The concept of crucifying the flesh is central to overcoming the works of the flesh, which are the manifestations of human nature apart from God. These works stem from desires, thoughts, and actions driven by the flesh, which is the raw state of human nature uninfluenced by God's Spirit. Paul emphasizes in Galatians 5:24 that those who belong to Christ must crucify the flesh with its passions and desires. This act of crucifixion is intentional, meant to evoke the intense and agonizing sacrifice of Jesus Christ, reflecting the extreme effort required to overcome sin and human nature. Crucifying the flesh involves hard work, trials, and pain, demanding an incredible force of will to remain on the true path. It is a battle against the very nature that has guided us throughout our lives, with its influence embedded deeply within us. The process requires going to great lengths, akin to the severity of crucifixion itself, to fight against these ingrained desires. Though we may never reach the level of suffering Christ endured, the goal is to so constrain and motivate ourselves that the temptations of the flesh lose their power over us. Joseph serves as an exemplary model of crucifying the flesh. When faced with temptation, he refused through clear words, bore the persistent allurements, and ultimately took physical action by fleeing, regardless of the personal consequences. His actions demonstrate a commitment to walking in the Spirit, maintaining a clear conscience by doing what is right, even at great cost. This stands in stark contrast to those who give in to fleshly desires, showing that crucifying the flesh is a deliberate and active choice to resist human nature and align with God's will.

In the fight against sin, we are called to a total war, a battle to annihilate every trace of corruption within us. This struggle requires us to crucify our flesh, to put to death the sinful nature that draws us away from God. As Paul instructs in Galatians 5:24, we must crucify ourselves, our flesh, enduring the excruciating pain of this process to rid ourselves of sin. This act of crucifixion, likened to the most torturous method of execution, symbolizes the extreme measures we must take, mirroring the sacrifice of our Savior. He expects nothing less of us if we are to be His disciples. We must be willing to take up our cross, to crucify our sinfulness, that nature which leads us away from His Kingdom and the grace He offers. This is not a half-hearted battle; it demands ruthless determination and the willingness to sacrifice anything to cleanse ourselves completely from sin.

The process of salvation involves a lifelong struggle against the flesh, a battle that persists as long as we remain in human form. Despite being called holy by God, we are still carnal, subject to human nature, and prone to sin. This creates a spiritual conflict within us, as two opposing natures—our carnal, fleshly nature and the divine nature of God's Holy Spirit—contend for dominance. The carnal nature, deeply embedded from infancy, is self-centered and demanding, often overpowering our desire to do good. God's Spirit, however, works cooperatively with us to establish godly habits and Christ-like character, but it requires us to actively subdue the evil aspects of our human nature. Paul describes this conflict vividly, expressing frustration at his inability to do what is right despite his desire to follow Christ. He acknowledges that human nature often prevails, making it humanly impossible to overcome sin without divine help. The reality of sin, a law or principle within our flesh, wars against the law of the mind, which is guided by God's Spirit. This battle continues throughout our lives, with the flesh constantly attempting to drag us back into sin, while only the blood of Jesus Christ can deliver us from the eternal death that sin brings. To address this struggle, we must crucify the flesh, putting to death the works of human nature through a life of self-denial. This involves recognizing and eliminating bad habits, replacing them with godly ones, and striving to walk in the Spirit. We are called to conduct ourselves under the guidance of God's Spirit, making it our utmost intention to obey Its prodding and live out the knowledge and instruction of God. Though the flesh will often win due to our inherent weakness, we must resist and strive to follow the Spirit, knowing that God, by grace, continually forgives us as long as we sincerely repent and work on our salvation. By mortifying the flesh and producing the fruits of the Spirit—such as love, joy, and peace—in our relationships and personal growth, we grow into the image of Jesus Christ, moving toward the ultimate goal of sanctification.