FLESH-DEFINED
The
"flesh" stands for a certain orientation of life. It is the sin-bent
self characterized by self-sufficiency that wages war against God… The flesh
and the spirit denote not two coexisting parts of the individual, but a
contrast of tendencies and loyalties which compete for dominance as powers
within each person… It creates estrangement from God that is broken only when
persons submit in faith to the gospel and allow God's Spirit to seize control.
David Garland
1 Corinthians, Baker, 2003, p. 176.
The flesh is
the old life, the natural life inherited from Adam, with its apparent resources
of personality, of ancestry, of commitment, of dedication, and so forth. You
can do all kinds of religious things in the flesh. The flesh can preach a
sermon. The flesh can sing in the choir. The flesh can act as an usher. The
flesh can lead people to Christ. Did you know that? The flesh can go out and be
very zealous in its witnessing and amass a terribly impressive list of people
won to Christ, scalps to hang on a belt. The flesh can do these things but it
is absolutely nauseating in the eyes of God. It is merely religious activity.
There is nothing wrong with what is being done, but what is terribly wrong is
the power being relied upon to do it.
Ray C. Stedman
Legalism, sermon
A Christian
is truly regenerated – but at the same time only partially sanctified. Sin is dethroned
– but not destroyed! His predominant taste and disposition are holy – but godly
principles may not yet have struck their roots very deep into his soul. His
holy purposes are somewhat vacillating, and his inclinations to evil sometimes
strong. We have the burden of our fleshly corruptions to carry, which without
great labor and effort, will sadly retard us in our Christian lives.
John Angell James
Christian Progress, 1853.
Flesh is the
old ego that is self-reliant and does not delight to yield to any authority or
depend on any mercy. It craves the sensation of self-generated power and loves
the praise of men.
John Piper
Walk by the Spirit! August 7, 1983, Used by permission.
www.DesiringGod.org.