It is a glorious revelation as we discover that when Jesus died on the cross, He died for all sin; once for all. (Rom. 5) Peace floods the soul when we recognize that our flesh has been removed and crucified and that we are no longer enslaved to sin. (Rom. 6 & Gal. 2) When we realize that we are united with Christ, it changes everything as we learn what it truly looks like to walk according to the Spirit.
Yet, so often in life, our experience cries out louder than our knowledge of theological truth. And when we find ourselves once again living out that old flesh pattern, we get frustrated and look for answers on how we can “stop”! We read verses about the flesh and considering ourselves dead and feel defeated as we continue to wrestle day after day and for some, year after year.
Here is a bit of good news: you will not find freedom from your flesh by focusing on your flesh. Your freedom will not come from a Bible verse telling you “what to do” or a law or a new principal or even an accountability group. All of these continue to keep us self-focused instead of Jesus-focused. All of these call us back to self-centered living. However, Jesus is wooing us into relationship.
Jesus did not come and give His life so that you could go back to living according to the law! Hebrews 10:9 tells us that He came to take away the first in order to establish the second. The first covenant was a life of laws and principles and trying hard from a place of self-effort (flesh) because that is all we had! The second dealt with the heart. In the second covenant He gave us a new heart and a new mind! The second was inaugurated by His death. Hebrews 10:19-23 says, “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great High priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”
I agree with the Moravian cry, “May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering!” Let us lay aside the flesh, not by focusing our hearts on flesh, but by focusing our hearts on Him and His flesh that was broken so that I could be free. Let us focus on the greatness of His love and sacrifice.
The good news of the Gospel is so much crazy freedom that it offends even our flesh. All things are lawful? “Paul, are you kidding me? What are you saying? Don’t you know that your written words might give people license to sin?” Paul, along with the author of Hebrews, knew that the secret to freedom did not lie in the focus of our flesh but in the greatness of His love and His body and blood. He is the Lamb and the High Priest and the Mercy Seat.
Today, may you be set free of your flesh and may it happen as you look to the Lamb, His sacrifice, His love and His flesh that was torn so that you could have full access to the Holy of Holies! “Jesus, may You forever receive the reward of Your suffering! Your love and grace will forever astound and amaze us!”