Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.
Galatians 5:24 NLT
The Bible tells us in Galatians 5:24 that those who belong to Christ have crucified the passions and desires of their sinful nature. This isn’t simply a passive process of positive thinking, but an act of decisive action – crucifixion. As followers of Jesus, we don’t just suppress our sinful desires; we’ve actively crucified them alongside Him.
Imagine the freedom this brings! We’re no longer slaves to our impulses. The urge to gossip? Nailed to the cross. Is envy burning in your heart? Crucified with Christ. Every sinful desire and temptation – completely crucified. The life that produced sin and unrighteousness is dead. Therefore, sin no longer reigns supreme in your mortal body.
However, the battle isn’t over. Though our sinful nature is crucified, it may still try to rise again. This is where the Holy Spirit comes in. We can put our flesh under subjection by constantly yielding to His guidance. It’s a daily choice – choosing the path of the Spirit over the temptations of the flesh.
The Holy Spirit empowers us to resist temptation. Through His guidance as we study scripture, He builds us up in our faith. This ongoing transformation works within us. We begin to crave the deep satisfaction that comes from following God, rather than fleeting worldly pleasures.
So, the more we yield to the Spirit, the “deader” our sinful desires become. With Christ at the center of our lives, we are progressively transformed into the people God created us to be. When hatred wants to rise up, remember your sinful nature is dead – crucifixion has already taken place. Something dead cannot respond. So, if you find yourself reacting negatively, check your state of being. Are you dead to sin and alive to God in righteousness?
In conclusion, following Christ is a journey of freedom. By actively crucifying our sinful desires and yielding to the Holy Spirit, we are empowered to overcome temptation and experience true transformation. Remember, with Christ, we are constantly becoming more and more like the people He created us to be.
