Hello, praise God,
I am Namara. Having read the verses in the New Testament that warn us Christians about the flesh or the self, I ask: how do we die to the flesh or to self?
Response:
Thank you for your question. Indeed, there are many verses, especially in the New Testament, that caution Christians about the dangers of the flesh or self. Before we address how to overcome these dangers, it is essential to understand what we are being warned against.
What is flesh?
The word “flesh,” which some Bible versions translate as “self” (Greek: sarx, Hebrew: basar), can have a neutral, literal meaning. For example, in Genesis 2:23-24, it refers to living creatures or the human body, which consists of muscles, veins, bones, and blood (1 Corinthians 15:39). However, figuratively, “flesh” is often used negatively, referring to a mindset or actions driven by self-interest—essentially, the human will in opposition to God’s will (Romans 3:10, 12).
It is this latter meaning that Christians are warned against. When we follow the desires of the flesh, the results are clear: adultery (sexual immorality), impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarrelling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins of a similar nature.
Those who practise such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19-21) because they are contrary to God’s holiness. A self-centred, carnal mindset has no place in His kingdom.
Mortifying flesh
There are two primary ways in which we die to the flesh: self-control and attitude. However, before addressing these, it is important to recognise that this is a personal battle—one that can only be fought by each individual, with God’s help.
Our life in the flesh is manifested in the works of the flesh, as listed in Galatians 5:19-21:
“Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Self-control
One way to die to the flesh is through self-discipline. A proper understanding of one’s values is the foundation of self-control. The temptations of the flesh stem from a misguided value system.
Self-discipline is fundamentally about exerting control over one’s impulses and desires, enabling individuals to resist short-term temptations in favour of long-term benefits. It is the ability to regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviours in alignment with one’s values.
For Christians to resist the flesh, they must properly understand the Christian value system. The Decalogue in Exodus 20:1-20 outlines the moral principles that believers in God should adhere to. Choosing and maintaining the discipline not to steal, lie, fornicate, or kill, among other commandments, is a moral way of battling the flesh and its desires. We are called to walk in the discipline of denying our carnal inclinations:
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would” (Galatians 5:16-17).
Right attitude
To crucify the self means adopting a Christ-like attitude in specific circumstances. These include:
- Humility in power – When we possess power or superiority over others, we must conduct ourselves with humility and serve those we might be tempted to consider beneath us (Philippians 2:5-8).
- Forgiveness in righteousness – When we are in the right, we must remember that crucifying the self means extending forgiveness to those who do not deserve it.
This transformation in attitude can only be achieved through spiritual rebirth.
Jesus said: “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3-7).
Once we are born again in the Spirit, a miracle of transformation occurs. From that point onward, we begin to bear the fruit of the Spirit—qualities that reflect Christ’s nature (Galatians 5:22-23).
This is why the Apostle Paul reminds us:
“And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us have no self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another” (Galatians 5:24-26)
Dying to the flesh is an ongoing battle that requires both self-control and a Christ-like attitude.
