June 9, 2002

THE SPIRIT vs. THE FLESH

Romans 6-8

   Paul's vocabulary in Romans 5:12-8:39 includes the words spirit and flesh many times. Both words have multiple meanings and must be understood from the context and usage. Spirit can mean, and is also translated ghost, breath, wind, and life. The word for flesh is translated more uniformly but its contexts will show many meanings. Flesh can mean meat in contrast to bone, the substance of the body whether of beast or men, the complete person, the weaker element in human nature, and even the unregenerate state of man. This last meaning is used mostly by the Apostle Paul.

   "The flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit [lusts] against the flesh, and these are contrary the one to the other..." is Paul's state-ment in Gal. 5:17. This same issue in greater detail is in Romans. We are to serve in "newness of spirit, not in oldness of letter..." (7:6),. We are also to "walk not according to flesh [the old nature], but walk according to the spirit [new nature]" (8:4). "They that are according to the flesh mind the things of the flesh, but they that are according to the spirit, mind the things of the spirit [new nature]" (8:5,6). "But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit if so be that the spirit of God [new nature] dwells in you" (8:9). Here the "spirit of God" is not God the Spirit, the 3rd person of the trinity, but refers to our new nature which is from God. This reference is to the gift instead of the Giver.

   Our passage speaks of "weakness of the flesh" (6:19), that "in the flesh were the passions of sins...bringing fruit unto death" (7:5). "I am fleshy, sold under sin...in my flesh dwells no good thing" are the assessments of Romans 7:14 & 18. Finally, "with the flesh [I serve} the law of sin" (7:25). No wonder he cries "O wretched man that I am!"

   "Who will deliver me...?" Thus Christ, sent "in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh" (8:3). The mind of the flesh is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (8:7). "They that are in the flesh cannot please God," yet "the righteous requirements of the law are fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit" (8:4). With flesh is death; with spirit is life!

Ivan L. Burgener