TIME WITH INSPIRE. The Death Sentence of the Self: Crucified with Christ.

Galatians 5:24 NKJV

And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Let's dive into the verse and elaborate some key points.

​1. "Those who belong to Christ Jesus"

• ​Identity First: This phrase establishes the identity of the person Paul is describing. The action (crucifying the flesh) flows from a prior relationship (belonging to Christ).

• ​Covenant Relationship: To "belong to Christ" means a transfer of ownership and allegiance. It is a state of union with him established by faith. This union is the source of the power for the act that follows.

  
  

​2. "have crucified the flesh"(aorist tense)

• ​The Act: The verb "have crucified" is in the aorist tense in the Greek, which typically points to a completed action in the past, often referring to the moment of conversion or baptism ( Romans 6:6).

  • ​Past/Definitive Aspect: At the moment of salvation, the believer is united with Christ in his death, burying the old self (the "flesh"). The verdict on the old, sinful nature is death by crucifixion. This is a spiritual reality.

    
    

• ​The "Flesh"This doesn't primarily mean the physical body, but the sin principle—the unredeemed, fallen human nature that is hostile to God and lives independently of the Holy Spirit. It is the part of us that constantly seeks to gratify self-centered desires (the "works of the flesh" in Galatians 5:19-21).

  
  

• ​Crucifixion as a Metaphor: Paul uses a vivid and brutal metaphor.

  • ​Painful: Crucifixion was the most agonizing form of death. Mortifying sin is not a pleasant, gentle process; it is a painful, relentless "putting to death."

    
    

  • ​Permanent: A crucified man is irrevocably dead. The goal is to treat the "flesh" as a condemned criminal—it must die.

    
    

  • ​Slow: While the verdict is set (past tense), the actual execution is a slow, ongoing process. The flesh is nailed to the cross, but it still struggles and fights for life; the believer's daily job is to ensure it stays on the cross (a concept linked to the ongoing, present-tense command to "walk by the Spirit" in v. 16 and v. 25).

    
    

​3. "with its passions and desires"

• ​Specific Targets: The flesh is not an abstract concept; it expresses itself in concrete, rebellious passions and desires.​

  • Passions: Often refers to strong, unruly emotions or feelings.​

  • Desires (Lusts): A general term for strong cravings, good or bad, but here clearly used in the negative sense of sinful cravings (e.g., the lusts listed in Galatians 5:19-21: sexual immorality, envy, drunkenness, etc.).

  • ​Crucify the Source and the Symptoms: The point is to "crucify" not only the actions of the flesh but also the inner impulses and cravings that lead to the actions.

    
    

  Conclusion: The Promise of Life

  • ​Re-Read v. 24: "Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

  • ​Call to Action: Is your flesh still ruling your life? Is there a particular "passion or desire" that is dictating your decisions? Today, exercise the power of your union with Christ. Re-affirm the death sentence on that self-life.

  • ​The Promise (v. 25): The very next verse gives the hope: "If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit." The Spirit who gave you life is the one who provides the power for the daily crucifixion. We are called to walk in the reality of our death in Christ, resulting in true freedom and a life filled with the Fruit of God.