Crucify the flesh
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It has to do with putting off the old man of sin, where we walked in the likeness of Adam. We have been remade in Christ, and should walk after Him. This can be painful (like crucifixion) - e.g. turning the other cheek to someone who deserves a beating can be hard, but this is an example of crucifying the flesh - submitting to God, rather than our evil, selfish desires.
Romans 6:3-7
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Circumcision of the heart is a similar metaphor. Putting off the uncleanness and sins of the flesh through the circumcision of Christ. Again, the metaphor indicates pain is involved in causing the flesh to submit, but for the overall benefit of the believer by being in covenant with Christ and inheriting eternal life.
Colossians 2:
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
Romans 6:3-7
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Circumcision of the heart is a similar metaphor. Putting off the uncleanness and sins of the flesh through the circumcision of Christ. Again, the metaphor indicates pain is involved in causing the flesh to submit, but for the overall benefit of the believer by being in covenant with Christ and inheriting eternal life.
Colossians 2:
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
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To understand this you have to think in terms of flesh/spirit. There are the two things that want your attention. The flesh is directed by the nautral man and the spirit is directed by the spiritual man.
The flesh fights against the spirit and to understand it one has to think in terms of me, myself and I because the flesh is central to everything inasmuch it has to be satisfied regardless of the consequences.
The alternative, the spirit, has no interest in me, myself and I. it always want to to discover the will of God and fulfil it.
When the two come into conflict and they will, to stay on the straight and narrow, one has to crucify the flesh. When the flesh is crucified it is dead so it cannot go against the will of God. So, what one is doing by crucifying the flesh is putting what God wants front and centre, not what the flesh wants.
Walkng in the Spirit is a daily experience where you get direction and tuition from the Spirit as to what is spirit and what is flesh. You don't get this knowing about God. You get it knowing God. And you only get to know God by crucifying the flesh and all its desires because the flesh is a barrier to knowing God.
Is it difficult to know God? No, not if you have a heart for God and want to hear from him. I hear from him every day but some friends of mine have said they have never heard from God.
Someone once said if you can't find God, guess who has moved.
The flesh fights against the spirit and to understand it one has to think in terms of me, myself and I because the flesh is central to everything inasmuch it has to be satisfied regardless of the consequences.
The alternative, the spirit, has no interest in me, myself and I. it always want to to discover the will of God and fulfil it.
When the two come into conflict and they will, to stay on the straight and narrow, one has to crucify the flesh. When the flesh is crucified it is dead so it cannot go against the will of God. So, what one is doing by crucifying the flesh is putting what God wants front and centre, not what the flesh wants.
Walkng in the Spirit is a daily experience where you get direction and tuition from the Spirit as to what is spirit and what is flesh. You don't get this knowing about God. You get it knowing God. And you only get to know God by crucifying the flesh and all its desires because the flesh is a barrier to knowing God.
Is it difficult to know God? No, not if you have a heart for God and want to hear from him. I hear from him every day but some friends of mine have said they have never heard from God.
Someone once said if you can't find God, guess who has moved.