Crucifying the Flesh

Romans 8:13, For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to  death the deeds of the body, you will live.

Colossians 3:5, Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Romans 6:6-7, Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.  For he who has died has been freed from sin.

He who has died has been freed from sin!  This passage is talking about true salvation which is a complete turning from self to a full embrace of Jesus.  It is a rejection of personal works to a full acceptance of Jesus’ work on Calvary that fully dealt with the judgment of sin justly due.  Faith in Jesus brings freedom from the slavery of sin.

Yet, Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, (I Peter 4:10).

A secondary point is that sins can still beset a believer (Romans 7:23-24) and the fix for those sins is the same – one needs to die in order to be freed.  That lingering sin needs to be crucified.

Know that crucifixion is a terrible, terrible, horrible, slow, violent, ugly wretched death!  In part because of knowing it is the end and there is no escape – no hope.  In part because it is public often with family and friends observing – maybe even made to observe – but unable to do anything to alleviate the agony or respond to the screams.  It is marked by muscles cramping, terrible pains, gasping for breath and the tongue swelling.  Plus, there is the mocking of the executioners and enemies and being put on display in public without clothing – naked before the world.

We have a little window into another horror of crucifixion in I Kings 21:9, and he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the Lord. So they fell, all seven together…Now Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it for herself on the rock, from the beginning of harvest until the late rains poured on them from heaven. And she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day nor the beasts of the field by night.

A crucifixion was a dinner call to the vultures and carnivorous birds.  They assembled to begin the “feast” even before death occurred or the one impaled was even close to death.  They could begin to peck at the flesh of the one impaled – even attacking the face and eyes – and there was no defense, not even from family and friend.

Standing before this horror might be a mother, a brother or a dear, dear friend.  Such was true of Jesus – Mary, John, and friends.  To watch a loved one dying to a sin can be very, very harsh and almost unbearable, but we know that the result, as seen in Jesus, is victory.

In some senses, this is a picture of someone encased or shackled by sin.  To defeat the addiction, to destroy the bondage, to break the chains – it takes a crucifixion.  It is a violent thing that the one so shackled must go through while loved ones stand by having no say and no control.  The death necessary for release and victory is endured by the one alone.

Matthew 11:12, And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.

In this statement Jesus is noting that only those who are relentless to be a citizen of the kingdom are those truly saved.  It might be that idea about victory over a sin or vice or an addiction.  It takes the one being relentless in pursuit of victory.  It is not an easy fix nor is it fast – it takes a rigorous drive to gain the victory.

And the end desired?  “Death is swallowed up in victory” (I Corinthians 15:54) for it is Christ Jesus Himself who gives the victory, who rewards faith and diligence.  “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Corinthians 15:57).