Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. I. THE FLESH is generally the old man which regeneration does not kill, that must be treated as an interior enemy, having a spiritual body of sin, that must be pierced through without remorse, and Christian men must use every sacred effort to hasten its death. II. IT MUST BE DENIED EVERY GRATIFICATION. "If thine enemy thirst, feed him," etc. must not hold good here. "Make no provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." If it hunger and thirst for old solaces, we must not gratify it. The least favour gives the dying enemy strength; and if it be habitually nourished, it will gather power to wrench its members from the cross, and come down and save itself, to the loss of the soul that was unfaithful to its trust. III. IT MUST BE AFFLICTED, SMITTEN, AND OPPOSED in its every movement. "Mortify, therefore, your members." 1. The affection that passively waits for the solicitations of sin, always ready to be courted by temptation, must be bound to the cross, that it may weaken and languish and die; more or less slowly, but with a certain decline, sinking towards the torpor and death which the voice of no charmer can awaken. 2. The lusts which actually go out in quest of sinful indulgence must be kept firm to the Cross that they may not seek their prey. (W. B. Pope, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.WEB: Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. |
    |