Galatians 5:24 (CSB) Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

This verse jumped out to me yesterday. The ones who belong to Jesus have crucified their flesh! When we crucify our flesh that's when we become Christians? Or as soon as we become Christians our flesh is crucified? Does belonging to Christ just mean we are Christians? 

1 Corinthians 1:2 (CSB) To the church of God at Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called as saints, with all those in every place who call on the name of Jesus Christ our Lord -- both their Lord and ours.

1 Corinthians 1:12 (CSB)

What I am saying is this: One of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ."

1 Corinthians 3:4 (CSB)

For whenever someone says, "I belong to Paul," and another, "I belong to Apollos," are you not acting like mere humans?

1 Corinthians 3:21-23 (CSB) 21 So let no one boast in human leaders, for everything is yours --  22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come -- everything is yours, 23 and you belong to Christ, and Christ belongs to God.

The church of God in Corinth was sanctified in Jesus, called saints, calling on the name of Jesus as Lord. They are the ones whom Paul is writing to when he says you belong to Christ. Am I sanctified in Jesus? Am I called a saint? Not a saint as the Catholics determine sainthood, but a living representative of Christ, an ambassador? Do I call on the name of Jesus as Lord all the time or just once? 

1 Thessalonians 5:5-9 (CSB) 5 For you are all children of light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or the darkness. 6 So then, let us not sleep, like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled and put on the armor of faith and love, and a helmet of the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

These Thessalonians belong to Christ and Paul is telling them to be self-controlled. They are to put on faith, love and the hope of salvation. 

1 Thessalonians 1:3 (CSB)

We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 13:13 (CSB)

Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love -- but the greatest of these is love.

John 13:35 (CSB) "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Which now brings us full circle back to Galatians 5. 

Galatians 5:22-24 (CSB) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

A person living in the Holy Spirit of God will have all the makings of belonging to Christ Jesus! Isn't that what Jesus was saying in Mark 16:15-18 

(CSB) 15 Then he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 "Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 "And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 "they will pick up snakes; if they should drink anything deadly, it will not harm them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will get well."

Let me Lord start living according to Your Son, Your Word, and Your Spirit. Give me everything You Son have given me. Help me to be everything Your Word says I am. Give me all Your Spirit has promised I shall have.