Text- Galatians 5:24 – “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
As we proceed with the second part of this discussion, I want to point out the fact that the flesh has ‘works’. “
Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” – Galatians 5:19-21
To give us a proper context to this verse on the works of the flesh, Paul said to the Galatians in Galatians 5:13 – “It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom to indulge the fleshas an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom...”
So we see here that it is absolutely wrong to use our freedom in Christ to justify indulgence in the passions and desires of the flesh… Oh yes, we are under grace, not under the law! Praise God for that… but listen, that is not and should not be used as a license to gratify the flesh with all its passions and desires.
It is in fact a license to crucify the flesh with all its passions and desires. It is for this reason that Paul admonishes the Galatians saying, “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the desires of the flesh”. How then do walk in the Spirit?
Paul said in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” The way we live in the realm of the Spirit, and walk in the Spirit is by Faith...
Simply by Faith! We must however understand that there are two dimensions in the appropriation of faith when it comes to crucifying the flesh.
1. The Fight of Faith
In 1 Timothy 6:11-12, Paul said to Timothy, “But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”
The fight of faith involves consciously and intentionally fleeing from sin (all the passions and desires of the flesh).
2. The Works of Faith
Paul, writing to the Thessalonians, in 1 Thessalonians 1:3 said, “We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
There are works produced by faith. These are the things you consciously and intentionally do in yielding every part of your body to God as instruments of righteousness. Are you fighting the good fight of faith?
Are you producing the works of faith? Think about these, and make necessary adjustments in your daily living.
PRAYER
Lord, it is my desire to please you with my life. Please help me Lord, to fight to good fight of faith and to produce the works of faith.
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