RichardBurger
Member
- Aug 31, 2009
- 261
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I have been studying the difference between the flesh and the Spirit and would like to share what I understand about it.
In the scripture below we see that Jesus made a difference between the flesh and the Spirit in verse 6. It does not say the flesh is born again.
John 3:5-6 NKJV
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
In the scripture below we see Jesus describing the Spiritual nature of the child of God that has been reborn of the Holy Spirit.
John 3:7-8 NKJV
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
In the scriptures below we see that Paul is also saying that there are two natures to the child of God, one born of the flesh and one born of the Spirit of God. These two natures are always with a child of God and are always warring against each other.
Rom 7:14-20 NKJV
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.
16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.
17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.
19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
In the scripture below we see that flesh and blood will not enter heaven. Only the Spirit that has been born of God will enter heaven.
1 Cor 15:50 NKJV
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
NKJV
Corruption can not be made un-corrupted. So we must consider that the flesh can never be made Righteous or Holy. When the scriptures tell us we must put on righteousness, or put on Holiness, it is not talking about our efforts to make our flesh nature righteous or holy. It is saying that we must “put on Jesus†in the Spirit. As Paul said in the following scripture.
Col 1:19-23 NKJV
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight â€â€
23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
In the scriptures below we see that flesh and blood can never be made perfect, or righteous, or Holy, by the will and efforts of the flesh, period. The born again child of God, in the Spirit, is only righteous and Holy because they have been born again and placed “in Christ†by an operation of the Holy Spirit. They have put on Jesus and just as He was perfect in faith before God so are we perfect when we place our faith, trust, confidence and hope in Him.
Gal 3:3 NKJV
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
In the scriptures below we see that salvation (being born again in the Spirit) can only be accomplished by the will of God and He (God) will save all that receive Jesus as their savior. It is also clear that those that do not receive Jesus as their savior, do not have the right to become children of God.
John 1:10-13 NKJV
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
This writing is intended to help us understand the flesh nature and the Spirit nature of the child of God. It is not a writing that is meant to put down the efforts of the child of God to live a life that is pleasing to God.
In the scripture below we see that Jesus made a difference between the flesh and the Spirit in verse 6. It does not say the flesh is born again.
John 3:5-6 NKJV
5 Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
In the scripture below we see Jesus describing the Spiritual nature of the child of God that has been reborn of the Holy Spirit.
John 3:7-8 NKJV
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.'
8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
In the scriptures below we see that Paul is also saying that there are two natures to the child of God, one born of the flesh and one born of the Spirit of God. These two natures are always with a child of God and are always warring against each other.
Rom 7:14-20 NKJV
14 For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do.
16 If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good.
17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.
19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
In the scripture below we see that flesh and blood will not enter heaven. Only the Spirit that has been born of God will enter heaven.
1 Cor 15:50 NKJV
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
NKJV
Corruption can not be made un-corrupted. So we must consider that the flesh can never be made Righteous or Holy. When the scriptures tell us we must put on righteousness, or put on Holiness, it is not talking about our efforts to make our flesh nature righteous or holy. It is saying that we must “put on Jesus†in the Spirit. As Paul said in the following scripture.
Col 1:19-23 NKJV
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight â€â€
23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
In the scriptures below we see that flesh and blood can never be made perfect, or righteous, or Holy, by the will and efforts of the flesh, period. The born again child of God, in the Spirit, is only righteous and Holy because they have been born again and placed “in Christ†by an operation of the Holy Spirit. They have put on Jesus and just as He was perfect in faith before God so are we perfect when we place our faith, trust, confidence and hope in Him.
Gal 3:3 NKJV
3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?
In the scriptures below we see that salvation (being born again in the Spirit) can only be accomplished by the will of God and He (God) will save all that receive Jesus as their savior. It is also clear that those that do not receive Jesus as their savior, do not have the right to become children of God.
John 1:10-13 NKJV
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
This writing is intended to help us understand the flesh nature and the Spirit nature of the child of God. It is not a writing that is meant to put down the efforts of the child of God to live a life that is pleasing to God.
