Axis of Supernatural Evil 2 - The Flesh

The Flesh

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. Rom 8:5-8 NKJV

For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Rom 8:13-14 NKJV

Our second enemy in this battle we call life is the flesh or more appropriately the sinful nature, that part of us that must sin.

As I have mentioned before, we do not have to teach children to lie or to cheat or to fight. We must teach them to tell the truth, to deal honestly with one another and to find resolution as opposed to conflict. This is because of the Adamic or sinful nature that is inherent in being human.

Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned- for before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not taken into account when there is no law. Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who was a pattern of the one to come.
Rom 5:12-14 NIV

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 1 Cor 15:20-22 NIV

Because we are born of the flesh, we are under a curse – sin. But through Christ becoming sin for us, He provided the way,not a way but the way, to be free from the curse.

All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law." Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, "The righteous will live by faith." The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, "The man who does these things will live by them." Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree." Gal 3:10-13 NIV

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Cor 5:21 NIV

Before Christ and without Christ we are slaves to sin. Our only choice is in choosing to serve Him who died for our sins.

Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey-whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? Rom 6:16-17 NIV

We can choose our master and we must choose our master each day.

There are many analogies that are used to illustrate this struggle. Paul referred to it as running a race.

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Cor 9:24-27 NIV

The phrase “I beat my body” does not refer to self-mutilation or punishment but is actually in the Greek -

hupopiazo (hoop-o-pee-ad'-zo); to hit under the eye (buffet or disable an antagonist as a pugilist)*

which means to deliver a knockout punch. Paul is not saying here that he knocks himself out to keep things in order but rather that he brings his flesh, his sinful nature under the control of the Spirit of God. After all, one of the fruits of the spirit is self-control! And he does this so that he, by the grace of God and the power of the Spirit, is in the master rather that the flesh having mastery over him.

All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Cor 6:12 NAS

Once again, if we do not defeat this foe, the flesh, our sinful nature, we will reap a harvest of sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Gal 5:19-21 NIV

In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he deals at length with this issue of the fallen or sinful nature, particularly in chapters 6-8. As I close today I would like to look at several verses in chapter 6.

If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. Rom 6:5-7 NIV

Paul is speaking of baptism in water wherein we are buried (immersed not sprinkled) and resurrected (coming out of the water) which is not just a symbol but a spiritual event in the life of a believer. Therefore, if we joined Jesus in death, we will certainly join Him in resurrection or life after death. The next sentence, I would like to look at phrase by phrase.

For we know that our old self was crucified with Him – in other words the rule and reign that sin had over us is dead. We no longer need to obey the world or the flesh.

So that the body of sin might be done away with – our need or propensity to sin is rendered powerless. When a sinful desire or temptation arises within us, it no longer has any power to compel us to obey.

That we should no longer be slaves to sin – we must recognize that after repentance, salvation and baptism, we don’t ever have to sin again. There is no power in heaven or earth that can make us sin, makes us disobey, make us rebel against God’s desire except our own will!

Again I quote Paul,

For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Rom 8:13-15 NIV

We mortify (thanatoo - to kill {literally or figuratively})*, kill, put to death the practices and actions of the flesh. In other words, we stop the sin. We can do it! By God’s grace and the power of His Spirit, we do not need to sin!

He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil's work. No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. 1 John 3:8-10 NIV

However, if we do…

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 NIV

As Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery,

"Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." John 8:11 NKJV


*(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright (c) 1994, Biblesoft and International Bible Translators, Inc.)