CRUCIFY THE FLESH AND GROW IN SANCTIFICATION

1. HOW ARE WE TRANSFORMED INTO A PERFECT MAN IN THE MEASURE OF JESUS CHRIST?
• BEING BORN AGAIN OF THE SPIRIT:
  • Jesus describes both birth and declares that you must be born of the Spirit to enter God’s Kingdom [John 3:5-6]
  • “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.” Hebrews 10:14
  • At the moment of salvation when we repent and our sins forgiven and washed in Jesus’ blood, our salvation is complete and not in parts. But our flesh is still very much strong and controlling us and it must be crucified.


2. OUR FIRST STEPS AS A BABY AND BECOMING A CHILD:
• After we are born again, we begin our life as a new creation in Christ; we must grow in sanctification. [2 Cor. 5:17]
• The baby, the new creation, must be fed spiritual milk in order to grow, but as the baby grows, he needs to be fed solid food and no longer milk. [1 Cor. 3:1-3; Hebrews 5:12]
• When the baby grows into a child who is growing in truth and in sanctification, the confrontation with the flesh begins:
  • Peter explains, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.” 1 Peter 2:11
  • Paul explains, “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.” Galatians 5:16-17


3. THE BATTLE BETWEEN THE FLESH — THE OLD MAN, AND THE NEW CREATION — THE NEW MAN:
• PAUL GIVES A LIST OF WHO WE WERE AS THE OLD MAN AND WHERE WE NEED TO BE AS A NEW CREATION:
  • Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Colossians 3:5
  • But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. Colossians 3:8
  • Do not lie to one another. Colossians 3:9
  • You have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him. Colossians 3:10
  • Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering. Colossians 3:12
  • Forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. Colossians 3:13
  • But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. Colossians 3:14


4. JESUS TAKES US THROUGH THE NARROW WAY INTO PERFECTION:
• HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE?
  JESUS DECLARED:
  • poor in spirit, meek, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, the peacemaker. [Mat.5:3-9]
• HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO ACT?
  JESUS DECLARED:
  • Like salt and like light. Forgiving offenses; Loving your enemies; Giving to those who ask; Praying in secret; Having treasures in heaven and not on earth; Serving God and not money; No worried; Not judging; Having good fruits for the Kingdom [Matthew chapters 5-7]
• HOW ARE WE GOING TO ACHIEVE SANCTIFICATION?
  JESUS DECLARED:
  • Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. [Luke 9:23]
  • The struggle between the flesh and the Spirit of Christ in us is a daily battle that must be won denying every desire, appetite, and will of the flesh and following Jesus with our cross to die with him.
  • And when we fail and sin, He is ready to forgive. [1 John 1:9; 2:1]

* All scriptures are from New King James Version