by Lev Humphries
In Romans 13:14 Paul speaking under inspiration of God said, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.” Romans 8:1-13 should be read here and notice:
- Verse 1: “walk not after the flesh“
- Verse 3: “weak through the flesh“
- Verse 4: “who walk not after the flesh“
- Verse 5: “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh“
- Verse 8: “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”
- Verse 12-13: “Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.“
The word “carnal(ly)” in verse 6-7 is the same Greek word as “flesh” as shown above. It means more than the fleshly, physical makeup of our bodies. To prove that see Romans 8:6-7 which states, “For to be carnally minded is death… Because thecarnal mind is enmity against God.” Notice also verse 6, “but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” Here we see it is more than the flesh on our bones. It speaks of our human nature with its frailties and passions which left to itself will not obey God. James 1:13-15 states, “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Thenwhen lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.“
Sin originates in the heart and is facilitated in the flesh, however the answer to the problem of sin which is in our members (body) is seen in Galatians 5:16-17: “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. For the fleshlusteth 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.” Would you please look at Galatians 5:19-24 for a list of these two opposing forces and see verse 24 especially, which states, “And they that are Christ’s (saved) have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.“
The only way our flesh with its affections and lust can be controlled is for us to be saved and sold out to Christ. Otherwise, “when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.” James 1:15
by Lev Humphries
Original article can be found at http://www.holybiblesays.org/articles.php?ID=128