Chastened from Flesh to Walk By Faith

"Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Hebrews 12: 11)

We are called to walk by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5: 7)

We have to believe, because Jesus cannot die once again:

"Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen." (1 Timothy 6: 16)

and also

"Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life." (Hebrews 7: 16)

So, Jesus died once for all, and He cannot die again.

He cannot physically come down and be crucified again:

"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;" (Hebrews 10: 12)

He has sat down, and He will not be coming back until every enemy is brought low:

"The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." (Psalm 110: 1)

So, how do we grow in faith? Through our efforts? No, since the promises are by faith, not works:

"17And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect. 18For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise." (Galatians 3: 17-18)

We grow as we hear the Word of Truth:

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God [lit. Christ]." (Romans 10:17)

So, we keep hearing the Word of Christ, which is Spirit and Life (John 6: 63), we are disciplined away from listening to ourselves, to other people's thoughts on the matter, or succumbing to our efforts:

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5: 16)

Stop trusting your efforts. By hearing the Word of Christ, you will walk in the Spirit, and have no need to control the flesh.