The Flesh And The Spirit
Author: Tim Birdwell, Student/DTS
"Flesh" and "Spirit" are two terms that we use frequently in Christian circles without truly understanding their meaning. Understanding these two terms is crucial to our relationship with Jesus and our ability to explain the person and work of Jesus to others. It is my hope to provide clear and concise definitions of these terms and related terms to increase our understanding of them for the Glory of the Father. The ethical concept of the flesh describes the selfish desires and actions of a believer or non-believer that lead to deceit, lust, pride, and other sinful behavior not congruent with God's standard of holiness.
Walking by the spirit describes a believer in Christ who is daily yielding to God's will, while completely forsaking one's own will. The filling of the holy spirit is a process by which man is daily trusting Jesus and obeying His word, allowing the person of the Holy Spirit to have more and more control and influence on all areas of one's life. The leading of the spirit describes a believer who is actively seeking God's will and being sensitive to the direction of the Holy Spirit in specific life situations or circumstances. Grieving the spirit involves a believer in Christ who is stuck in a cycle of sin or is displaying sinful behavior, and therefore preventing the spirit from having its intended influence on the believer's daily life. Legalism describes a believer in Christ who is seeking to gain God's approval and achieve holiness based on one's own merit and effort.
The flesh has a very dangerous and real influence on a believer's pursuit of holiness. The flesh constantly wants to satisfy selfish desires and to attempt to fulfill longings that only God can truly fill. God has called us to be holy as he is holy and in that, we have to rely upon his power and influence. The flesh attempts to lean on our selfish, arrogant pride that says we know what's best for us. It seeks to achieve fleeting pleasures through avenues that are not in line with God's plan for our lives. The believer in Christ can be free from the power of the flesh as we rely more and more on the power of the Holy Spirit, who raised Christ from the dead. Realizing that power in our lives and daily trusting Jesus Christ, and his word and plan for our lives, is the only way we can be free.
Legalism is rooted in the notion that we, in our power as humans, can please God. Legalism says that God loves me based on what I can bring to the table, on what I can offer. This shows itself in ugly ways when believers make up new laws and new standards of righteousness that we come up with. It can lead to believers attempting to dress a certain way, watch certain movies (or not watch other ones), talk a certain way; all with the attitude that if I do this, then God will love me more. This attitude always leads to pride and arrogance, instead of humility and grace. It makes going to church or performing certain sacraments the focus, instead of who God is and what he has already done on our behalf. God loves us as we are because we are in Christ and that should not lead us to a list or a new law, but to love, obedience, and missional living.
Responsibility in our spiritual life comes down to our call to obey Jesus Christ. We must understand that our position in Christ is completely based on grace, but that this position should also lead to good works and fruitful acts of righteousness. Our attitude of "love for God and love for others" needs to motivate us to live out our faith in our personal devotion to God and our public interaction with others.
Category: Truth