Who of us believers would not like to have victory over the impulses that prompt us to commit acts of sinning against what we know of God’s desire for us? The verse below is full of critical truth we must know, believe, and trust if we are to have victory over “Sin in the Flesh.”

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through [due to] the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned Sin In the Flesh: Romans 8:3 (KJV)

• First, this verse reveals the truth of the utter powerlessness of “the Law” in making one live a righteous life… saying, “what the law could not do.”
• Then also this verse makes clear that we still live in the presence of our Sinful flesh body.
• Then we see how that Jesus partook of like ‘sinful flesh’ as we have … “yet without sin[ning],” He not only overcame Sin, but also by His cross He “condemned [damned] sin in the flesh.”

Thankfully God the Father sent His precious, righteous, Son to taste of the sting of death for our sins.

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 (KJV)

Jesus as the sinless sacrifice, dying “for our sins” was effectual in “taking away the sins of the world,” applying to all who will “believe.” But there was more to God’s “mystery [Grk. musterion, secret, hidden plan]” for the redemption for lost mankind.; this truth is wrapped up in “the revelation of the mystery [secret plan of God]” that was revealed to Paul for us.

For I [Paul] delivered unto you first of all that which I also received [from the ascended Lord], how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 1 Corinthians 15:3 (KJV)

Now to him [God] that is of power to stablish you according to my [Paul’s] gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, Rom. 16:25

Sooner or later every genuine Christian should realize and admit they have problem with ‘Sin in the flesh.’ noting how that its work to entice or prompt us to sin. Jesus’ one death of the cross dealt with the two aspects of mankind’s great needs in dealing with “Sin.”

1. Jesus fully paid our sin-debt forever, that we might stand righteous before our righteous God, having full access into His grace. (Rom. 5:1)
2. Jesus also accomplished ‘our Old Man’s death with Him’ at the cross,’ where we “in Him” in death (Rom. 6:3). We died with Him that we might also be made alive by His resurrection life now “in us,” Thus, we are now free from the ‘power and dominion’ of “Sin in the Flesh.”

So, the “gospel of the grace of God” reveals a freedom from the ‘penalty’ for sins, and also God has provided us believers with the empowerment of Christ indwelling “Spirit of life,” as necessary for us to have victory over our still Sin-laden flesh.

Paul’s gospel includes the way of victory that is found only “in Christ” … that is… by our literal union with Christ, in His death, burial, and His resurrection. We see this “union” described here below.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Gal. 2:20.)

Now consider how Paul writes of this in Galatians 2:20.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 (KJV)

The words “crucified with Christ” (above) obviously speaks of Our Death WITH and IN CHRIST. Paul repeats this truth again and again; “If ye be dead with Christ” (Col. 2:20) and as “If we be dead with Him” (2 Tim. 2:11a). Paul tells us exactly how it was that our ‘independent, sinful, Old Man’ has died with Christ!

³Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized [put] into Jesus Christ were baptized Into [overwhelmed as we were engulfed in] His Death? (Rom. 6:3)

¹³For by one Spirit are we all baptized [set] into one body [of Christ], whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Cor. 12:13  

Note that there is no water here in the baptism noted above. The element into which we were overwhelmed, buried, or engulfed with is Jesus’ DEATH. This then was the death of our independent “Old Man” (Rom. 6:6).

Every believer must know, believe and trust that their flesh with the Sin-nature within it has been neutralized, Rendered Powerless over us, all because … we as to our independent soul-self have “been crucified with Christ” (Gal. 2:20).

The above verse below is full of critical truth we must know, believe, and trust. It reveals the utter impotence of “the Law” in making one live a righteous life… “what the law could not do.”

³ For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through [due to] the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned Sin In the Flesh: Romans 8:3 (KJV)

Thankfully God the Father sent His Son, Jesus, who partook of like ‘sinful flesh’ as we have … “yet without sin[ning],” to “condemn [damn] sin in the flesh.”

For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Hebrews 4:15 (KJV)

Jesus as the sinless sacrifice for our sins was effectual in “taking away the sins of the world” but there was more to God’s “mystery (secret, hidden)” plan of redemption for lost mankind.

Now to him [God] that is of power to stablish you according to my [Paul’s] gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, Rom. 16:25

Jesus’ one death of the cross dealt with the two aspects of mankind’s great needs;

1. Jesus fully paid our sin debt forever, that we might stand righteous before our righteous God.
2. Jesus also accomplished our Old Man’s death with Him [Rom. 6:3] that we might be alive by His life in us, now being free from the power and dominion of “Sin in the Flesh.”

Sooner or later every genuine Christian should realize that he or she has a problem with ‘Sin in the flesh’ and its work to entice or prompt us to sin. Yet, the “gospel of the grace of God” reveals a liberty and empowerment for us to have victory over our Sin-laden flesh.

Paul’s gospel includes the way of victory that is found only “in Christ” … that is… by our literal union with Christ, in His death, burial, and His resurrection. We see this “union” described here below.

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Gal. 2:20.)

Now please permit me to unpack Galatians 2:20 as I see it.

²⁰ I [as to my Old ‘independent’ soul-self] am [now, not was] crucified with Christ:

nevertheless I [now as a ‘dependent’ soul-self] live [I thrive by the only real life];

yet not I, but Christ Liveth IN Me [and He moves through me]:

and the life [Gk. Zoë, “the Spirit of Christ in Christ”; Rom. 8:2] which I now live [while] in the flesh [body]

I [as a ‘dependent’ soul] live by the faith of [or the faithfulness of] the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me [on my behalf and …  to live In and Through me].

 ²¹ I [as a proper dependent soul-self] do not frustrate [annul] the grace of God: for IF righteousness come by [the works of] the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:20-21 (KJV)

The word “crucified” (above) speaks of our death “with Christ.”

Paul repeats this again and again; “If ye be dead with Christ” (Col. 2:20). “If we be dead with Him” (2 Tim. 2:11). Paul tells us exactly how it was that our ‘independent, sinful, Old Man’ has died!

³Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized [put] into Jesus Christ were baptized [whelmed, engulfed in] Into His Death? (Rom. 6:3) ¹³For by one Spirit are we all baptized [set] into one body [of Christ], whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 1 Cor. 12:13  

Note that there is no water here (above). The element into which we were whelmed, buried, or engulfed with is Jesus’ DEATH. This then was the death of our independent “Old Man” (Rom. 6:6). Every believer must know and believe also that their flesh with the Sin-nature within it has been Rendered Powerless over us because … we as to our independent soul-self have “been crucified with Christ” (Gal. 2:20).