Martin Luther on Galatians 5:24

Verſe. 24. For they that are Chriſtes, haue crucified the flesh vvith the affections and luſtes thereof. This whole place concerning workes, ſheweth that the true beleuers are no hypocrites. Therfore let no man deceaue him ſelfe. For whoſoeuer (ſayeth he) pertaine vnto Chriſte, haue crucified the fleſh with all the vices and luſtes thereof. For the Sainctes, in as much as they haue not yet vtterly put of the corrupt and ſinnefull fleſh, are enclined to ſinne, and doe neither feare not loue God ſo perfectly as they ought to doe. Alſo they be prouoked to anger, to enuie, to impatiencie, to vncleane luſts, and ſuch like motions, which notwithſtanding they accompliſh not:VVhat it is to crucifie the fle[illegible: 1 letter]h. for (as Paule here ſayeth) they crucifie the fleſh with all the affectiōs and luſts therof. Which thing they do, not onely when they repreſſe the wantonnes of the fleſh with faſting and other exerciſes, but alſo (as Paule ſayd before) when they walke according to the ſpirite: that is, when they being admoniſhed by the threatnings of God, wherby he ſheweth that he will ſeuerely puniſh ſinne, are afeard to commit ſinne: Alſo when they being armed with the word of God, with faith, and with prayer, doe not obey the luſtes of the fleſh. When they reſiſt the fleſh after this maner, they naile it to the croſſe with the luſtes and deſires thereof, ſo that although the fleſh be yet aliue, yet can it not performe that which it would doe, for as much as it is bound both hand and foote, and faſt nailed to the croſſe. The faithfull then ſo long as they liue here doe crucifie the fleſh, that is to ſay, they feele the luſts therof, but they obey them not. For they being furniſhed with the armour of God, that is, with Faith,The armour of God. hope and the ſword of the ſpirite, doe reſiſt the fleſh, and with theſe ſpirituall nailes they faſten the ſame vnto the croſſe, ſo that it is conſtrained to be ſubiect to the ſpirite. Afterwardes when they die they put it of wholy: and when they ſhall riſe againe from death to life, they ſhall haue a pure and vncorrupt fleſh without all affections and luſtes.