Doctrine of the Flesh
						     11/12/2015    III. E. updated

 I. Original language	
	 A. Heb. rDcD;b  basar   Gen. 2:21-23
	   1. The physical aspects of the body.			a. Physical part or parts of the body—men and animals 
		Ex. 21:28;Deut. 12:15;Jer. 7:21 etc. 
		b. entire self or body—Lev. 14:9;15:13;Num. 19:7 etc.
	   2. Blood relations—Gen. 2:24;29:14 etc. 
	   3. Living beings
		 a. All living beings—Gen. 6:17;Lev. 17:14
		 b. animals—Gen. 7:15-17; 8:17
		 c. mankind-Gen. 6:12-13;Num, 16:22 etc. 
      B. Greek   sa¿rx   sarx        
	The following points will expand on the Greek usage of the word 	sarx.

  II. The flesh—what we often refer to as skin; the epidermis; 	the soft substance of the living body, which covers the 	bones and is permeated with blood vessels and nerves  
	A. Of both men and beast (1 Cor. 15:3;Gal. 6:13;Rev. 		19:18,21). 
	B. Of the 	resurrected body of	Christ (Lu. 24:39;Acts 2:31). 

 III. For the human body
     A. The substance or material of the 	human body.

	Eph. 5:29 for no one ever hated his own flesh, but 			nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the 		church,  NIV84
											   
	1Cor. 6:16 Do you not know that he who unites himself 	with a prostitute is one with her in body (soma)? For it is 	said, “The two will become one flesh (sarx).”   NIV84

	John 1:14  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling 	among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One 	and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and 		truth. NIV84
	
	B. The body itself—

	1Cor. 5:5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for 	the destruction of his flesh (for death), so that his spirit 	may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. NAS95
							
	1 Cor. 7:1;Gal. 4:13;Col. 2:5;1 Pet. 4:6

	C. Used of ones physical origin

	Rom. 9:3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and 	cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of 	my own race (flesh, sarx), 
	Rom. 9:4a the people of Israel.
									NAS95
	
	1 Cor. 10:18-flesh of Israel  Rom. 1:3;4:1;9:3,8; Gal. 4:23

	D. Humanity in general

	1Pet. 1:24  For, 
	“ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, 
	AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. 
	THE GRASS WITHERS, 
	AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF,  	NAS95

	Matt. 24:22;Jn. 17:2;Rom. 3:20;Gal. 2:16 Col. 1:29

	E. Figurative 
	     1. For the work of Christ.
	
	John 6:52  ¶ 	Then the Jews began to argue sharply 	among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh 	to eat?” 
	John 6:53  ¶ 	Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, 		unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his 	blood, you have no life in you.
	John 6:54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood 		has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
	John 6:55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real 	drink.
	John 6:56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood 		remains in me, and I in him.  NIV84

	    2. For outside appearance. 

	Gal. 6:12  Those who want to make a good showing in the 	flesh are forcing you to be circumcised only because they 	do not want to be persecuted for the cross of Christ. 

 IV. Representative uses

	A. The status of life

	Gal. 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no 	longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life 		which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of 	God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 	NAS 95

	B. Human standard

	1Cor. 1:26 ¶ For consider your calling, brethren, that 		there were not many wise according to the flesh, not 		many mighty, not many noble;

	Jn. 8:15;1 Cor. 1:26;2 Cor. 5:16;11:18;Eph. 6:5;Col. 3:22

  Note: To the early Greeks, sarx originally meant the skin, 	the flesh of the human body. Over time it came to include 	the human body as we see in our usage in the NT but 		then when we get into the writings of Paul, he begins to 	attach more theological meaning to it as we will see in 		the following points. 

	The remaining points have to do with some aspect of         	the sinful nature that produces sin in the believer. 

 V. The flesh/sin nature produces Human Good.  

	Phil. 3:3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who 		worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, 	and who put no confidence in the flesh— 
	Phil. 3:4 though I myself have reasons for such 				confidence. ¶ If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put 	confidence in the flesh, I have more: NIV84

	As an unbeliever Saul, produced human good at the 		highest level as a Pharisee. From the flesh, he produced 	a self-righteousness manifesting itself in the works of the 	law and traditions including forced compliance to the 		Pharisaical standards. In doing so he approved of the 		execution of at least one Christian and the arrest and 		persecution of others (Acts 8:1,3).
			
	1. Human Good—Human good is those efforts by man to 	produce good in the sense as the world sees it.  It may be 	through basic morality or a very strict legalism. 
	2. Human Good thrives in religious settings, where men 	believe they are pleasing God based upon their own 		merit. This was prominent in Judaism (2 Cor. 11:18) of 	the ancient world and is prominent in strict religious 		societies today. 

	Col. 2:20  ¶ Since you died with Christ to the basic 			principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged 	to it, do you submit to its rules: 
	Col. 2:21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? 
	Col. 2:22 These are all destined to perish with use, 			because they are based on human commands and 			teachings. 
	
	Col. 2:23 Even though these have a word (an appearance) 	of wisdom in self-made religion and asceticism and 			neglect (severe treatment) of the body—such wisdom is 	not of true value—leads to indulgence of the flesh.   	

	3. Though human good is better than immorality and 		gross sin, it 	is only from a human viewpoint that it is 		good.  It is still far from good that is Divine good, that is 	good produced by God and believers controlled by the 		Spirit of God.  
	4. Human good for the believer is pictured as being 			burned up and worthless at the judgement seat of Christ. 
			
	1Cor. 3:12 If any man builds on this foundation using 		gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, 
	1Cor. 3:13 his work will be shown for what it is, because 	the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, 	and the fire will test the quality of each man’s work. 
	1Cor. 3:14 If what he has built survives, he will receive 	his reward. 
	1Cor. 3:15 If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he 			himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through 	the flames. (cf. 2 Pet. 3:10;Rev. 9:20). ).
 
	1Cor. 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in 	God’s 	sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their 	craftiness”; 
	1Cor. 3:20 and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts 	of the 	wise are futile.” 

	5. No amount of human good or works of the law can 		qualify one to gain eternal life because one would have to 	be perfect.  (Matt. 19:17-22;Rom. 3:20;Gal. 2:16;Eph. 2:9). 
	6. It is works by which the unbeliever is judged, those 		works that would include all deeds ranging the gamut of 	human good (Rev. 20:12). 
	
 VI. The flesh/sin nature is the source for sin

	Rom. 7:18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, 		that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but 	the doing of the good is not. NAS95

	1Pet. 4:2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no 	longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. NAS95

	Gal. 5:13  For you were called to freedom brethren; only 	do not let your freedom become an opportunity for the 		flesh, but through love serve one another.

 VII. Weak and susceptible to sin (Mk. 14:38).

	Rom. 6:19 I am speaking in human terms because of the 	weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your 		members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, 			resulting 	in further lawlessness, so now present your 		members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in 			sanctification.

	Rom. 7:25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our 		Lord! 	So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind 	am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my 		flesh the law of sin. 		
 
VIII. Has corrupt desires and despises authority

	2Pet. 2:10a and especially those who indulge the flesh in 	its 	corrupt lusts and despise authority. NAS95
						
	1John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the 		flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of 		life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. NAS95

	Gal. 5:24 Now those who belong to Christ [Jesus] have 		crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts. 

	Eph. 2:3* Among them we too all formerly lived in the 		lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of 	the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as 	the rest.

	Col. 2:18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by 	delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the 		angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated 	without cause by his fleshly mind, 

	1 Pet. 2:11  Beloved, I urge you as foreigners and exiles 	to abstain of fleshly desires which wage war against the 
	whole person (psyche).	

	2 Cor. 1:12 For our proud confidence is this: the 				testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly 		sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, 	we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially 	toward you. 

	Jude 22 And (Christ) have mercy on some, who are 			doubting; 
	Jude 23 save others, snatching them out of the fire; and 	on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment 	polluted by the flesh. NAS95

	Rom. 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make 	no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. NAS95

 IX. It power and influence. 

	Rom. 7:5 For while we were in (power of ) the flesh (as 		unbelievers), the sinful passions, which were at work 		(aroused) by the Law, were at work in the members of 		our body to bear fruit for death.

	Often portrayed as walking—when under its power and 	influence.

	2Cor. 10:2 I ask that when I am present I need not be 		bold with the confidence with which I propose to be 			courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked 	according to the (power of) flesh. 
	2Cor. 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh (human 			body), we do not war according to (power of ) the flesh, 
	
—————
  X. The flesh and the Spirit.

	Rom. 8:1  Therefore there is now no condemnation for 		those who are in Christ Jesus. 
	
	Believers are free from the judgment of sin through the 		work of Christ on the cross. We will not be judged for our 	sins. 

	Rom. 8:2 For the law of the (Holy) Spirit of life in Christ 	Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 

	With the Holy Spirit indwelling every believer and ready 	to control he is able to free you from the law of sin and 		death, that is the continuous sin that results in spiritual 	death. 

	Rom. 8:3 For what the Law could not do, in that it was 	weakened through the flesh, God by sending His own Son 	in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, He 		condemned sin in the flesh, 

	The Law was weak in that it could not judge our sin, but 	with the sending of Christ, he did condemn sin and 			eliminate its 	dominating power for those who are in 			Christ.  However, the believer still needed power to live 	positively for Christ—so God through Christ sent His 		Spirit to indwell every believer 	—	
	
	Rom. 8:4 so that the righteous requirement of the Law 		might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to 		(power of) the flesh but walk according to (power of) the 	Spirit. 

	So what the Law could not do was done by Christ and the 	living out the righteous requirement of the Law (God’s 		standard) is fulfilled by the empowering of the Holy 			Spirit. 

	Only walking in the power of the Spirit, do we live 			righteous lives fulfilling the righteous standard of God’s 	Law. However one is still free to choose who dominates, 	flesh or Spirit. 

	Rom. 8:5 For those who are according to the flesh are 		thinking on the things of the flesh, but those who are 		according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 
	
	Those who think and live fleshly, sinful lives are 				continuously thinking about the things of the flesh. In 		contrast, those who think and live Spiritually are 			continuously thinking things of the Spirit. Each of us 		choose which pattern we are going to live. 

	Rom. 8:6 For thought on the flesh is (results in spiritual) 	death, but thought on the Spirit is (results in eternal) life 	and peace, (7) because the thought of 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, (8) and those who are 	in the 	(dominated by) flesh cannot please God. 

	Here are the two contrasting patterns: unbeliever or 			believer thinking. The unbeliever can only think like an 	unbeliever. But a believer can think either way depending 	on whether he is controlled by the flesh or the Spirit. 

	(9) However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if 	indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone 		does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to 	Him (an unbeliever). 
						
	Paul contrast the unbeliever with the believer. The 			believer no longer has an “in the flesh” type of 				relationship with the sinful nature. The believers realm of 	life is now “in the Spirit,” leaving no reason for the 			believer not to live it out in his life. Finally, if he does not 	have that Spirit he does not belong to Christ. He is an 		unbeliever. 

	(10) And if Christ is in you, though the body (soma) is 		dead (in relation to God) because of sin, yet the Holy 		Spirit is alive because of righteousness. (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 make 	alive your mortal bodies through His Spirit who indwells 	in you (at the resurrection). 
		
	Rom. 8:12  So then, brethren, we are under obligation, 		not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh —(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. (14) For all who are being led by the 	Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 	
							
 XI. The battle within the believer.

	Gal. 5:16  But I say, walk by the Spirit and you shall not 	fulfill the lust of the flesh.
	Gal. 5:17 For the flesh strongly desires against the Spirit
	and the Spirit strongly desires against the flesh. For 		these are opposing one another so that you may not do 		what you want.

	Rom. 7:15 For I do not understand what I do. For I am 		not doing what I want but I do what I hate. 

 XII. Spiritual warfare and the flesh.
	
	2Cor. 10:2 I ask that when I am present I need not be 		bold with the confidence with which I propose to be 			courageous against some, who regard us as if we walked 	according to the (power of) flesh.
	2Cor. 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh (body), we do 	not war according to the flesh (power) , 
	2Cor. 10:4 for the weapons of our warfare are not of the 	flesh, but divinely powerful (Spirit) for the destruction of 	fortresses. NAS95

 XIII. The unbeliever is under the constant control and 		power of the flesh. 

	A. Though Paul is describing himself under the control of 	the flesh as a believer, the following verse makes a basic 	point about any person who is under the control of the 		flesh.  

	Rom. 7:18  For I know that nothing good dwells in me, 		that is, in my flesh; for the willing (lit. to wish) is present 	in me, but to do good is not.

	Eph. 2:3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the 		lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of 	the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as 	the rest.

	B. Those so influenced are equated with the unbeliever 	or at best as baby believers. 

	1Cor. 3:1 ¶ And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to 	spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in 		Christ.  
	1Cor. 3:2 I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you 	were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are 	not yet able, 
	1Cor. 3:3 for you are still fleshly (sarkikos). For since 		there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not 			fleshly, and are you not walking like mere men? NAS95

	C. The unbeliever is incapable of accepting the special 		revelation of God’s word (1 Cor. 2:10-14)

	1Cor. 2:14 The man without the Spirit does not accept 		the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are 	foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, 		because they are spiritually discerned.

	The one exception is the gospel of Jesus Christ when he 	comes under the convicting ministry of the Holy Spirit. 

  XIV. Conclusion:
	A. In its NT theological usage, flesh came to refer to the 		base nature of man expressed in such terms as sin,			natural man, the sin nature, sinful nature, old 				nature, old man or 	just simply flesh.
	B. It is that part of man that permeates the human 			     body but especially effects the mind and heart. 
	C. It not only moves us to think and act sinfully but has 		the power to do so; working through the natural 			     feelings, desires and influencing the will of the 				person. 
	D. It is most effective with the heart or the mind, where 	     the thinking process begins, which in turns leads to 		both verbal and overt acts of sin. 
     E.  It is the source of lust and a very long list of sins as 		     the several NT lists demonstrate nd human good.