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

Answer

The concept of crucifying the flesh originates 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.” This verse makes it evident that crucifying the flesh is not something imposed on the believer, but rather something carried out by the believer: “Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh.”

The “flesh” that needs to be crucified is the sinful nature that resides within our fallen human condition. In this world where we inhabit physical bodies, and as Jesus said, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38), the body serves as the entry point for sin. While our bodies are not inherently sinful, they naturally seek comfort and pleasure, often yielding to temptation and giving rise to the acts of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). Sin embeds itself in the flesh, leading to various forms of iniquity. It is these sinful desires and wrongful actions of the flesh that Christians must put to death.

Elsewhere, Paul discusses a crucifixion that occurs in the believer through their 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). However, in Galatians 5:24, it is the believer who takes action. The act of crucifying the flesh entails a purposeful putting to death of the old sinful nature.

Paul’s guidance was influenced by Jesus Christ Himself, who stated, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” “And when he had called the people to him, with his disciples also, he said to them, ‘Whoever wi

ll come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. », (Mark 8:34, CSB).

Taking up the cross is a figure of speech closely related to crucifying the flesh. Believers are to act 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 ensure their death sentence is carried out. Crucifying the flesh illustrates putting to death 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” «Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto 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” «Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, 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 «He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. », (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” « This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. », (Galatians 5:16).