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The Flesh - Human Condition (Bible Study)

• Aulonacara's Musings // Bible Study Lessons
• Auratus // May 22, 2009

The Flesh / Old Nature / The Human Condition (April 2009)

A very close friend wrote me sometime ago about a dream he had. This sparked an interesting conversation and subsequent study about the “Flesh” or “Old Nature” as we see often mentioned in the New Testament. I decided to create a Bible Study about the “Flesh” or “Old Nature” of the human condition. This topic is something which is not preached often from the pulpit, yet having a clear understanding of this topic is critical to living a practical Christian life in holiness and, thusly, avoiding real-time chastisement from God (Hebrews 12:4 through 12).

My friend writes (partial quote):

Genesis 4:6/7 (NRSV) - The Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is lurking at the door; its desire is for you, but you must master it.”

So the Lord wakes me, and says: “What is at your door? And gently replies it is the flesh!”

My friend is hitting on some interesting things, here, which are worth exploring and talking about.

There are many condemnations in Scripture about ego, as self, in the flesh. It seems we often ignore these condemnations in order to justify keeping ourselves in a certain sort of comfort zone with regards to:

1. Human health or beauty gained from excessive gym visits or lots of trips to the beauty salon.

2. About comfort zones which seem missing if our reputation or prestige is weak among our peers.

3. About a comfort zone which is too full of laziness or sleep.

4. About a comfort zone which is only happy if the TV is being watched or a computer game is being played.

5. About a comfort zone which includes over-indulging in tasty food or which includes worrying too much about what foods to eat.

In short, we justify ignoring the Biblical concepts of “Self denial” and commands not to “Gratify the desires of the flesh” for the sake of accommodating desires of our flesh for pleasure, or comfort, in an ill manner. In Galatians 5:17, we can see that accommodating the ill desires of the flesh is a mistake:

Galatians 5:17 (RSV) - For the desires of the flesh [old nature] are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you would [which is good, acceptable, and holy before God]

James 1:14/15 (NRSV) - But one is tempted by one’s own desire, being lured and enticed by it; (15) then, when that desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and that sin, when it is fully grown, gives birth to death.

Romans 6:12 (KJV) - Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof [of the body].

This Scripture shows that the flesh does have characteristics which are inherent or built-in by nature. These characteristics, lusts and ill desires, need to be mastered. See James 1:14/15.

Romans 6:12 is showing us that sin and lust are connected. We know sin is when we violate God's Law. Sin does occur from wrongly acting upon the lusts and ill desires produced in the body. These things take place inside the human body and brain; they take agency through the human body. Errant desires and lust can't happen without the body and the brain. They can't exist without the agency of the chemical reactions in the body which produce all sorts of desires, emotions, and temptations.

The chemical reactions often happen in the flesh without your permission. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit that we can limit subsequent lust and other temptations. We will see in this Bible Study how sin and the flesh work together in order to exist in our lives as temptations, suffering, and problems. Many of our problems, like depression, do not always originate from demonic attack, but they can originate in us, in our flesh; from within our body and brain.

Lust takes many forms, not just sexual. We can sin by lusting for somebody's muscular body which we ourselves lack, but desire to have; so, therefore, we might begin going to the gym to make this desire a reality for ourselves. We often lust after anything when we lack such a thing ourselves. Envying and coveting are forms of lust. Both these things are a forms of idolatry, because we often focus on these things at the expense of making time to be with God.

I have spent untold hours in the gym instead of being with God in service to others. I regret those years I lost. This in not to say there isn't a balance, but we mostly go too far toward accommodating the ill desires of the flesh; and the flesh does have a natural excessive desire to protect itself with desires for health (we often obsessively accommodate health concerns in many time wasting ways). Of course, the flesh also has natural desires to bring pleasure to itself whenever it can... in sinful ways.

Note On The Greek Sarx: in the New Testament, when the Bible speaks of the “Flesh,” it means all of it as it pertains to self-existence in the natural realm: the body. The word “Flesh” is from the Greek word “Sarx” which can mean any of the following: flesh, carnal nature, body, flesh of a body or animal, the nature of the flesh, or the human condition in the flesh. The common Bible translation is “Flesh” or “Old Nature” (in newer Bible versions). Be careful with some newer Bible translations which try to eliminate the direct translation entirely in exchange for some idea which “Sarx” does not mean!

James 4:3 (KJV) - Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. [selfish desires with wrong motivations]

That last part of James 4:3 has increased meaning when we consider what we've discussed so far.

1st Peter 2:11 (KJV) - Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which WAR AGAINST the soul [also see Galatians 5:17]

Here again, we see the flesh has innate (built-in) characteristics. Our soul is being reformed by the Holy Spirit; God. It is not good that “War be waged against” it! We entrust our souls to God:

1st Peter 2:25 (RSV) - For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

1 Peter 4:19 (RSV) - Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will do right and entrust their souls to a faithful Creator.

2nd Peter 2:18 (KJV) - For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure [drawn] through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness [sexually unrestrained], those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.

Romans 7:18 (KJV) - For I know that in me; that is, in my flesh, dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

This Scripture says NOTHING good dwells in the flesh (“Old Nature” or human natural mentality). We often accuse God of creating the human body as it currently exists. This is partly wrong, because God creates good things, not bad; yet, nothing “Good is in the flesh.” The flesh became corrupted as part of the consequences of the “Original Sin” in Eden when God issued His death curse against humanity (flesh) and nature itself (see Genesis 3:1-19; Genesis 6:3; and Romans 8:22/23). Humanity was once perfect and the world was once perfect, but not anymore.

Rabbit Note: Romans 7:18 (previous page) is not saying that sin cannot be defeated. Some Christians use this verse as a permission to keep doing certain sins while they wait for God to change them. This verse is part of a larger contextual dichotomy (comparison) where the old sin nature of self is compared with the new nature of self found in Christ Jesus; whereby we can and do have victory over sin through the on-going influence of the Holy Spirit – but only as we willingly submit to the Spirit's control by faith. The other half of the dichotomy is told in Romans 7:24/25; and Romans 8:1/2.

Romans 6:6 (KJV) - Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. [somebody read Matthew 5:29]

Here we see that sin is indeed of the human body of flesh. This is yet another verse indicating that the human body, in it's corrupted condition, is as sin though the bad characteristics inherent to it. While there is a propensity or natural errant drive to commit sin through accommodating the bad desires and passions of our flesh, we have been given Power to resist these things by submitting ourselves to the controlling influence of the Holy Spirit within us: by prayer, study, songs, fellowship, worship, service, and piety (example: fasting).

John 1:13 (KJV) - Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The regenerated Christian individual is of God (see John 17:2), not the flesh.

John 3:6 (KJV) - That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Is it reasonable to say what is born of the flesh is not acceptable to God... because it was not born of the Spirit? Yes. Let's examine the Scripture:

Romans 8:5 (KJV) - 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. [agrees with Romans 7:18]

When in the flesh, the spiritually unregenerate person WILL do or live according to the errant desires of the flesh. Are you more interested in advancing His Kingdom instead of watching a football, hockey, NASCAR, or basketball games on TV? Does the computer game steal your time away from God? Are you a workaholic? Do you have a high standard of living which steals your time away from God through long hours at work in order to finance your high standard of living?

John 6:63 (KJV) - It is the Spirit that quickens [changes]; the flesh profits nothing [doesn't contribute to change]: the words that I speak unto you, they are Spirit, and they are Life.

John 17:2 (KJV) - As thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given Him.

So we, too, have this power, by the Spirit.

Romans 8:1 (KJV) - There is, therefore, now, no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 8:8 (KJV) - So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:13 (KJV) - For if ye live after the [ill desires of the] flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit, do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Here we see that the flesh is more than just a way for sin to enter into our lives if not mastered; but sin manifests uniquely through the flesh if there is no Spiritual restraint; that is: to “Live after the flesh” demonstrates. There is a clear command to mortify the flesh or old nature; to put it to death; for us to die to ego of self, as the old flesh nature of the old man dead in Christ.

[somebody read Ephesians 6:12] We learn from Ephesians the spiritual manner whereby sin manifests through the flesh: where evil in the spiritual realm takes agency through the flesh; therefore, the battle is spiritual in the final analysis; but this is not to excuse our flesh of the curse which is upon it, which we have as “Fallen creatures.” We must master it though Jesus.

Romans 13:14 (KJV) - But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.

Romans 13:14 (RSV) - But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Either translation of this verse is clear in saying we should try to restrict our natural human desires to please ourselves in the flesh. This verse is commonly used to further justify fasting and self-denial. This is verse is not saying all gratification of the flesh is wrong (the gratification of the flesh through sex in marriage is not a sin). What needs to be restricted is the sinful means whereby we gratify the flesh. Where you draw the line will be according to how the Holy Spirit strengthens you to resist, but you should always try to resist the ill desires of the flesh, increasingly, for the rest of your Christian life. Yet, we must recognize, ultimately, that our joy and and pleasure is not found in the comfort zone of regularly pleasing the flesh, or of keeping it free from suffering; but our joy is found only in living in Jesus! Why? (Somebody read James 1:2-4 and Philippians 3:8 and 1:29)

Galatians 2:20 (RSV) - I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. [Somebody read Romans 8:15-17]

Galatians 5:16 (KJV) - This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill [make complete] the lust [ill desires] of the flesh. [also see James 1:14/15]

2nd Corinthians 5:16 (KJV)- Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we Him no more.

Why not know Jesus after the flesh anymore? Because He ascended to Heaven; because He is now fully Spirit with a new spiritual and powerful resurrected body which can materialize or dematerialize according to His will.

The real man is found only in Christ (Galatians 2:20 above), and is spirit, not flesh; therefore this makes it so much easier to understand how it is that the flesh is unacceptable to God; and will NOT be allowed into Heaven in its current form (1st Corinthians 15:50).

Let's consider Galatians 5:16 again: “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

We walk in one or the other. There is no neutral middle ground:

Matthew 12:30 (RSV) - He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

Galatians 5:19 through 21 (RSV) - Now the works of the flesh [ill desires as lusts] are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, (20) idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, (21) envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.

“Works of the flesh...” the innate [built-in] aspects of the corrupted flesh... it is not reasonable to say the flesh is neutral apart from human will, because the flesh is never alone from human will; but human will is trapped within the flesh before being regenerated by the Holy Spirit. The flesh, must be mastered, and this is only possible by the aid of the Holy Spirit within us.

Rabbit Note: The last part of this verse is not saying you will not go to Heaven if you sin just once, twice, or a thousand times. We need to read the rest of Bible for clarity on this topic. When we do, we will see that the criteria is sin existing as a person's life style wherein they refuse to confess known sin and repent. The Christian believer who sins, but confesses such sin, and continues to repent through the help of the Holy Spirit, will, of course, go to Heaven, because God forgives confessed sin through His Son.

Ephesians 4:22-24 (RSV) - Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, (23) and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, (24) and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Galatians 5:24 (KJV) - And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts [ill desires].

Here we learn more of the “New man” in Christ; that the “Old nature” (the flesh) is ended through Christ; that we are able to “Master” the flesh; and MUST do so; doing so by recognizing that we are NOT ALONE in the effort to fulfill 1st Corinthians 13:12 (we are not alone in being renewed or regenerated) and Ephesians 4:22-24 (this is a command indicating an on-going process which we are to do constantly according to Philippians 3:14).

1st Corinthians 13:12 (RSV)- For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall understand fully, even as I have been fully understood. [Jesus understands what He completed in you even if you don't understand what He has accomplished in you yet]

Philippians 3:14 (RSV) - I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

2nd Corinthians (RSV) - 3:18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being changed into His likeness from one degree of glory to another; for this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Our Christian lives are a process in spiritual growth and self-denial of the old human condition, or mentality in the flesh of lustful ill desires. Our bad emotions, like depression, are not always caused by demons, but are often produced chemically by the built-in corruption existing in our flesh!

Galatians 6:8 (KJV) - For he that sows to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that sows to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Is your time being sown to computer games, gym workouts, or TV? Or is your time being sown toward learning about Jesus, having Christian fellowship, telling people about the love of Jesus, helping others, or telling others about His Kingdom?

Ephesians 5:16 (NRSV) - Redeem the time, because the days are evil.

Ephesians 2:3 (KJV) - Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

Ephesians 6:12 (KJV) - For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

This verse is not to saying all the other Scriptures about the flesh are nullified, but only to explain how it is that sin comes to have agency in the flesh of the undisciplined or nonspiritual man; that, therefore, the corrupted flesh is NOT acceptable before God. Will you keep listening to the demons of selfish desire? Will you keep making the demons happy by engaging in sexual activities of Internet porn?

Colossians 2:20 through 23 (RSV) - If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the universe, why do you live as if you still belonged to the world? Why do you submit to regulations, "Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch" (referring to things which all perish as they are used), according to human precepts and doctrines [Jewish Torah “Clean-Unclean” ordinances]? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting rigor of devotion and self-abasement and severity to the body, but they are of no value in checking the indulgence of the flesh. [also see Titus 3:3]

This verse teaches several things: we need to be aware the flesh has aspects which we can indulge that lead to sin (see James 1:14/15). Creating regulations to pain our lives in the flesh will not necessarily end the inherent capacity that exists in the flesh which can entice us toward indulging in sin: either through coveting aspects of the flesh in other people or making an idol of the flesh by devoting too much time to it. Do we, with pride, say “I am beautiful”... spending hours and hours at a gym or beauty salon in an effort to become beautiful? This desire for human beauty is a false motivation, because real beauty is spiritual, is within us, and comes to us from God.

1st John 2:16 (KJV) - For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Here we see that the lust of the flesh is of the world; and what is of the world has a spiritual connection according to the text of Ephesians 6:12.

1st John 5:19 (NIV) - We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

So the world of 1st John 5:19 is under the control of Satan; therefore, the flesh of is under Satan's control if we let Satan gain control through our capitulating to Satan's temptations upon us; through the agency of the flesh, and the characteristics of it in the world; thusly, the flesh can be said to have a degree of evil expressed through it. The “Old nature” of “Self” is to be crucified in exchange for a new self found only in Christ, not the flesh. The flesh or “Old nature” is not a true representation of our identity, because our identity is being revealed to us moment-by-moment by the regeneration influence of the Holy Spirit within us (see 1st Corinthians 13:12). The Holy Spirit works to shape us in the image of Christ, a new man; a spiritual man, not a material man of flesh existing in the fallen realm of Satan's domain (1st John 5:19).

Matthew 22:39 (KJV) - And a second [great commandment] is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Jesus spoke in Matthew 22:39 in the way He did in order to ensure the audience understood, because their spiritual condition was so poor and worldly that any sinner who might take Jesus seriously would attempt to love others deeply, because they already instinctively had a strong sense human self-love.

The desired follow-on result would hopefully lead to a relationship in Christ for salvation; and, eventually, therefore, a pure and correct understanding of real love as mentioned in the great commandment (Matthew 22:36 through 38). This, then, leads to a proper sense of love which is holy, directed away from self in the flesh, toward others instead; as God has for us; as God in us toward others: Him expressed through us as agape love when we submit to His Will in our actions and deeds toward others.

Christ also understood the “Real Self” is not of this world or of the flesh, but is entirely spiritual (John 8:23). This Scripture verse is not giving the Christian believer license to love the flesh and cater to the whims of it that are detestable to God; rather, the Scripture indirectly shows us that the flesh must be mastered by learning to love others instead; because the effort to love others necessarily necessitates not focusing upon loving self (and needs of self); even to the point of suffering for others: in order to love them unconditionally in both deed and action... at the expense of spending time, instead, upon self-love. Let self in the flesh die at the cross of our respective lives; that is: let there be less and less of me and more and more of Him (John 3:30 and Galatians 2:20).

John 12:25 (KJV) - He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Luke 9:23 (KJV)- And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

Denial of self is to deny loving the self in flesh; the ego of flesh, but tied to a new concept of self which recognizes life in the flesh as dung, useless; desiring, instead, Life in Jesus; then the sinner stops his focus upon the ill sensuality of the flesh, both consciously and subconsciously; ended is self-love and self-worship expressed in self-will separated from the Will of God; finally, the new man stops loving the things of the flesh: lustful pleasure, pride, ego, vanity, revenge, reputation, worldly desires and goals... so forth... instead... new man loves the things of the Kingdom and loves being with other brothers and sisters in Christ; he desires greatly to serve others in love.

2nd Timothy 3:1 through 2 (KJV) - But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of stress. For men will be lovers of self...

Ephesians 5:29 (KJV)- For no man ever hates his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, as Christ does the church.

Ephesians 5:29 is much like Matthew 22:39 in terms of understanding it. The unregenerate sinner will often take lots of time to care and nurture the whims of the flesh at the expense of using the time and energy for holy things; instead, to indulge in the pleasures of self-love of the flesh. Example: Think of the hours and hours people waste in the gym chasing after far more than simple health concerns; or think about the hours and hours wasted by people looking at porn for sexual enjoyment (sexual porn is the main feature of the Internet). The writer of Ephesians understood this fact of human self-love, so he used that knowledge in an effort to successfully communicate the Truth of the Love of God for His Church.

Psalms 139:16 (NIV) - Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Matthew 6:25 (KJV)- "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?”

The denial of self, as flesh or ego of it, is taught by this Scripture also, in harmony with Luke 9:23 and John 12:25. Yet, denial of self is pointless if unconditional love for others, and spiritual reform, is not the heart motivation of such denial:

1st Corinthians 13:1 (KJV) - If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

1st Corinthians 13:2 (KJV) - And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

1st Corinthians 13:3 (KJV) - If I give away all I have, and if I deliver my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

End R-15