Flesh or Spirit

We are either walking in the flesh or the Spirit. However, Jesus is the only one who walked in the Spirit 100% of the time and always. There are however, degrees of walking in the Spirit. As Jesus said in the parable of the Sower; “As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty” (Matthew 13:23).

The word flesh in the original Greek is the word sarx and is rightly translated as the word flesh. Some translation such as the NIV, TLB, AMP, CEB, GNT, PHILLIPS and NLT translate it as sinful nature. The other major translations such as ESV, NKJV, KJV, ASV, NASV, CSB, Message, etc., translate it as flesh. Sinful nature is an incorrect translation and more of an incorrect interpretation and will cause a great deal of confusion about the Christian’s identity. The phrase sinful nature is not a term used in the whole Bible. However, mankind does have a thoroughly sinful corruption and orientation apart from the new birth in Jesus Christ. Apart from Christ man is spiritually dead. In regards to the word flesh in the Bible it is always best to use the Biblical terms and define and apply them. These are some important distinctions that greatly effect our understanding of the Christian identity.

The word flesh can refer to our physical body, it is also used in reference to kinship relations and as well for sinful patterns or orientations. The context will determine the meaning. The Bible refers to these fleshly patterns as the old self or old man. The Apostle Paul states, “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin” (Romans 6:6). As the Bible says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). As, 2 Peter 1:4 states of those in Christ, we have been given a “divine nature.”

The Christian has a new nature, but this new nature will only be completely expressed in heaven, but in this life, we should daily be progressing in becoming Christlike. If we are not progressing, we are going backwards. Jesus said, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:62).

The question will then be, if we are a new creation and thus born again and have a new nature why do we still sin? The reason is that we most likely we are living in old fleshly patterns and choose to sin. We are living in the flesh and thus sin, instead of walking in the Spirit. To walk in the Spirit is to walk in the new nature. The Apostle John in God’s word says: “Whoever makes a practise of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning” (1 John 3:7)

Our fleshly patterns have a lot do with our identity. For instance, we may have been a people pleaser before we were a Christian and this helped define our identity. We found our worth because people found us valuable and liked us because we did largely what they wanted. This is where our identity may have been found in the past. We must forsake this pattern and instead find our identity primarily in the grace and love of God in Jesus Christ or our foundation will be seriously off . Our value is found in Christ and in Christ alone. These patterns are not necessarily bad in themselves, but if they come before our identity in Christ they are like idols and lead to sinful orientations. It is hard to break these kinds of patterns because often there is a big pay off from them and they are subtle and appear good, even though in wrong track. We get appreciation from others and thus we may be popular, if we are wise and discerning. However, this is one of the roots of our sin. In similar way the way we dress and act in a way to get sexual attention, other than our husband or wife is also a fleshly pattern. The Bible says in this regard; “The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe” (Proverbs 29:25) Do we regard the attention and appreciate of others over pleasing God? If so, we will be walking to in the flesh. What we may fear of people is not getting the appreciation or acceptance by other people. We then become a slave to people instead of God. This will distort our testimony, freedom in Christ, the quality of our relationship with God and service to God.

Walking in the flesh also basically has to do with being worldly. It is having the values of the world and living them above the values of Godliness and love of God. God says in His word, “Do not love the world or the things of the world. If anyone love the world, the love of the Father is not in him” (1 John 2:15). The prosperity gospel that is preached by some, encourages the love of this world and its values. We are walking in the flesh when we have worldly values above the values of God. There are way too many fleshly professing Christians. How is the love of the Father in them? When we love our comfort over serving Jesus are we not serving the flesh as well?

Walking in the flesh is the reason most Christians do not share the gospel with others. First of all, they don’t care enough to learn it well enough to share with a non-Christian so that these non-Christians can understand it and they also play by the world’s rules instead of God’s. When the officials told the Apostles not to teach anymore in the name of Jesus, they said, “But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge” (Acts 4:18-20) However, we must match our boldness with gentleness and grace.

There are very many examples of walking in the flesh. This is where Biblical Counseling may be helpful, although our best counselor is the Holy Spirit. Another example is, as a child we may have been wanting some popularity and importance so we saw that making money gave us some status and social power. Someone may grow up and become a successful businessperson and therefore others think of them as important, powerful and worth honoring. If money is over and above our identity in Jesus Christ, we will have fleshly patterns that will hinder us greatly. Our identity must first and foremost be in Jesus Christ before money and our full identity, is to be ideally be in Him alone. As the Apostle John admonishes us, “Keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21).

Again, the scriptures state; “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” (Romans 8:13). If we live according the flesh we will die to living fully in the Spirit and walking in the fulness that God has for us in His glory. Too many Christians live in the flesh because they do not deal with their interior life with God’s grace. There must be repentance to walk away from the flesh, especially when you have used it to survive in the world and although being resourceful is not sinful in itself. It must be replaced by something much better which is the love of God. Our life must be in right order. Jesus will show you a better new way. Jesus said, “I am the way…” (John 14:6)

Jesus also said, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25) Are we going to save our life in the sense of saving your old sinful patterns. If we do, we will lose all that is most valuable in this life and in eternity. We will also fail to walk in the fulness of the Spirit. The sins of the flesh, which is the root of sin, is very subtle and they often are socially acceptable and if our identity is found in them instead of Christ, it will lead to emptiness and to sin. It is past the time to just deal with just the surface issues, rather than the root, which are the old fleshly patterns.

King David in the Bible was an adulterer and murderer. After he sincerely and devoutly repented he went on the learn some valuable lessons. (Psalm 51) He also had to deal with the consequences or his actions before people and God. However, God restored Him. In the midst of this David also humbly and graciously accepted the discipline from God. God is gracious when at times people are not. (see 2 Samuel 16:5-14; 2 Samuel 19:16-23) Of course we must repent of outward sin as well as sinful fleshly patterns

David lost much. He lost his status as a successful King and warrior. He lost the respect of his son Absalom and for a while the respect of some other people. He lost the baby that was born with the union of him and Bathsheba and etc. In the midst of it he found, with an even greater sense, his identity in Jesus Christ. He learned not to find his identity in his success, or status or other people but primarily in God. He stepped into a new level in his identity which is a very valuable lesson. This I imagine he would say was worth what he went through. (Psalm 3)

When our identity is set on fleshly patterns it will lead to emptiness and sin. It led King David into sin. The flesh is also rooted in insecurity and pride and sin is violence against yourself as well as God. As Bible says, “Your sin will find you out” (Numbers 23:23)

Where is your identity found? Is it found in some position or status or is it found in its fulness in Jesus Christ. Is it found in your social acceptance, because of what you have or is it found in the love and honor of God. Is pleasure and comfort your God or is it primarily and fully in the beauty of who God is. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). There is nothing greater than to see the beauty of God. Those who are close to God will experience and know God in his beauty. Those who are largely and primarily walk in the Spirit, see God. (See--Ephesians 2:15).

Breaking the patterns of the flesh is not easy. It takes honesty and the seeking of security in God and His love and enormous amounts of His grace. It has a lot to do with trusting God and having faith in God. Obedience to God also has much to do with trust and honor of Him. We will lose so much if we walk in the flesh instead of the Spirit. Will you pick up the cross and follow Him? Will you deal with sin at its root or are you comfortable living in the flesh? You must choose daily by God’s enormous grace to walk in the Spirit.

By the way I believe that Romans 7:14 to verse 25 is talking about the pre-Christian. The person before coming to Christ. This is a long discussion reserved for another post, but let me just conclude with this scripture. “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him” (Romans 8:9). Please read all of chapter 8 in Romans in the Bible.

Resources:

Flesh Patterns, Rick Sizemore

Birthright: Christian, Do You Know Who You Are? David C. Needham (It has been some time since I read this book)

The Christian Looks at Himself, Anthony A. Hoekema (It also has been some time since I read this book)

The Epistle to the Romans, Douglas J. Moo. (especially read what he has to say about Romans 7:14-25)

Romans: The Law, Chapter 7:1 to 8:4, Martyn Lloyd-Jones

All Things Made New, John Flavel.