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NASB | Galatians 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Galatians 5:24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites. |
Bible Question:
My Sunday School lesson for tomorrow is taken from Eph. 4:1-3, "As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." My question is not so much on the 'interpretation' of this verse as it is in the 'application' of this verse. How do I apply this verse to my life in light of Gal. 5:16-17 that informs me that I have two natures that is consistantly going to war with one another; and in light of James 1:14-15 that tells me that my ungodly actions are a result of personal desires?? I believe the verses in Eph.4:1-3 are commandments to, 1. Participate in each other lives; 2. For proper Christian relationships; and 3. To encourage a commitment to the well being of others. So how do I pull all this off if it isn't something I desire to do?? Please provide every day living examples to help get your point across. TheCurtMan |
Bible Answer: Good question! All believers have two natures: the self-nature (flesh) and the divine nature (spirit). The less mature you are in the Lord, the more difficult it is to crucify the "flesh". This is where belief in the cross of Christ comes in. We cannot, in our own strength, overcome the "flesh". All that we can do, and MUST do, is to submit ungodly desires to the Lord. We do this by confessing our desires to the Lord and relying upon His power to overcome whatever we are struggling with. For example, suppose that you are a very impatient person. But, you desperately want the spiritual fruit of patience to be manifested within you. Simply go to the Lord in prayer and tell him all about your struggle (be specific; "I'm impatient with so-and-so" or "I'm impatient waiting for the pastor to finish his sermon". Tell him that you don't want to be impatient and confess that you need His help to be patient. Then allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you. Look up and meditate on scripture that speaks to patience (you're now feeding the spirit). At first, it may seem that you are fighting the battle alone. But, our Lord is faithful and He will not tarry to cleanse you of your unrighteousness, nor to relieve you of your burden. Hope this helps. This act of confession and repentance to the Lord (i.e., cleansing) is continual. Everytime that "impatience" rears its ugly little head, go through the process again. As long as we live in these earthen vessels, we will have struggles with the "flesh". However, as we learn to rely upon the Lord, we will find ourselves walking more according to the spirit, rather than the flesh. |