Galatians 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me.
Previously we learnt that one key to victorious Christian living is DENYING OUR FLESH. That entails disputing the impulses of our sinful nature. The second key goes even further-it’s about CRUCIFYING the flesh! That means “death”. Such is God’s will for each one of us. We are not yet mature as long as our old nature is still alive and kicking.
So a fitting question for every saint is, HOW DEAD ARE YOU? Your victory is directly proportional to the extent of your old man’s crucifixion. For example, if you struggle with patience, that means your impatience is not mortified (put to death) sufficiently. The same goes for all the various weaknesses or vices that bedevil our lives.
Check this out: “Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Colossians 3:5-10).
This “killing” of our earthly sinful members is only possible through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:13).
Beloveds, the reason why our new man doesn’t fully manifest and function as he should, is because of the interference of our old nature. Most of us accommodate our old man instead of doing what God’s word says we should do. So two natures within us struggle for control of our lives. It ought not be so! Let’s earnestly ask the Holy Spirit to help us overcome this ambiguity-this duplicity.
Pastor Josh