Crucify the Flesh

Read Galatians 5:16-25; it is a familiar passage that can be summarized with “walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh” [5:16]. It can be confusing when 5:17 says “the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit” yet in 5:24 “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires”. What’s the deal? I accepted Christ as my Savior, I “belong to Jesus” so have I actually “crucified the flesh with its passions and desires”? I don’t act that way sometimes. And what about 5:21 where Paul is referring to the deeds of the flesh and says “those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”? I know some Christians who practice “outbursts of anger”...will they “not inherit the kingdom of God”? Let’s take a quick look here.

The word “flesh” is a broad term and is typically translated from the greek word sarx (G4561] where Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance defines:
flesh (as stripped of the skin), i.e. (strictly) the meat of an animal (as food), or (by extension) the body (as opposed to the soul (or spirit), or as the symbol of what is external, or as the means of kindred), or (by implication) human nature (with its frailties (physically or morally) and passions), or (specially), a human being (as such): — carnal(-ly, + -ly minded), flesh(-ly).

So “flesh” can mean or refer to:
1. Our physical bodies - Luke 24:39, 1 Cor, 15:39 & 50
2. Our human heritage - Rom. 1:3, 4:1
3. Our old self/old nature/old way - Rom. 7:5, 8:4-9

Again, “flesh” is a broad term that can refer to the “old self”, “old nature” or “old man” depending on your translation as well as the “WAY” of the “old self” in our thinking and behaving. As always, the context of scripture will help you derive the correct meaning.

What was crucified with Christ? Rom. 6: 6 provides the answer. Our “old self” which was the embodiment of sin...our sin nature...the very essence of who we were before Christ. It was the engine or generator of your old way. As a believer, your old self is literally dead and gone; that’s what Gal. 5:24 is referring to (”crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” referencing the “old self” or nature). How did you crucify the flesh? By believing in Christ, accepting His forgiveness and receiving His new life. Ok, you might say, I get it! But what about Gal. 5:17? It sounds like the “flesh” is very much alive. Remember, “flesh” is a broad term as I mentioned above. How does the “flesh [set] its desire against the Spirit” in the context of a believer?

Well, God gave us an incredible gift in the human body and brain. Every action, thought, desire is recorded on the human hard drive of the brain. The “old self” or nature is dead (that’s what happens when you get crucified...you don’t typically recover) and you have been raised up a brand new self or nature. Those old desires, habits and behaviors have been recorded and can and will resurface...that broad term “flesh” or old ways of thinking and behaving will set its desire against the Spirit but the truth is, you are “dead” to that stuff! There is no real power to make you act or think in the “old way”, in fact, quite the opposite. You have the omnipotent power and Life of Christ in you to think and live a brand new life. When you choose to “walk according to the spirit” you are operationalizing the truth of your co-crucifixion, will bear the “fruit of the Spirit” and experience His victory!

Paul encourages the Galatians in 5:25, “If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit”; as believers, we are “led by the spirit” [5:18] and “live by the Spirit” [5:25] so our choice in day to day life is to “walk by the Spirit”. Don’t choose to walk in your old way of thinking and behaving...that old self was crucified...you’re dead to sin and alive to Christ!

So the big picture...Paul shows us two groups identified by “the deeds of the flesh” and “the fruit of the Spirit”. The deeds of the flesh group characterizes someone who does not know Christ. The problem here is that Christians can sometimes “look” like that group when they are not walking after the Spirit allowing Christ to manifest His Life through them. Paul reminds the Galatians in 5:21 “that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God”. If you accepted Christ as your Savior, you’re not in this group (although at times you may certainly look like it!). This is the same language he used in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. The “unrighteous” (read unbeliever) will not inherit the Kingdom of God and the deeds of the flesh mentioned here describe the life of one who is not “in Christ”. Our goal is to walk in truth as the new creation we truly are not in the old way of the flesh. Paul tells them, don’t walk like these guys, it’s not who you are! Realize the truth of your new identity “in Christ” and allow the fruit of the Spirit [Gal. 5:22-23] to permeate through all that you think and do. Don’t try and produce the fruit, surrender to Him and you will simply bear it in and through your life.

You “crucified the flesh” or old nature when you accepted Christ or “believed”; you “crucify” the flesh or old way of thinking and behaving in the same way...believe. Believe the truth of your co-crucifixion and new identity in Christ. Believe the truth that God has forgiven you, accepted you and loves you apart from your performance. Believe and choose to allow Christ to live His life through you...that’s “walking in the Spirit”!!