B-A-C
Loyal
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2008
- Messages
- 10,954
The Bible talks about this war inside of us. Flesh vs the Spirit.
It's a theme all through the new testament.
Matt 26:41; "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Mark 14:38; "Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Any of us who have been Christians for a while realize the truth of Jesus's statement here. The flesh "is" weak.
Romans 8 speaks to this.
Rom 8:5; For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6; For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
Rom 8:7; because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,
Rom 8:8; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 8:9; However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
Rom 8:10; If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11; But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Rom 8:12; So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—
Rom 8:13; for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Rom 8:14; For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
It's a simple question. Are you living according to the Spirit? .. or according to your flesh?
Gal 5:17; For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Gal 5:18; But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
The Spirit and the flesh are always in opposition to each other. Our flesh seems to be important to us.
But Jesus didn't die to save your flesh. He died to save your soul. This opposition... this war....
It doesn't end when we become Christians. In fact that's when the war begins.
Gal 5:25; If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Gal 5:26; Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
For those who have conquered the flesh... they shouldn't be boastful or challenging others.
Gal 6:1; Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
Sometimes Christians sin. But we should be looking to restore them if they repent.
Gal 6:8; For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Gal 6:9; Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
Even when we do sin. It shouldn't be a lifestyle. Sin shouldn't be how you live everyday.
We should repent. We should be striving to live in the Spirit, to be led by the Spirit.
Yet there are those who call themselves Christians... who are perfectly content being led by the flesh.
1 Pet 4:6; For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.
It's a theme all through the new testament.
Matt 26:41; "Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Mark 14:38; "Keep watching and praying that you may not come into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Any of us who have been Christians for a while realize the truth of Jesus's statement here. The flesh "is" weak.
Romans 8 speaks to this.
Rom 8:5; For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
Rom 8:6; For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,
Rom 8:7; because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,
Rom 8:8; and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Rom 8:9; However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.
Rom 8:10; If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11; But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
Rom 8:12; So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh—
Rom 8:13; for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Rom 8:14; For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.
It's a simple question. Are you living according to the Spirit? .. or according to your flesh?
Gal 5:17; For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.
Gal 5:18; But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
The Spirit and the flesh are always in opposition to each other. Our flesh seems to be important to us.
But Jesus didn't die to save your flesh. He died to save your soul. This opposition... this war....
It doesn't end when we become Christians. In fact that's when the war begins.
Gal 5:25; If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Gal 5:26; Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.
For those who have conquered the flesh... they shouldn't be boastful or challenging others.
Gal 6:1; Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.
Sometimes Christians sin. But we should be looking to restore them if they repent.
Gal 6:8; For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
Gal 6:9; Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
Even when we do sin. It shouldn't be a lifestyle. Sin shouldn't be how you live everyday.
We should repent. We should be striving to live in the Spirit, to be led by the Spirit.
Yet there are those who call themselves Christians... who are perfectly content being led by the flesh.
1 Pet 4:6; For the gospel has for this purpose been preached even to those who are dead, that though they are judged in the flesh as men, they may live in the spirit according to the will of God.