intended us to be.
Practical Applications for Daily Victorious Living
Practice Daily Surrender: Each morning, acknowledge your death to self and renew your trust in Christ. Say, “Lord, not my will today, but Yours.” (Luke 9:23)
Embrace Stillness with God: Make time for moments of silence and reflection. Let God’s presence calm your nerves and put your heart at ease. (Psalm 46:10)
Walk in the Freedom You've Received: Don’t strive to earn God’s love—rest in it. Live confidently knowing that your identity is secure in Christ. (Romans 8:1)
One Final Thought
You don’t have to keep running. You don’t have to keep fighting. 2 Corinthians 3:17 tells us that “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” The death of your past, your pain, your old self, isn’t something to fear. It’s the gateway to freedom. When you come to the place of full surrender, you’ll find that freedom doesn’t mean escape, it means transformation. And that transformation is exactly what you’ve always needed.
Take a moment to listen to "Drama Drama" by Kaio Jay Gausso. This song beautifully captures the powerful journey of surrender and freedom in Christ. It’s a message that will truly resonate deep within your soul. Don’t miss it!
Experience a New Life in Jesus Christ
If you have not yet experienced the life-changing power of a relationship with Christ, we invite you to open your heart to Him today. Embrace the truth of His resurrection and embark on a journey of transformation, guided by His presence and fueled by His mission of love and redemption.
The Bible teaches us in Romans 10:9-10 that "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart one believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth one confesses, resulting in salvation."
Do it today and start enjoying a new life in Jesus Christ.
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Scriptures for this Bible Study taken from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), © 2025 The Lockman Foundation. Used with permission. www.Bible.com
"Dying to Live in Christ" is a Christian Bible Teaching presented by Second Ridge Ministries
05/14/2025 | © 2025 Second Ridge Ministries. All Rights Reserved.
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