Dying to Self and Crucifying the Flesh

Galatians 2:20-21 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”

What are the works of the flesh?

Answer: Galatians 5:19–21 speaks of the works of the flesh, saying they are "evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these."

Paul then warns “that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” The works of the flesh are the things human beings naturally tend toward that are contrary to God’s design for us (Romans 1:28–29). Those who pursue lifestyles characterized by immorality, anger, divisiveness, drunkenness, etc., are giving evidence that they are not saved (see Matthew 7:20).

When the Bible speaks of the “flesh,” it is often referring to our natural sin tendencies. We are all born with a sin nature (Romans 5:12). Our natural predilection is to please ourselves any way we see fit. We can be trained to behave in more socially acceptable ways and even find enjoyment in being kind to others. However, without the power of God, we remain self-centered. We do what we do, even good things, because we receive some selfish payoff. Anything not done from faith or love for God—any deed not empowered by the Holy Spirit—is a “work of the flesh” (Romans 8:8; 14:23).

At salvation, the Holy Spirit moves into the repentant heart, making it possible for us to make choices that are of the Spirit, rather than the flesh (Galatians 5:16; Ezekiel 36:27; Romans 8:4; Colossians 3:5–8). We are to consider ourselves “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20) and our old sin nature dead (Romans 6:2, 11), but the flesh does not die easily. A battle still rages within even the most dedicated follower of Christ. The apostle Paul wrote eloquently of this battle in Romans 7. Verses 21–23 say, “So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me.”

Works of the flesh are not always as obvious as the ones listed above. They can even be found within Christian ministry, as people try to gain popularity or self-worth under the guise of serving Christ. Diotrephes was rebuked for this in 3 John 1:9. Trying to please God from selfish motivation leads to unhealthy competition, slander, bitterness, and eventual burnout (Galatians 1:10).

The works of the flesh are in total contrast with the fruit of the Spirit, detailed in Galatians 5:22–23. What pleases the Lord in our lives is not a “work” but a “fruit” that the Spirit alone can produce. We can avoid works of the flesh by staying continually submitted to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to direct every aspect of our lives (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:25).

Cited Source: Got Questions.org

Dying to Self:

When I think of dying to myself it means that I am literally giving over to the LORD everything that I want to do in my life. I am giving the LORD my hopes , my dreams, my wants, my desires, everything that feels good , my impulses. For awhile I have been thinking about eternity and where I will spend it- in the bible it states that CHRIST is coming for a Bride (church) that is truly without spot or blemish . That means no sin - when ABBA looks at you on Judgement Day the only thing he wants to see is his son and him only (meaning  the ways and works of Christ was able to be lived out in my life because I surrendered my life and will to him) . Meaning our old man must be completely crucified- how we used to be talk , walk , our wordly life must be erased and eradicated

. (So from now on we regard no one according to the flesh. Although we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come! 18All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:… 2nd Corinthians Ch:5 vs 16-17.) This is so so important if we really want to be with the LORD in eternity - we were not made for ourselves , we were TRULY made for GOD (ABBA) to truly worship him in spirit and in truth . What JESUS wants is for us to FULLY SURRENDER our WHOLE SELF (BODY) to him so that he can literally envelope himself in us to do his perfect will . What this means is that we talk like him , walk like him and we fulfill the spiritual purpose he always created for us to complete. This is truly for the purpose of bringing as many souls to CHRIST and if we are really , really living for Christ - we would have no time to do what we want but only what CHRIST wants to do through us. We let go of control and let the LORD by the power of the HOLY SPIRIT guide and lead us. Many of us are not in the perfect will of GOD- we have planned our lives out on our own and we only give the LORD what we want him to have and think that the LORD will understand and we will go to HEAVEN when all is said and done- this is not TRUE - with that kind of lifestyle- if something were to happen to us - we would be eternally separated from the LORD because we did not fully surrender to him our whole being and LIFE. This is so serious because we are living in the Last Days and the END of TIMES. JESUS is coming back so soon. We need to be right , we need to get ready , we need to really GET RIGHT with the LORD for REAL. Many people are dying , even the young people and many are not with the LORD and in this world we like to put everything and everybody in HEAVEN even if their lives were lived horribly . JESUS said that the ROAD is narrow that leads to LIFE and BROAD is the way that leads to HELL and many there be that find it . THE LORD is saying that many are and will be on that ROAD that leads to death physically and spiritually and it will be their choice , they made the choice. HELL is very very real. Please dont go there. We must live a life that is truly sold out to the LORD and even if it means unto DEATH . The Disciples endured such a life sold out to our LORD. A life sold out is Daily reading of the WORD of GOD - how can you truly live without feeding your spirit the WORD of GOD - it is truly needed in these times- it is LIFE. It is a life of fasting and praying all the time- Note: Fasting should be consistently as the LORD leads but it should be a way of life. Fasting helps you to be sensitive to the HOLY SPIRIT of TRUTH of GOD. You MUST , MUST , MUST be able to hear and KNOW THE VOICE OF GOD - that is something you must be able to cultivate and that comes by being faithful to reading your BIBLE praying and talking and listening to our LORD. We are living in very DANGEROUS TIMES and we MUST know our spiritual calling -what has GOD called us to do - our individual purpose he ordained from the beginning of the WORLD. Please come away from the WORLD and its UNGODLY SYSTEMS and LIVE HOLY for CHRIST. You cannot live in the WORLD and SERVE GOD- you will hate the one over the OTHER. When you stand before ABBA (GOD OUR FATHER) he does not want to see one remnant of the WORLD on or in you. You should look , sound and live different from the WORLD not the same. The WORLD is looking for something that is different and that is where the Remnant TRUE BODY of CHRIST will rise up and bring in the HARVEST because the world cannot find any fault in us because we are TRULY LIVING HOLY LIVES-how so because we are living in DAILY REPENTANCE to the LORD and in CLOSE , CLOSE , COMMUNION with him. I pray that as you make a decision to LIVE FOR JESUS you will be encouraged in the LORD to fulfill all he has called for you to do . THE LORD LOVES YOU MORE THAN YOU KNOW but you must make a decision.