Those that know me well understand, although I have been walking in the faith for some 54 years now, I am an imperfect man, much less, believer. I share that not to malign the power of Christ and the Holy Spirit in my life, but to say I am, as I think we all are, to some degree or the other, resistant to the cross in areas of our flesh and life. Perhaps, me more than many.
We all, I think, have areas where we seem to personally struggle to be conformed to Christ, to find victory over the flesh and totally soul-ish responses, instead of finding and manifesting the Spirit of Life in Christ (read the end of Romans 7 and then consider Romans 8:2).
[Romans 8:2 NASB95] 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.
I say to my shame, that my Achilles heel, or undying flesh area -if you will- resides in my temperament and sometimes angry reactions. It is rarely visible to anyone publicly, but too often seen by those I love most. Those in my family, unfortunately, who know me best, love me despite myself, and forgive quickly. Thank God for them and His/their grace. Again, I am not proud of this, and I have often spoken of it publicly in gatherings, in hopes that your prayer for my deliverance will be more effective than mine have been because James exhorts us:
[James 5:16 NASB95] 16 Therefore, confess your sins (KJV: faults )to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.
This week, after an incident with my wife, the Lord brought to mind a brother telling me you have to decide “I don’t have to act/behave this way”, and a C.S Lewis statement: “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending” Both are sage advice and direction when dealing with an area that needs change. And, the older I get, the more I find I truly need the grace offered in the Lewis statement to commit to changing behaviors and outcomes. If for no other reason that I am now, nearing my expiration date, very aware that time is short, and shorter all the time, to make those changes before physically passing. Not to be too morbid but that brings to mind death.
One important thought I believe the Spirit has brought to mind lately in regard to making such change, and being conformed to Christ is that I, like most of us, want the Spirit of life in Christ to change me. You know, somehow miraculously make me perfected in Him. But, alas, the prerequisite for resurrection life is death. And not just any death, but the death of the cross and crucified flesh. Without that resurrection life is not needed, nor can it work its miracle of life out of death.
In Galatians 6 Paul is writing to the church in the area that has been attacked by Judaizers wanting them to keep the Judaic law in their flesh in addition to coming to salvation by grace through faith. They are trying to make these Gentile believers undergo circumcision. Paul writes:
[Galatians 6:12-15 NASB95] 12 Those who desire to make a good showing in the flesh try to compel you to be circumcised, simply so that they will not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 13 For those who are circumcised do not even keep the Law themselves, but they desire to have you circumcised so that they may boast in your flesh. 14 But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. 15 For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
Let me leave the subject of circumcision here, for it truly is not the point. Let us focus on verse 14 where Paul says may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.
Note that the apostle is not interested in boasting in anything of the flesh circumcised or uncircumcised! His boast is to be centered on the CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST. Why?!!! Because through the cross the world has been crucified and is dead to him, and he has been crucified and is dead to the world. He has found life! The Spirit of LIfe in Christ Jesus.
How can you tell the difference between dead and rote religion and the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. Religion and rote practice leads to boasting in something you can do, have done, or that is of yourself. And trying to do it over and over again. (and generally frustration and failure, never measuring up) The Spirit of Life in Christ leads you to boast in the cross, and the death it has worked for you in Him, so that resurrection life in Him is manifested.
Being His disciple is costly. He outlines it well in Luke 14. It will cost you your life, lying it down to find life in full in Him. Without the cross working that in us you cannot be His disciple. Giving up all that you have and all that you are results in becoming all that He is.
[Luke 14:26-27, 33 NASB95] 26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.
27 “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. …
33 “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions.
When I find myself in angry reactions and outburst of temperament, it breaks down (perhaps most simply) to I want to be lord and have my way. That desire cannot be found in a man on a cross! And, the fruit of that desire does not generate peace in me, the situation, or others.
If we have come into the Kingdom. The place where Jesus, the Prince of Peace is now recognized as Jesus the Lord of all and King, we have died – been crucified to the world and it has died and been crucified to us. We have no place in the world, but in Him, the world has no place in us. The gospel of the Kingdom is that we have been delivered from the world and its systems by He that has overcome it and brought us peace. Namely Jesus!
[John 16:33 NASB95] 33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
[Colossians1:13-14 NASB95] 13 For He (God) rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son (Jesus), 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
While we rejoice in His victory over death and the world, and glory in resurrection life and the Spirit of Life in Christ, let us not forget the reality of the crucifixion as the prerequisite for resurrection power and life. God is not trying to simply make us better, or better people, He is trying to kill/crucify our flesh to make us like Jesus. Most dramatic change is, and will be, initiated in the death of the cross and completed in the Spirit of Life in Christ. Jesus has delivered us from the bondage of sin and released us to the freedom of life in Him. It is ours to apply ,or appropriate, the cross to our flesh by/through the Spirit and find overcoming life in Him.
[Romans 8:29 NASB95] 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined [to become] conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
[Romans 6:6 NASB95] 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with [Him,] in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;
[1Corinthians 2:2 NASB95] 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
[Galatians 2:20 NASB95] 20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the [life] which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
[Galatians 5:24 NASB95] 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.