THE FLESH –
WHAT IS IT? HOW DO I DEFEAT IT?
Those who are in the Flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:8 NASB
The Law was powerless to do [it – make us obey God] in that it was weakened by the Flesh.
Romans 8:3 NASB
Flesh does not mean our Physical Body:
For our physical body can be (and should be) used to please God.
You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
I Corinthians 6:19-20
So our physical bodies are not evil, but are “tools” that God has given us:
Offer the parts of your body to him [God] as instruments of righteousness.
Romans 6:13
But the Flesh is evil:
Nothing good lives in my Flesh.
Romans 7:18
The Flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit [of God], and the Spirit what is contrary to the Flesh.
Galatians 5:17
If you live according to the Flesh you will die.
Romans 8:13
So the Flesh seems to be:
A general term or over-arching label for the sin nature we are all born with – that desires to rebel against God, that thinks evil thoughts, and that does evil deeds. It is the nature that is controlled by sin and that uses our minds and bodies for evil purposes.
The Flesh is never clearly defined in the Bible, so this general description is based on the various things (mentioned here) that the Bible says about the Flesh.
What are the characteristics of the Flesh?
1. The Flesh controlled you (before you believed in Christ) and still wants to control you:
We were controlled by the Flesh.
Romans 7:5
In the Flesh [I am] a slave to the law of sin.
Romans 7:25
2. The Flesh has a mind:
The mind of the Flesh is death. …The mind of the Flesh is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s Law, nor can it do so.
Romans 8:6-7
But we have the mind of Christ.
I Corinthians 2:16
3. The Flesh has desires and lusts:
All of us also lived…at one time, gratifying the cravings of the Flesh and following its desires and thoughts.
Ephesians 2:3
The Flesh desires against the Spirit and the Spirit against the Flesh. They are in conflict with one another, so that you do not do what you want.
Galatians 5:17
4. Now you are (can be) out from under the control of the Flesh:
But you are not in the Flesh but in the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you.
Romans 8:9
5. The term Flesh probably also includes:
• Old Self
Our Old Self was crucified with him [Christ].
Romans 6:6
With regard to your former way of life, …put off your Old Self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires.
Ephesians 4:22
Surely I was sinful from birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
- Psalm 51:5 [6?]
• Body of Sin – probably our physical body when under the control of the Flesh.
Our Old Self was crucified with him [Christ] so that the Body of Sin might be neutralized, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. - Romans 6:6
• Body of Death – probably our physical body when under the control of the Flesh.
I find this principle at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. …[There is a] principle at work in the members of my body…making me a prisoner of the principle of sin within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this Body of Death? Thanks be to God–through Jesus Christ our Lord. - Romans 7:21, 23-25
Steps to Defeating the Flesh:
1. Understand that your Old Self was crucified with Christ – so now you can actually have victory over the Flesh:
We know that our Old Self was crucified with him [Christ] so that the Body of Sin might be neutralized, that we should no longer be slaves to sin–because anyone who has died has been freed from sin. - Romans 6:6-7
2. Live in line with your New Self – your new identity in Christ:
Put on the New Self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. - Ephesians 4:22-24
If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! - II Corinthians 5:17
3. Focus on your true self – your true identity in Jesus Christ:
Count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. - Romans 12:1
To the saints…, the faithful in Christ Jesus… - Ephesians 1:2-3
You are what God says you are! It doesn’t depend on your feelings. Think and act according to what you are in Christ!
4. Pray to God for help:
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. - Matthew 26:41
We do not have a high priest [Jesus Christ] who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. - Hebrews 4:15-16
5. Offer your body to God:
I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship. - Romans 12:1
6. Live by God’s Spirit:
Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the Flesh. - Galatians 5:16
The righteous requirements of the Law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the Flesh but according to the Spirit.
- Romans 8:4
7. Clearly choose where you focus your mind – you have an important choice.
Your mind is the key!
Those who live according to the Flesh have their minds set on what the Flesh desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. - Romans 8:5
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. - Colossians 3:1-3
Be made new in the attitude of your minds. - Ephesians 4:23
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is. - Romans 12:2
8. Clearly choose what you do with your body – you have an important choice:
Do not let sin reign in your mortal [physical] body so that you obey its evil desires.
- Romans 6:12
Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. - Romans 6:13
9. Stop planning and preparing for how to satisfy your evil desires:
Make no provision for the Flesh, to gratify its desires. - Romans 13:14
10. Begin the process of “putting on” and “taking off”:
With regard to your former way of life, …put off the Old Self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; … and…put on the New Self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. - Ephesians 4:22-24
A Helpful Thought:
Will you choose the Flesh or will you choose the Holy Spirit? – this is your continuous, critical choice.
• The Flesh is no longer the real you – even though its desires within you may be very strong and feel like they are coming from you.
• You are now a new creation in Jesus Christ – this is the real you.
• But the Flesh continues to want to use your mind and your body for its evil purposes – but do not let it.
• Your mind and your body are a gift from God that is under your control.
• So in each situation consciously point your mind and your body toward the Holy Spirit – and away from the Flesh.
• Choose to do right and God’s Spirit will give you the power to do what pleases him.
So you work and God works:
You…continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. - Philippians 2:12-13