“And those who are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” Galatians 5:24
Concerning his own flesh, Paul had to admit, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells” (Rom. 7:18). Then in Colossians he warns the believers that if they relate to the evil flesh with a religious flesh, they will encounter certain defeat (Col. 2:18-23). How then can we be related to our flesh, if flesh cannot overcome flesh? The answer to that question is found in Paul’s words, “And those who are of Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.” The phrase uttered by Paul, “those who are of Christ Jesus,” tells us how we are to be related to the flesh. It is those who simply belong to Christ Jesus, who are one with Him in spirit, that have crucified the flesh. Are you one who is of Christ Jesus? This means you do not have a separate life from Him. You are wholly identified with Him. You do not have a separate relationship with the flesh in your flesh. You are of Christ Jesus, and as such, you own His relationship with the flesh. His relationship with the flesh is not a long, drawn-out battle with it; rather it is a one-time crucifixion to it. The word “crucified” in Galatians 5:24 is in the aorist tense in Greek, indicating a blow was dealt to the flesh in the past that is decisive, complete, and final. That blow was dealt to the flesh on the cross of Calvary two thousand years ago.
How we are related to the flesh is wrapped up in the answer to one question — Are we of Christ Jesus? That is all we need to answer. We do not need to examine whether or not we have any potential. Neither do we need a record or string of victories that we can boast in. Nor do we need to look at our condition to see whether or not we feel like a crucified person. We just need to answer one question: Are we of Christ Jesus? If so, then we have crucified the flesh. Paul says it — If we are of Christ Jesus, then we have crucified the flesh. This means that Christ is our relationship with the flesh.