But it shows how much God loves us that He made a way for us back to Him. He could have just written us off because of whose children we are, but He didn’t. And He understands we really don’t have much control over our flesh, emotions, passions, but He gets us to a point where we see if we ever want to have our passions under the Spirit He gave us a down payment of, that He will have to give us more grace. We struggle with it but every time we think we’re doing pretty good, the unloveliest person we can imagine comes along and bumps us bad and we rage, even if silently in our heart. But eventually (and some might not believe this because I’ve never really heard it taught but I can attest that it’s true by having experienced it) eventually, He calms our passions, weans us from them, and then they don’t rule over us so mercilessly. Instead of them ruling us, we rule over them. They are put in subjection to the Spirit in us. It makes it easier, but they are still there, it’s not yet to have been crucified but it’s so great a difference that we at first think it must be that.
Galatians 2:20
I have been
crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the
life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
Romans 6:6
knowing this, that our old man was
crucified with
Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin.
2 Corinthians 13:4
For though He was
crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.
Galatians 5:24
And those
who are Christ’s have
crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
Galatians 6:14
But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been
crucified to me, and I to the world.
Colossians 3:4-6
4 When Christ
who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.
5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,
Luke 9:62
But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and
looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”