For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. [6] For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. [7] Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. [8] So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. [9] But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Romans 8:5-9 KJV
God is a Spirit. Therefore everyone who is born of God is Spirit. In John 3:5-6 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. All who are born again of the Spirit are simply having an human experience and possess a soul whose salvation is the end of our faith as 1 Peter 1:9 says. Yet prior to this, in Genesis 3, Adam who had been called a son of God took on a different nature when he fell from his estate previously assigned to him by God. When man died, he became flesh and subject to death.
What is the flesh? Contrary to popular opinion, the flesh isn’t simply the human body, since the bible says our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, 1 Corinthians 6:19. It is that in man which is at enmity with God as Romans 8 explains. It is the earthy nature that is apart from Divine Influence. It is impossible to please God in the flesh because there is no meeting point between the Spirit and the flesh. This flesh and the Spirit are in two different realms. Just like everything on earth obeys the laws of gravity and everything outer space floats, not being subject to gravity, the flesh serves the law of sin and death, while the Spirit serves the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus. Just like the bible refers to this world, not as the physical earth, but a system controlled by the devil who is called its prince, the flesh is controlled by the devil, the person of sin himself, John 14:30, 1 John 2:16.
The flesh manifests itself in various works: Anger, malice, envy, wickedness are all expressions of the nature of the flesh, Galatians 5:19-21. One who is ruled by the flesh cannot really help these expressions. Walking contrary will be like asking a fish to swim out of water. The good news however, is that this is why the Son of God was made manifest, to destroy the works of the devil, the person of Sin, 1 John 3:8. Jesus embodied sin and took on the flesh nature for the purpose of nailing it to the cross. When he died, the veil was broken, which veil was the flesh (that which separated us from God), Ephesians 2:15,Hebrews 10:19-20, Hebrews 2:14-18. They that are Christs have crucified the flesh. Sin no longer has dominion over a believer.
If this is the case, why then do believers still walk in anger, malice, etc? Good question! It is no longer the norm for believers to walk in sin. Recall we spoke about world, which is the anti God system ruled by the devil. We have been delivered from the sin within, but we are in this world which stinks of sin. The man in Christ is a like a satellite ship designed to dwell in outer space, outside the realm of gravity. He was created in the heavens to rule in the heavens. However, to escape the pull of gravity isn’t for the faint hearted. A rocket ship, in the physical would need to pass through to a seventh layers get to get outer space and remain there, escaping gravity. We will consider this in more details in a subsequent meditation. However, know this beloved, that they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh and all of its lust, Galatians 5:24. You can live above sin always. This was why Jesus died, that you may be free and free indeed.
Prayer for today: Father I thank you, because though I was born into sin, being ruled by my fleshly desires and nature, You came to give me a choice. You set me free and so I am no longer a slave. I actually can choose not to sin, Hallelujah! Father, teach me how to live above sin, to live by the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus. I am not in the flesh! I am dead to the flesh and alive to God and sin no longer has dominion over me. Teach me everyday to choose life Lord, that I may live in Jesus name. Amen.
0 Comments