24. Flesh and spirit
A. Introduction
Ignorance regarding the nature of the flesh and the human spirit , indwelt by God’s Holy Spirit, usually results in:
a wearisome struggle in a disciple’s life;
discouragement, dismay and condemnation over persistent inclination within towards sin;
falling into Satan’s snares, and for his deceitful schemes (Gal. 5:13 - confusion freedom and carelessness);
an inability to submit to the Lordship and authority of Jesus Christ, and to exercise His authority (Jas. 4: 7);
lack of confidence and faith to be used by God;
a poor testimony for the Kingdom.
Matt. 26: 41 - Keep watching and praying, that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak -
the two parts in man identified;
the nature of the problem illustrated, i.e.:
- a willingness of the human spirit, and
- the danger of the weakness of the flesh;
the result of the weakness of the flesh: to enter into temptation.
Gal. 5:17 - For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh…..
The conflict between flesh and Spirit (i.e. the Spirit of God indwelling man’s spirit).
Gal. 5:19-23 - Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envyings, drunkenness, carousings, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practise such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
The true nature of the flesh and the Spirit are here described.
Rom. 7:15-25 -
15. …that which I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practising what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.
16. But if I do the very thing I do not wish to do, I agree with the law, confessing that it is good.
17. So now, no longer I am the one doing it, but sin which indwells me.
18. For I know, that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.
19. For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practise the very evil that I do not wish.
20. But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
21. I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wishes to do good.
22. For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man,
23. but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members.
24. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?
25. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
Comments:
the inner struggle between flesh and spirit experienced by Paul;
the close link between the body and flesh (v. 23); note here, Paul identifies himself with his spirit in contrast to his flesh and his body; he also groups himself with his mind (vv. 23, 25) and his inner man (v. 22); thus Paul himself, his spirit, his mind, his inner man are all considered as one in this passage - arrayed in battle against his flesh, his body and the law of sin and death working through these two; the flesh has allies, i.e. the world and the devil;
the law of sin which works in the flesh and body (vv. 23-25):
you are born with it (observe a two year old);
you cannot change it;
you cannot get rid of it;
you cannot reconcile it with the Spirit.
Rom. 5:12 - Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned…..
The law of sin came through Adam’s fall.
Rom. 5:19 - For as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.
The law of sin passed on to all men, for the entire human race was in Adam and Eve.
5. For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
6. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
7. because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so;
8. and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9. However, you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
10. And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
11. But if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He Who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit Who indwells you.
12. So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh –
13. for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
1 – There is, therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
2 – For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.
3 – For what the law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh.
Comment:
The answer to the problem is in Jesus Christ - Rom. 7: 25, through the law of the Spirit of life - Rom. 8: 2.
1. What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase?
2. May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
3. Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
4. Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
5. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection,
6. knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin;
7. for he who has died is freed from sin.
8. Now, if we have died with Christ, we believe, that we shall also live with Him,
9. knowing, that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.
10. For the death that He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
11. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
12. Therefore, do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts,
13. and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.
Comments:
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vv. 9-10 |
Jesus’ death defeated sin; |
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vv. 2-5 |
in baptism we are united with Jesus in His death to sin; |
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vv. 6-7 |
through Jesus’ death we have been set free from the law of sin and death. |
B. How to apply the power of His death to our lives
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Rom. 6:12 |
Make a decision - to be through with the flesh and the law of sin. You have the choice (cf. Gal. 6: 7, 8, Col. 3:1-4). |
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Rom. 6:11 |
Adopt the right attitude - towards the law of sin, the flesh and the body by setting the mind on the things of the Spirit (cf. Rom. 8: 5-8, Gal. 2: 20, 5: 24, Col. 3: 5), i.e. believe the Word of God and the finished work of Jesus. So, as far as sin is concerned: confess it, declare it! |
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Rom. 6:13 |
Don’t make provision for the flesh and the body to express their wrong desires or to meet their needs (cf. Gal. 5:16,17). |
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Rom. 8:13 |
By the power of the Holy Spirit overpower the flesh and the body. |
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Matt. 26:41 |
Watch…..pray….. (Matt. 6:13 - And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil….. [the Amplified Bible - …..the evil one…..] ). Do spiritual warfare! |
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1Thess. 5: 23 |
God saves the whole man…..and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved….. |