Crucified the Flesh

Galatians 5:24a KJV
“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh …”

Yesterday [Feb 23 2011], Galatians 2:20 quoted, “I am crucified with Christ.” So now what are we crucified the flesh with? “With the affections and lusts” [Gal.5:24b]. Paul made a list of examples of what things like affections and lusts that cannot enter the kingdom of God.

Gal. 5:19-21a NCV: “The wrong things the sinful self does are clear: being sexually unfaithful, not being pure, taking part in sexual sins, worshiping gods, doing witchcraft, hating, making trouble, being jealous, being angry, being selfish, making people angry with each other, causing divisions among people, feeling envy, being drunk, having wild and wasteful parties, and doing other things like these.”

Galatians 5:24, 26 NCV: “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their own sinful selves. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do. V26 We must not be proud or make trouble with each other or be jealous of each other.” Gal. 5:21b “I warn you now as I warned you before: Those who do these things will not inherit God’s kingdom.”

So Paul encouraged us, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” [Gal. 5:16]. Paul gave us solution of problems: “Live by following the Spirit. Then you will not do what your sinful selves want” [NCV]. Being crucified with Christ means we continue to follow the Spirit. Wow! That’s a powerful message of God’s Word to us.

So let’s trust God to stay true to His Spirit!

Dorothy