What does it mean to crucify the flesh (Galatians 5:24)? (2024)

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What does it mean to crucify the flesh (Galatians 5:24)? (2)

Answer

The concept of crucifying the flesh comes from the apostle Paul’s words in Galatians 5:24: “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” In this verse, it’s clear that crucifying the flesh is not something done to the believer, but by the believer: “Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh.”

The “flesh” that must be crucified is the sin principle that exists in our fallen human nature. In this world we live in fleshly bodies, and the body, being weak (Mark 14:38), is the gateway to sin. Our bodies, though not sinful in themselves, naturally crave comfort and pleasure, and they too often succumb to temptation, producing the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19–21). Sin entrenches itself in the flesh, which becomes dominated by iniquity of all kinds. It is the sinful passions and wayward deeds of the flesh that Christians must crucify.

In other places, Paul speaks of a crucifixion that happens to the believer through his or her union with Jesus Christ: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:20; see also Romans 6:6). But in Galatians 5:24, it is the believer who has taken action. Crucify the flesh describes a deliberate putting to death of the old sin nature.

Paul’s instruction was inspired by Jesus Christ Himself, who said, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34, CSB).

Take up the cross is a figure of speech closely related to crucify the flesh. Believers are to behave like a person carrying his own cross to the place of his execution. Paul follows the Lord’s words to their logical conclusion. Not only must believers pick up and carry their cross, but they must also make sure their death sentence gets carried out. Crucifying the flesh illustrates the putting to death of selfish, sinful desires.

Believers are to take their old sin nature and, figuratively speaking, nail it to the cross. We crucify the flesh through repentance of sin—by turning our backs on the old way of life, by saying no to selfish and sinful passions, and by utterly renouncing the flesh: “Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God” (Romans 6:13, NLT).

In the ancient world, crucifixion was the vilest, most shameful form of death, reserved for the worst of criminals. Paul undoubtedly wanted his readers to understand that the flesh is not to be treated with respect, kindness, or even indifference. The carnal nature is so evil that it deserves nothing but the most dreadful of punishments. Crucifixion was also one of the most painful forms of execution. Believers should not expect to put to death the flesh without experiencing some pain and suffering.

The flesh and the spirit are in continual conflict with each other, so our daily calling as followers of Christ is to crucify the flesh: “For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13; see also Romans 6:11). Because we have been delivered from sin and death to new life in Jesus Christ, we are to yield ourselves to God for His good purposes and “put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry” (Colossians 3:5).

To crucify the flesh is to obey the call to Christian discipleship. It means losing our life to find it in Him (Matthew 10:39). As we daily put to death the sinful nature, we begin to walk in victory over the flesh. Conquering the flesh is what Paul describes as walking in the Spirit: “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).

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What does it mean to crucify the flesh (Galatians 5:24)? (2024)

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What does it mean to crucify the flesh (Galatians 5:24)? ›

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ( Galatians 5

Galatians 5
Galatians 5 is the fifth chapter of the Epistle to the Galatians in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is authored by Paul the Apostle for the churches in Galatia, written between AD 49–58. This chapter contains a discussion about circumcision and the allegory of the "Fruit of the Holy Spirit".
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Galatians_5
:24) Pastor John's Notes: Living by the Spirit means putting our natural desires to death. Saint Paul uses the term “the flesh” to refer to our natural, sinful impulses and desires.

What does Paul mean when he says to crucify the flesh? ›

More than anything else, “crucifying the flesh” is Paul's description of a radical repentance that must take place within the life of a believer. The expositor, John Stott, described repentance as “turning our back on the old life of selfishness and sin, repudiating it finally and utterly.”

What is the meaning of Galatians 5 24? ›

Galatians 5:24-25 exhorts us with the knowledge that “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh”—it's done! Now that sin is no longer in control, we can obey the command to “keep in step with the Spirit.” Before our flesh was crucified with Christ, our sinful responses came automatically.

What does flesh mean in Galatians 5? ›

The word “flesh” used in Galatians 5:19 is the Greek word sarx, which is used mostly in Paul's epistles to depict sinful impulses and carnal cravings.

What is the meaning of 5 24? ›

Originally Answered: What does bible verse John 5:24 mean? It means that if you have truly put your trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior, that you have eternal life, and will never perish, but you have crossed over from death to life. It means that a Christian is saved and will never lose their salvation.

How to get rid of the flesh? ›

The Keys To Defeat The Flesh
  1. Consider yourself dead to any attempts by the flesh to attack you.
  2. Recognize when you are being attacked by an evil desire.
  3. Immediately stop thinking about it.
  4. Act like you're alive to God. ...
  5. Choose the Spirit led desire God wants you to follow instead of the attacking evil desire.
Jul 29, 2015

What is the prayer for crucify the flesh? ›

I take my place in your cross and death, whereby I have died with you to sin and to my flesh, to the world, and to the Evil One. I am crucified with Christ, and I have crucified my flesh with all its passions and desires. I take up my cross and crucify my flesh with all its pride, unbelief, and idolatry.

What is the moral lesson of Galatians? ›

Galatians teaches that we are justified through faith, not by works. Galatians is the first letter in which Paul trumpets the truth that believers are justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. His opponents insisted that one must keep the law and be circumcised to obtain salvation (Gal.

What is the meaning of Galatians 5? ›

Those in Christ must stand firm against anyone who would try to drag them into slavery under the law (Galatians 5:1). Paul has in mind the issue of circumcision. A group known as the Judaizers were pressuring the Galatians to submit to physical circumcision in order to be acceptable to God.

Why was Paul talking to the Galatians? ›

Why did Paul write the book of Galatians? Paul wrote the book of Galatians to support the people in his churches in Galatia who were being pressured by Jewish Christians. He reiterated to the Galatians that Jesus was the fulfillment of the law, and as such, they were not bound by Old Testament laws.

How do you crucify the flesh daily? ›

Here are five things that crucifying the flesh entails.
  1. It Means Walking in the Spirit. “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ...
  2. It Means Frowning Upon Fleshly Desires. ...
  3. It Means Taking up Your Cross Daily. ...
  4. It Means Setting Your Mind on Things Above. ...
  5. It Means Disciplining Your Body.
Jul 12, 2022

What are the three sins of the flesh? ›

The three deadly sins are selfishness, lust and pride. These manifestations of the flesh are in direct opposition to the life and peace that God has given us in redemption through Jesus Christ. To sum: selfishness opposes faith, lust opposes hope and pride opposes love. AM I SELFISH OR FAITHFUL?

What does flesh mean to Paul? ›

This is what the contrast between “the flesh” and “the Spirit” is all about. These are, effectively, contrasting ways of being human in the world. “Living according to the flesh” means “living according to a self-centered, selfish way of being human,” which is at the root of our sin and all its deathly consequences.

What does 5 24 mean? ›

What is the 5/24 rule? Many card issuers have criteria for who can qualify for new accounts, but Chase is perhaps the most strict. Chase's 5/24 rule means that you can't be approved for most Chase cards if you've opened five or more personal credit cards (from any card issuer) within the past 24 months.

What is the 5 24 role? ›

The Chase 5/24 rule is an unwritten policy that prevents you from being approved for a new Chase credit card if you have opened five or more accounts with any bank in the last 24 months. Even with excellent credit, you'll likely be denied for certain Chase credit cards if you've opened too many credit cards recently.

What does 24 mean spiritually? ›

This backs up the amazing connection the number 24 has with the power of possibility, creation, balance, meaning, and true infinite potential. It reminds us also of the importance of balance and ensuring that our blend of energies utilizes hard work and commitment but also rest and ease.

What does Paul Thorn in the Flesh mean? ›

Instead of referring to sickness, the words “in the flesh” most likely describe a type of event that was a constant source of irritation to the apostle Paul. This event caused him personal distress and kept reoccurring over and over again. For this reason, he referred to it as a “thorn in the flesh.”

What are the works of the flesh according to Paul? ›

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these.

What does the Bible refer to as the flesh? ›

It can mean the physical body. It can refer to this earthly life. Finally, it can be used of the sinful urges that reside within us. Regarding this last usage, the NIV uses two words, “sinful nature,” to translate the Greek word for “flesh” wherever they believe this meaning is in view.

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