24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. NKJV
REVIEW: In our last couple of lessons, we learned of the “Fruit of the Spirit.” Paul established that there is no law to regulate the Spirit and the Spirit of God’s character. Galatians 5:23 makes this clear when Paul writes, “Against such, there is no law.” What is Paul saying? You are free to live in the Spirit. Nothing restricts you. Nothing of heaven will condemn you or judge you if you choose to allow the Holy Spirit’s character manifested by the “fruit” that the Holy Spirit brings forth. That fruit is intended to flow out of our being every moment of every day. The only thing preventing this from happening is the flesh. Yup, the same problem the “law” had, “the weakness of our flesh.” How do we resolve that problem, “the cross?” Crucify the flesh and live in the power of Christ’s Resurrection life.
The cure for the flesh is found in verse 24, And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. How many times must the scripture admonish us to “crucify the flesh?” A lot!
HOW TO DEAL WITH THE FLESH ACCORDING TO JESUS AND HIS APOSTLES:
- Matt 10:38-39 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
- Matt 16:24-25 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
- Mark 10:21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” He went away sad because he was very wealthy.
- Luke 9:23-26 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, of him, the Son of Man will be ashamed when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels.
- 1 Corinthians 1:17-25 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. Christ the Power and Wisdom of God. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.” Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
- Galatians 5:11-12 And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased.
- Galatians 6:14-16 But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything but a new creation.
- Ephesians 2:15-18 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.
- Philippians 2:8-11 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
- Philippians 3:18-21 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame — who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
- Colossians 1:19-20 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, 20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
- Colossians 2:14-15 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
- Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Our life in Christ is not a life that can be lived naturally. Many of God’s people try to live out the principles of the New Creation in their own ability, strength, conviction, and religious affiliation. But it cannot be done. God did not design the New Man after the flesh in any way, shape, or form. The New Creation must be lived out of the “life” that the Holy Spirit gives to each believer. It is lived out through the flesh, but not by the flesh. (see 2 Corinthians 5:14-17).
Our daily walk is meant to be lived “in the Spirit.” The Spirit enables us to “put on the mind of Christ.” The Spirit enables us to “put on the whole armor of God.” Every admonition of scripture is meant to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. This is what is meant by “Living the Spirit-Empowered life.”