The title of this painting by Anthony Falbo is a reference to Galatians 5:24: “And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”
This theme rings throughout Paul’s other writings as well:
- “For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.” (Romans 6:6)
- “. . . if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” (Romans 8:13)
- “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” (Galatians 2:20)
- “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14)
Anthony Falbo, Crucifying the Flesh. Oil on canvas.
These five verses seem to suggest that self-execution is a one-time thing that happens when you first come to know Christ. But when read in light of other Bible passages, we see that dying to self is actually an ongoing task.
In 1 Corinthians 15:31, Paul says, “I die daily.” Although he was referring to the physical threats on his life, Christians often receive this verse as a reminder of the importance of daily self-denial. This application, however, is more accurately gleaned from exhortative passages like Matthew 5:29-30, in which Jesus tells his listeners in graphic metaphor to cut off any part of themselves that keeps them away from God. Or Ephesians 4:22-25, in which Paul counsels the Christians in Ephesus against sins such as lying, stealing, and bitterness by telling them to put off their old sinful habits and to put on new ones. Continue reading
The Jesus Question 