Grace, Faith & Life

 GRACE, FAITH and LIFE
A Personal Statement of Christian Faith and Practice

When the Bible speaks of “flesh”, it is speaking of the “fallen” nature of humanity.This nature is the basis for all humanistic religious philosophies and systems. Even Christian humanism which uses a biblical vocabulary, to establish a system which teaches “If it is going to be, it is up to me”. Understanding our human nature, is one of the primary requirements to come to an understanding of our condition before God.

The “flesh” is not just the wicked, immoral, deceitful and decadent part of the human nature. Some Christians have problems in this area, but most try to control the commision of willful sins and they probably do pretty well with not killing and then not so well on many other immoral acts.

The “flesh” is also the proud, self-reliant, independent, success driven human nature. This is the part which will motivate people to want to be a successful christian, to build a mega church, to be purpose driven, promote denominational programs and to win for God. Some leaders are driven by their flesh to try to motivate others to the same type of performance. These people may not even be Christians.

See the studies on;

•  
  • Old natrue and new nature
  • Guilty and dead – flesh and spirit

NATURAL  More about characteristics of a natural person.

 In Scripture, this is known as:

When we study everything which makes up our “fallen” nature, we see that this “flesh” is a lot worse than must of have realized it is.

You notice that this diagram does not show our spirit. Everyone is born in the image of Adam, without the spirit of God in them. Therefore, our spirit is “dead”, When we are “born again” we recieve the Holy Spirit and we have a “new” nature. But, we still live in this body of flesh and our flesh still wants to be in control.

1 Corinthians 2:9-14

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

John 3:6

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Romans 8:5

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.

Romans 8:9

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.

Galations 3:3

Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Galations 5:16-17

16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.

     17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

This page last updated on May 5, 1997.  Print This Post

Copyright © 1996 Daniel R. Boliek www.gflstudy.org