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Growth â€œThe Fleshâ€â€”Physical Body and “The Fleshâ€â€”Sinful Nature

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The Old Testament uses the word “flesh†to mean only one thing—the physical body, because it was not until Christ that the “fleshâ€â€”sinful nature—was addressed with the application of being finally “condemned†(Rom 8:3).

For example, the phrase in the above reference, “sinful flesh,†does not mean the physical body, this would conflict with “you are not in the flesh†(Rom 8:9), meaning you are no longer living for or after the dominion of the sinful nature, but rather for or after “the Holy Spirit.â€

The concept that the physical body is sinful or evil is a misunderstanding, and reasonably so when considering the often obscurity of Scripture. It is the nature which determines good or evil of a spirit (person), the body just manifests what the spirit is, thus the body is subject to the person, whether it will be used for good or evil.

Examples:

“In the likeness of sinful flesh†(Rom 8:3); “Which expresses the reality of His incarnation, of His having a true real human nature; for flesh is not to be taken strictly for a part of the body, nor for the whole body only, but for the whole human nature, soul and body; which though it looked like a sinful nature, yet was not sinful.

“The likeness of it denotes the outward appearance of Christ in it; who was born of a sinful woman (Rom 3:23); was subject to the infirmities of human nature, which though not sinful, are the effects of sin; was reckoned among transgressors, was traduced as one Himself by men, and treated as such by the justice of God; He having all the sins of His people on him, for which He was answerable.†JG

“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof†(Rom 6:12). “The ye should obey it†(I believe “it†is in reference, not to the body but to sin). I believe “the lusts thereof†is “the body of sin†(Rom 6:6), which pertains to the sinful nature, thus these are “your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry†(Col 3:5).

Reference: “Flesh,†Strong’s G4561, sarx, IV. The flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God.
 
Wow nice point. Although I think in order to make this an even stronger point it could to be refined down a little bit. I can't help but think of people with genetic disorders and other physical limitations. What I mean is that I remember hearing of an old idea where people assumed that if someone had a disorder they were born with it was because their (in this case) "spirit" was evil and God punished them before they were born because of it. Now I personally strongly disagree with that idea (If you don't agree with me then I am all for some friendly and healthy debate). I think God gives us free will and intervenes to help us out from time to time (thank goodness) and wouldn't punish someone with a disease before they have even had the chance to make a mistake. (Adam and Eve for example they lived an awesome life up until they chose to eat the fruit they weren't born with any disorders to punish them for their sinful spirit that would later cause them to eat the fruit which supports the original point).

Now personally the way I interpret this is that I feel like our sinful nature and spirit does somewhat influence the physical body but not completely. The sinful flesh of the soul is embedded deep down and we are constantly fighting with it. I think the point of the way this was described was to show that our sinful nature does have an influence on the physical body but I would even go as far as to say that our physical body has an influence on our spitit. But I don't think good or bad has complete control of us until judgment day.....

Any crateetiques or arguments about what I said are welcome. Thanks for your post it really got me thinking this morning lol
 
Wow nice point.

What I mean is that I remember hearing of an old idea where people assumed that if someone had a disorder they were born with it was because their (in this case) "spirit" was evil and God punished them before they were born because of it. Now I personally strongly disagree with that idea (If you don't agree with me then I am all for some friendly and healthy debate).

The sinful flesh of the soul is embedded deep down and we are constantly fighting with it.

Any crateetiques or arguments about what I said are welcome. Thanks for your post it really got me thinking this morning lol

Hi IALBTL - Thanks for your reply and I appreciate you sharing with me.
I too disagree concerning the concept that vicarious iniquity can pass from from one to another (excluding the law of sin and death which is passed to all from Adam--Rom 5:12), because all are accountable to self and none other.

The reason for sin and what it produces, and for all things, is to reveal and glorify God, e.g. God foreknew of sin entering man and pre-planned for it (Heb 4:3).

"And His disciples asked Him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him" (John 9:2, 3).

God could have told Adam, "Adam, I know you're going to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil--but don't do it! It's obvious concerning the resulting confusion but the Lord had to start at the beginning.

My humorous thought on this impending confusion is that instead of having the Adams-apple (analogous to it being stuck in the throat and choking on the bite) it would be the Adams-itch, from him scratching his head for understanding. lol

Concerning our battle with sin, Christ's blood has settled it and the Spirit opposes it (Gal 5:17).
 
Reference: “Flesh,” Strong’s G4561, sarx, IV. The flesh, denotes mere human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin and opposed to God.

You wrote your own article? Impressive.

So, Carnal mind gives in to flesh. More of a whole package is my understanding of this.

Blessings.

Mike.
 
You wrote your own article? Impressive.

So, Carnal mind gives in to flesh. More of a whole package is my understanding of this.

Blessings.

Mike.

The carnal minded person is a package deal, it refers to one who is unsaved, "For to be carnally minded is death" (Rom 8:6). Romans 8 contrasts the regenerate and unregenerate and the mistake which can be easily made is to think that it's referring to a carnal minded Christian, which is an impossibility, since a Christian will never enter the "second death."

A Christian will always be carnal to some degree (but will always be on the decline--Gal 5:17; Phil 2:13) because of the sin nature, i.e. "And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. For ye are yet carnal" (1 Cor 3:1, 3).

The"deeds of the body" (actions of the "old man" carried out by our physical body) will be more for "instruments of righteousness" than for "unrighteousness" as the Spirit continues to change us "from glory to glory" (2 Cor 3:18).
 
I agree with the OP. Many problems have arisen because people read "flesh" (as used by Paul) and assume it denotes physicality.
 
I agree with the OP. Many problems have arisen because people read "flesh" (as used by Paul) and assume it denotes physicality.

Hi Drew - Thanks for your reply and support. I believe if more Bible students would utilize Bible commentators more, they would be surprised at the progress in the spirit's teaching. Scripture often reveals in obscurity and commentators are those who've spent their lives the most in Bibles study diligence.
 
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