Crucifixion is Evidence of Salvation

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” (Ga 5:24 AV)

I like what John Gill said about this verse.  He said that just because something is crucified does not mean it is dead.  The two thieves on the cross, one on each side of our Savior, had to have their legs broken in order to perish.  Crucifixion was not killing them fast enough.  The LORD chose to give up the ghost or His fate would have been the same.  To fulfill the scriptures, He died before the need arose to break legs.  Just because something hand in a torturous way, does not mean it is dead.  It is crucified that it might die.  But at the point of crucifixion, it is very much alive.  Paul says, “Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.” (Ro 6:6 AV) We see the act of crucifixion is to realize a certain end.  The end and the act are not one and the same.  The old man is crucified for the purpose that it might be destroyed.  That old man may hang on just like the two thieves.  To further illustrate, Paul says, “I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.” (1Co 15:31 AV) This death of the old man has to happen sin by sin and affection by affection.  This consecration is a process, not an event.    If we are not careful with this doctrine, we may assume that if we struggle with the affections and lusts of the flesh, we are not saved.  If we see sanctification as an event, we will soon live a life of doubt and discouragement.  This is not what God intended.  He intended His children to live in victory.  One sin at a time.

Our bodies are called the temple of the Holy Ghost (1Cor 6:19).  The Old Testament tabernacle is a type of the heavenly.  Hebrews tells us that.  The tabernacle also teaches us of the doctrine of sanctification.  Sanctification means to set aside for sacred use.  But it also means the process by which it comes into a condition for that use.  When we read of the tabernacle, we learn the tabernacle was sanctified when the construction was complete.  However, every time they tore it down and set it up again, it had to be sanctified.  The temple had to be sanctified even after the initial construction.  It had to be sanctified for each sabbath use.  The priests were required to sanctify themselves prior to entering ministry.  The implements for worship were sanctified prior to each use.  In other words, sanctification was not a one-time event.  It was an ongoing process.

When we talk about crucifying the old man with the affections and lusts, we do so that the old man of sin (and in particular the affections and lusts) might be destroyed.  However, we are like someone who is trying to lose weight and instead of completely revamping their lifestyle, they try to enjoy the old diet that caused them problems while moderating it slightly.  There are still as many carbs in the house as there were before.  The ‘bad’ carbs have not been removed and replaced with healthier choices.  As long as the dieter continues to hand on the old habits while simply reducing the old habits, they will always be tempted to go back to what was harming them.  This is true of any vice.  Any stronghold that is not completely destroyed will come back at some time or another.  The above verse is not teaching us an evidence of salvation is the absolute absence of all affections and lusts.  Rather, an evidence of salvation is the crucifixion of the old man that these affections and lusts might be destroyed.  There will be failures.  That old man may hang on that cross for hours on end.  Someone might have to come by and break some legs.  The fact we want those affections and lusts destroyed is the evidence because that is what hangs to the old man on that cross.  So, hang him there.  Hang him there with the intent of destroying the affections and lusts that are part of who and what he is.